Abbi Ima: Mentor is my ticket to fame

As a budding musician who already performs at reputable events, she has received backlash for participating in this year’s Mentor but Abbi Imma remains unfazed and describes the TV music reality show, which started about 10 days ago, as her launch pad to stardom.

She is being criticised for having an undue advantage over the other competitors because she is an established commercial musician.

But Abbi Ima, winner of Artiste of the Year, 2023 Brong Ahafo Music Awards (BAMA) thinks her critics have misunderstood her move and are wrongly judging her for being part of a competition reserved for unearthing talents.

Mentor, a music reality show organised by TV3, aims, among others, at discovering and promoting young music talents.

In a chat with Graphic Showbiz, Abbi Ima, real name Abigail Ayizah, who has performed at Taste of Ghana, Chale Wote Festival, and Meko Bono Festival, among others, said she had got a long way to go in music and participating in Mentor 13 would enhance her popularity and push her brand.

Abbi Ima, who has to her credit songs such as Give Me Love, Fakers, Don’t Touch Me, African Girl and Only You, debunked her critics’ perception that she was too big to compete in Mentor.

“I’ve heard people say my brand’s grown beyond Mentor and I’m bigger than the other contestants so why am I in the competition? But I ask, ‘Who has the marking scheme?’

“I know where I started and where I’m heading and I’m very confident this reality show will push my vision and that is exactly what I’m doing.

“Yes, I am currently the biggest artiste in Bono East Region, but that doesn’t make me bigger than Mentor. And I am looking forward to making very good use of the opportunity the contest will offer,” she stated.

The new season of Mentor music reality show officially kicked off on Sunday, October 20 and contestants out-doored themselves with their debut performances.

Abbi Ima’s performance got huge attention on social media, even shooting up her following. Perhaps, this development gives credence to the perception that Abbi Imma has an advantage over the other competitors but she dismissed this, saying, “I accept that being established in mainstream music has given me a foundation but I don’t think it is a guaranteed advantage. Besides, Mentor is a unique platform where talent, dedication, and passion shine. It’s far beyond the success of any contestant”.

She, however, admitted being on Mentor would give her valuable exposure at no cost.

“Joining Mentor has generated buzz and excitement for my brand. People pay for this kind of buzz and huge exposure, but I am getting it for free,” she said.

Abbi Ima has been pushing her work since she burst onto the commercial scene about six years ago.

During this period, she gained recognition by winning Song of the Year at BAMA in 2020 and the ultimate Artiste of the Year in 2023.

She was nominated in the Emerging Woman of the Year category at the 2022 3Music Awards and secured a nod in Emerging Artiste of the Year at the Ghana Music Awards, UK, in the same year.

Despite her steady progress in her music career, Abbi Ima told Graphic Showbiz that she had faced many challenges, including undue pressure from sexual demands.

“Sexual demands do come up, but I always find a way to turn them down because my values and beliefs don’t align with that,” she added.