US EditionPublished • loading... • Updated
Ghana's Highlife finds its rhythm on UNESCO world stage
UNESCO's recognition highlights Highlife's century-long influence on Ghanaian culture and its role in inspiring genres like Afrobeats, boosting preservation and creative industry investment.
- On December 10, UNESCO announced it inscribed Ghana's Highlife music on its Intangible Cultural Heritage list, calling it a "monumental expression of Ghana's musical genius, culture, and global influence".
- This year, 2025, marks 100 years since Highlife began in September 1925, a timing Asah Nkansah called symbolic, as the genre shaped identity and influenced hiplife and Afrobeats.
- Under soft lights, the four young men of the Kwan Pa band play layered guitar lines and palm-wine rhythms, with one patron saying, `It's like therapy,`.
- Ghanaian officials emphasised Highlife as living heritage, with Nkansah stating `Highlife talks about almost everything, passion, love, social and everything.`
- Band leader Nkansah said the inscription energises performers and fans, telling AFP `This news is just great` and planning to adapt songs young people love into palm-wine rhythms to win younger audiences.
Insights by Ground AI
23 Articles
23 Articles
Alive with sound: Ghana's Highlife finds its rhythm on UNESCO world stage
·Luxembourg City, Luxembourg
Read Full ArticleCoverage Details
Total News Sources23
Leaning Left2Leaning Right6Center4Last UpdatedBias Distribution50% Right
Bias Distribution
- 50% of the sources lean Right
50% Right
L 17%
C 33%
R 50%
Factuality
To view factuality data please Upgrade to Premium
