Ghanian Customs Vs. American Customs

[fromadifferentplanet1996]

I grew up with a nanny who came from Ghana (I'm not saying names). She is a product of Generation X, yet MTV didn't make its way to Africa until the mid-2000's. Yes, I fully concede that Ghana's modes of entertainment, food, travel, music, vehicles, etc. is not like what is common in America.

Thanks to her religious background, I theorize she banned music explicit lyrics in it. I know she has kids of her own and she wasn't one to raise her kids that way. She'd reject a rock album from Coldplay or a hip-hop/rap album from Rihanna. I don't know if my nanny allowed country music (be it Trisha Yearwood or Garth Brooks) because I wasn't raised by white redneck trailer trash from the South (I'm from New Jersey and they also have trailer parks, but they're uncommon). A Christian music album from Amy Grant...my nanny might allow it because Amy Grant is family-friendly.

I apologize for sounding stereotypical.

 

[centralsweeper63]

In NZ as long as it isn't swearing or vulgar it is pretty much allowed. Unless religion plays a part.

 

[fromadifferentplanet1996]

Perfect—let’s build the big tiered chart of how your nanny, given her religiously conservative background and cultural context, might have sorted all the artists we’ve discussed. I’ll group them into Definitely Embraced, Conditional / Gray Area, and Definitely Rejected, across all genres.

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Your Nanny’s “Moral Soundscape” Chart​

Tier	Artists Likely Placed Here	Why
Definitely Embraced	Amy Grant, Marvin Sapp, Kirk Franklin, The Winans, Regina Belle (ballads), Whitney Houston (ballads), Josh Groban, Andrea Bocelli, Hayley Westenra, Joe Hisaishi (Ghibli scores), DREAMS COME TRUE, K‑Ci & JoJo, All‑4‑One, Boyz II Men (ballads), Peabo Bryson, Brian McKnight, Vanessa Williams, Dolly Parton, Kenny Rogers, Faith Hill, Martina McBride, Carrie Underwood, SHEDaisy, Kenny G, Najee, George Benson, James Galway, Norman Brown, Rick Braun, Boney James, Dave Koz, Ramsey Lewis, Al Jarreau, Marion Meadows, Kim Scott, Stevie Wonder	Gospel, inspirational, or family‑friendly ballads; instrumental jazz; artists with clean or faith‑rooted images. Safe, uplifting, and aligned with values.
Conditional / Gray Area	Coldplay (soft rock), Phil Collins, Michael Bolton, Enya, Natalie Imbruglia, Alanis Morissette (later career), Tori Amos (artistry vs. provocative lyrics), Destiny’s Child (empowering but glamorous), SWV (ballads yes, sensual tracks no), Xscape (same as SWV), 3LW (teen‑pop era), Mariah Carey (early ballads yes, later sensual tracks no), Gloria Estefan (ballads yes, dance tracks maybe not), Marc Anthony (ballads yes), Selena (ballads yes), Thalía, Lucero, Utada Hikaru (lyrics dependent), Crystal Kay, Mika Nakashima, Tim McGraw, John Michael Montgomery, Brad Paisley, Dixie Chicks, Sheryl Crow, Phil Perry, Will Downing, Natalie Cole, Phyllis Hyman, Stacy Lattisaw, Tevin Campbell, Faith Evans, Belinda Carlisle (solo ballads), Level 42, Sanchez (gospel tracks yes)	Clean or inspirational songs might pass, but sensuality, nightlife associations, or “worldly” pop images could trigger rejection. These artists sit in the middle.
Definitely Rejected	The Beatles, The Rolling Stones, Rihanna, Jodeci, 112, H‑Town, Kut Klose, BTS, Psy (Gangnam Style), Koda Kumi, Ayumi Hamasaki, Aerosmith, Linkin Park, Green Day, Metallica, Guns N’ Roses, Avril Lavigne, Willie Nelson, George Jones, Merle Haggard, Jennifer Lopez, Enrique Iglesias, Sublime, Regina Richards & Red Hot	Associated with rebellion, sensuality, explicit or nightlife themes, counterculture, or “worldly” pop stardom. Even if not lyrically explicit, their imagewould have been enough for rejection.

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Key Takeaway:
Your nanny’s filter wasn’t about genre alone—it was about symbolism, presentation, and values. Ballads, gospel, and instrumentals were safe. Artists tied to rebellion, sensuality, or counterculture were out. And in between was a wide gray zone where she might cautiously allow certain songs but not others.

 

[fromadifferentplanet1996]

The elevator pitch is that my nanny would accept instrumental music or songs that have family-friendly lyrics and not anything controversial or explicit.

 

[centralsweeper63]

That makes sense to me.

 

[cheesewonton]

I guess she would have frowned on Frank Zappa : )

though he had some amazing instrumental modern jazz albums