Highlife
Born in the coastal towns, where local rhythms met brass bands, guitars and jazz. Breezy, danceable and still played live across Ghana.
- Listen to: E.T. Mensah, Ebo Taylor, Pat Thomas, Osibisa
Feel the rhythm of Ghana
Highlife, hiplife, drill and Afrobeats, on top of centuries of drumming: what to listen to, and where to hear it live.
Born here
Highlife
1990s
Hiplife
Kumasi's sound
Asakaa (drill)
Peak season
December
Ghana's sounds
A short guide to the styles you'll hear, from palace drums to the biggest stages in Accra, with names to add to your playlist.
Traditional rhythms
Talking drums that speak in tones, royal fontomfrom ensembles, Ga kpanlogo and the graceful Asante adowa dance, plus the harp-like seperewa.
- Hear it: at festivals, palaces and cultural centres
Hiplife
Hip-hop rhythms with highlife melodies and rap in Twi, Ga and Pidgin. It made local languages cool on the radio.
- Listen to: Reggie Rockstone, Obrafour, Sarkodie
Afrobeats & Afro-pop
Ghana's stars fill stadiums at home and abroad, and its producers work with the biggest names in world music.
- Listen to: Black Sherif, King Promise, Stonebwoy, Gyakie
Asakaa (Ghana drill)
The "Kumerica" scene: drill beats with Kumasi slang and swagger, which went viral worldwide from 2020.
- Listen to: Yaw Tog, Jay Bahd, O'Kenneth, Kawabanga
Reggae & Afro-roots
Ghana loves reggae and dancehall, from beach-bar sound systems to Grammy-nominated Afro-roots.
- Listen to: Rocky Dawuni, Stonebwoy, Shatta Wale
Live music
Where to hear it
Accra comes alive after dark. A few places our team likes; nights and line-ups change, so check their social pages before you go.
Accra
+233 Jazz Bar & Grill
Live highlife, jazz and Afro-fusion bands, with a relaxed garden crowd.
Osu, Accra
Republic Bar & Grill
Small, packed and spilling onto the pavement, with live bands and DJs and famous cocktails.
Labadi, Accra
Sandbox Beach Club
Beachfront parties and Afrobeats DJs, especially busy in December.
Accra
Zen Garden
An open-air venue for live music nights, open mics and concerts.
Kumasi
Centre for National Culture
Drumming, dance performances and craft workshops, plus lessons if you want to try.
Cape Coast
Beach bars
Reggae and acoustic nights on the sand, at spots such as Oasis Beach Resort.
Festivals
Music on the calendar
AfroFuture & Detty December
December in Accra means back-to-back concerts and parties. AfroFuture (formerly Afrochella) celebrates African music, art and fashion.
- When: late December
- Tip: book flights and rooms months ahead
Chale Wote
A street art and music festival that turns historic Jamestown into an open-air gallery, with live music and performances.
- When: August
- Where: Jamestown, Accra
Akwasidae in Kumasi
Every six weeks, the Asantehene receives chiefs and the public at Manhyia Palace, with royal drums, horns and dancing.
- When: a Sunday every 42 days
- Tip: check the date with your guide
Itinerary idea
A music lover's week
Three stops, about seven nights: the capital's clubs, Kumasi's drums and drill, and slow evenings on the coast.
Accra · 3 nights
The Afrobeats engine
Live highlife at +233, a night in Osu, a beach party at Labadi and a Jamestown walk past its murals and boxing gyms.
Kumasi · 2 nights
Roots and drill
Drumming and adowa at the Centre for National Culture, Manhyia Palace (time it for Akwasidae if you can) and a taste of the Asakaa scene.
Cape Coast · 2 nights
Acoustic shores
Reggae nights and bonfire jams on the beach, and a visit to a local drum maker before heading back to Accra.
Plan a trip to the beat
Tell us what you love to listen to and when you can travel, and we'll line up the shows, festivals and drum lessons.
Try it yourself: drumming workshops