GTA launches 100 years of Highlife to promote Ghana’s music heritage
The Ghana Tourism Authority (GTA) officially launched Highlife at 100, a celebration of Ghana's rich musical heritage, at the La Palm Royal Beach Hotel in Accra, on Friday, December 19.
The event marked a century of Highlife music, a genre that has shaped generations and influenced global sounds.
Speaking at the launch of Friday, CEO of GTA, Maame Efua Houadjeto said the project is way bigger than just a commemorative event.
“This evening, we launch Highlife at 100—a century of sound, soul, struggle, pride, elegance, resistance, joy, and identity.
“One hundred years ago, Highlife was born—not in luxury halls like this, but in lived experience. It emerged from our coastlines, our towns, our brass bands, our palm-wine gatherings, our dance floors, our dreams. Highlife became the soundtrack of a people finding their voice.
“And let me say this plainly. Highlife is not old. Highlife is eternal. It has shaped generations. It inspired Afrobeats before the world discovered Afrobeats. It travelled across borders before hashtags and algorithms.
“And it continues to influence the global soundscape—often without being credited and tonight, we correct that,” she said.
She emphasised that Highlife is not just a genre, but a cultural export that has put Ghana on the global map.
“Highlife at 100 is also a reminder that December in GH is no longer seasonal entertainment—it is serious cultural business. It is proof that Ghana is not just hosting events; Ghana is shaping global cultural narratives.
“As we move forward, the Ghana Tourism Authority will continue to invest in culture-led tourism—music, festivals, heritage, film, fashion—because that is where sustainable impact lies.
“Tonight, as we launch this historic milestone, I want us to celebrate Highlife not quietly but proudly.
Protect it by valuing our creatives and our stories and to carry it forward so that 100 years from now, another generation will gather and say: they preserved it well.,” she noted.
The Minister of Tourism, Culture and Creative Arts, Madam Dzifa Gomashie praised the initiative, saying culture is a key driver of Ghana's prosperity.
Ghana's iHighlife music has been officially inscribed on UNESCO's Intangible Cultural Heritage list, a testament to its enduring influence and cultural significance earlier this month.
UNESCO officially recognised Ghana's Highlife music as an Intangible Cultural Heritage on Wednesday, November 10, hailing it as a "monumental expression of Ghana's musical genius, culture, and global influence."
Earlier in 2025, Ghana's National Folklore Board submitted the nomination dossier and steered it through the formal review process.
This prestigious recognition honours the culture bearers, musicians, communities, and institutions that have preserved and modernised Highlife across generations.
Hence, the celebration is expected to boost Ghana's cultural tourism and inspire the next generation of musicians and creatives.
