“These broke guys have lot of energy”: Binaries and Male Anxiety in Ebony’s “Sponsor”

Abstract

This paper seeks to explore two extreme constructions of masculinity in contemporary Ghanaian society by using the Ghanaian singer Ebony’s hiplife song “Sponsor” as literary basis. The authors argue that two major male types in “Sponsor” – a rich, old, and sexually impotent man on the one hand; and a poor, young, and sexually active man on the other hand – are diametrically opposed and exhibit an obvious lack, which is filled by their corresponding other. This lack amplifies masculine anxiety, as expressed in the song. Again, the lack that is attached to both male characters reflects two contemporary phenomena in Ghana: the explosion of bitters on the mainstream Ghanaian alcoholic market; and the rise of internet fraud. This paper is therefore interested in using the binary construction of masculinity to understand the ways in which the song approaches, engages with, and finally extends a socio-cultural reading of gendered roles and expectations for Ghanaian men.