MTV's critics accuse the channel of promoting bland African-American youth culture and not true African musical styles. Only 30% of current output comes from musicians who live and work on the continent.

MTV argues it is backing the development of African music, by deploying talent scouts in towns across Africa and staging shows in search of the next big star.

Is MTV Africa giving enough airtime to African musicians? Or is the channel merely a platform for impersonators of US music? Is MTV having a positive or negative effect on the development of African music? What do you think about the American music and videos? Have you been on MTV or do you want to be on MTV?

This debate is now closed. Thank you for your comments. You can read a selection below. :

I don't think MTV is the problem! The problem is how we see ourselves. If we don't change the way we see ourselves, with our without MTV, the same problems will persist.
Kuirthiy, Canada

I was completely gob smacked when I went to Lagos and saw a lot of young people wearing jeans that hang from their knees and hoods in 34 C temperature. They were simply aping what they have seen on MTV. The mentality is that if it is on MTV then it must be good. Reality is that MTV is nothing but a soft porn channel and it is completely bad, not just for Africans but young people world over. There must be more to life than �whores, bitches and guns�.
Patrick Okene, London

MTV Base Africa would not be able to fully develop and promote African music if it is own and run by expatriates. African must unite and take the promotion of African culture, music and values into their hands for there to be any real success with it.
Ntsanderh Azenui, Chicago, USA

MTV has only been able to push further the American culture into the mind of young Africans and this has been the problem all along with a lot of Africans losing their identities.
Adekanmbi Olawale, Lagos, Nigeria

As an African living in the US with two young teenage daughters, I find MTV disgusting. I have blocked it from my television. Is it any wonder that many in the Middle East see the West as a cesspool of immorality. I fear that the youths in Africa who see everything coming from the West as glamorous, will be corrupted immediately. The easy and free sex shown on many of those MTV shows is something Africa can ill afford in its fight on the AIDS pandemic.
Miatta S, New York, NY

How can MTV be good for Africa when it is not good for African American youths here in the States? MTV does not promote values, morals, respect, etc. It highlights black females as being capable of showing their bodies and nothing else. All black males where pants below the butts, smoke dope, being car crazy, and unable to speak English.
Delor Adams, USA Joliet

I am pleased with all the comments. Its amazing that none of the comments sees MTV as a good thing for Africa. I don't either. Its disgusting and it really does not fit with the African Values and Cultures. I love the US constitution but not their confused way of life. Their youth all feel empty and think being normal is not normal -what a shame? Sal
Sal, Zurich Switzerland

MTV is not only far from promoting African music, is grossly polluting the minds of youths in Africa with US junks and negatively influencing the youths. I think the original motive of MTV had nothing to do with promoting Africa Music or culture but rather to sell and promote some musicians who never were Africans nor understood anything about African music.
Adeniyi John, Port-Harcourt, Nigeria

I think that MTV is great for all cultures. I gives my people a different way to express themselves through the way of dance! Go MTV!!
Jon McBops, Dar es Salam Tansania

Because of MTV, there are girls at my high school thinking they're supposed to act like the girls in those hip hop videos. Those videos only degrade African Americans as a whole. It doesn't need to come to the motherland.
Cassie Osei, Shawnee, USA

MTV backing the development of African music? yeah right! like African musicians have ever needed their help. This is another painful reminder of the devastating effects of globalisation. African youths already have identity issues as it is. Turning them into wannabe Americans doesn't help matters!
Ngum Ngafor, Manchester, UK

I don't even know why its called Music Television anyway, more than 75% of the shows have nothing to do with music. I think its just corrupting the minds of young people.
Folashade, Budd Lake, NJ

Watching young African Musicians gesticulating and contorting their bodies like American hip hop artistes is quite nauseating. African dance music is more imaginative and less stereotyped. We need to watch more local musicians with original lyrics and authentic African dance steps.
Seyi Adeosun, Keffi, Nigeria

I don't know about Africa but here in Spain it's terrible. My teenage daughter watches it non-stop which prevents me from watching mind-improving programmes such as "The Simpsons", "South Park" and most importantly... FOOTBALL
John Larkin, Madrid, Spain

MTV in the US practically dictates youth culture and has no appreciation for quality music or art. The so called artists we see on MTV are "out of the box" puppets created to endorse whatever products US companies wish to sell to teenagers. My concern is that MTV Base Africa will be little more than a mouth piece for US companies, promoting Western ideals and materialism instead of giving a voice to the people of Africa. Africa does not need this right now.
Julian, Brit in NY

I think that MTV is just pushing tired rap & R'n B from the States! It has nothing to do with music appreciation rather big bucks for the labels that push this like crack. I think it will only help to erode the indigenous music and culture there. Trust me, Africans don't need to take a page from Black American pop culture
DR.Strangedog, Detroit, Michigan

There are some talented young African musicians out there, but being a commercial station, it's going to be really hard for MTV to convince me that it's motive are NOT purely commercially driven and has little or no interest in promoting true African music. There are many young "Fela Kuti, Alpha Blonde, Sabanoh 75, Salifu Keita, Manu Dibango" out there to name a few.
Ben Johnson, UK