Protect Ghana's Musical Heritage
Highlife is not just a genre — it is the sonic identity of Ghana, the sound of our independence, and a living cultural tradition that belongs to every Ghanaian. MUSIGA is working to ensure it is protected, celebrated, and sustained for generations to come.
Highlife music emerged in Ghana in the 1920s, blending traditional Akan rhythms with brass band arrangements and guitar. It became the soundtrack to Ghana's independence movement, the music of state occasions, and the bedrock on which all subsequent Ghanaian popular music genres — from Hiplife to Afrobeats — have been built.
Yet Highlife faces existential threats: aging master musicians with no succession plan, declining radio airplay in favour of international content, insufficient documentation of recordings and scores, and a lack of formal cultural policy protecting the genre. MUSIGA's Cultural Policy Campaign addresses these threats head-on.
Did You Know?
What MUSIGA Is Demanding
UNESCO Recognition for Highlife
MUSIGA is actively working with the Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture to submit Ghana's application for Highlife to be inscribed on UNESCO's Representative List of Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity — placing it alongside Jazz, Flamenco, and Reggae on the global cultural protection list.
Mandatory Ghanaian Music Airplay Quotas
MUSIGA advocates for legislation requiring Ghanaian radio and TV stations to dedicate a minimum percentage (proposed: 40%) of airplay to Ghanaian music — with a specific sub-quota for traditional genres including Highlife, Kpanlogo, and Gospel.
Music Education in Schools
We are pushing for Highlife and traditional Ghanaian music to be formally included in the Ghana Education Service curriculum — ensuring young Ghanaians grow up understanding and valuing their musical heritage.
Archive and Documentation Programme
MUSIGA calls for government funding to systematically record, digitise, and archive the works of living master musicians before these recordings are lost to time. We propose a National Highlife Archive housed at the Ghana National Museum.
Government Cultural Fund for Traditional Music
A dedicated grant programme for musicians and ensembles performing Highlife and traditional Ghanaian music — to support performance, recording, and education — administered transparently with MUSIGA oversight.
International Cultural Diplomacy
Ghanaian Highlife should be prominently featured in Ghana's international cultural diplomacy — at embassies, cultural institutes, and international music festivals — positioning Ghana as a leading African music nation.
MUSIGA's Work with the Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture
MUSIGA holds formal consultative status with Ghana's Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture, meaning musician perspectives are included in the development of national cultural policy. We attend ministerial consultations, submit formal position papers, and engage directly with the Minister and technical staff.
Current Engagement Points:
Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture
Quarterly consultation meetings on cultural policy framework. MUSIGA participates in the drafting of the National Cultural Policy currently under review.
Ghana Museums and Monuments Board
Partnership on archiving Highlife recordings and artefacts. MUSIGA has donated a collection of master tapes and memorabilia to the national collection.
National Film Authority
Advocacy for fair licensing of Ghanaian music in film and television productions — ensuring music rights are respected in the growing Ghanaian film industry.
Creative Arts Agency
Collaboration on the Creative Arts Fund disbursement criteria to ensure traditional music practitioners receive equitable access to government funding.
Campaign Timeline
UNESCO Nomination
Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity
UNESCO's List of Intangible Cultural Heritage protects living cultural traditions at the international level. Inclusion provides legal protection, international recognition, and access to funding for preservation. Ghanaian Highlife meets the criteria — it is a living tradition, community-based, and of outstanding universal value.
Jazz (USA), Reggae (Jamaica), Flamenco (Spain), and the Blues (USA) have all received UNESCO recognition. Ghana's Highlife deserves the same global acknowledgment.
Support the Highlife Heritage Campaign
MUSIGA members can sign our petition to Parliament calling for Highlife Heritage protection legislation, access campaign materials for social media sharing, and attend our annual Cultural Policy Forum held in Accra each October.
Join Ghana's largest musician community and add your voice to the protection of our shared musical heritage.