Welcome back to Parsons Playlists! Today’s playlist is curated by Music Library associate Melanie and features a variety of music originating in the Republic of Ghana in celebration of UR’s International Education Week.

Ghana Music Sampler

Enjoy this sampling of traditional music, work songs, highlife, hiplife and other popular music from Ghana!

* Kwaku Pabi Kenneth Tetteh – “Aseda” (Song of thanksgiving)

* Jeff Todd Titon – “Postal Workers Canceling Stamps at the University of Ghana Post Office” [Field recording]
I remember being delighted on discovering this track in an ethnomusicology course as an undergrad – it remains delightful!

* Brown Ghanaian Drumming Ensemble – “Kpanlogo”
Kpanlogo is a recreational dance and music form originating from the 1960s among urban youth in Accra, Ghana.

* “Agbadza Dance – Volta Region of Ghana”
Agbadza is an Ewe music and dance that evolved from a very old war dance into a very popular recreational dance. Today the dance is often performed at weddings, funerals, and parties.

* Bizung Students – “Bamaya Dance”
Bamaya (which means “the river (valley) is wet”) is a traditional dance popular in Northern Ghana. The dance tells the story of an ancient drought and a desperate prayer sent up to the gods to bring rain. It is said that the gods listen to women’s prayers first, so the men dress as women to perform this dance.

* Nana Acheampong – “Anka Ebeye Den – Instru-Chorus”
Learn more about Ghanaian highlife musician Nana Acheampong

* Guy Warren – “Talking Drums”
Learn more about Ghanaian Afro-Jazz musician Guy Warren

* Osibisa – “Sunshine Day”
Learn more about Ghanaian-Caribbean Afro rock/highlife band Osibisa

* Amakye Dede – “Iron Boy”
Learn more about Amakye Dede

* KiDi & Black Sherif – “Lomo Lomo”
Learn more about Ghanaian Afrobeat singer-songwriter KiDi

* Kuami Eugene – “Angela”
Learn more about singer-songwriter Kuami Eugene

* Black Sherif – “Konongo Zongo”
Black Sherif is a singer and rapper who combines Ghanaian highlife with reggae, hip-hop, and drill music.

* KiDi – “Touch It”

* Shatta Wale – “On God”
Learn more about Ghanaian reggae-dancehall artist Shatta Wale

* Kwaw Kese ft. Kofi Mole- “Awoyo Sofo”
Learn more about Ghanaian hiplife artist Kwaw Kese.

* Ebony Reigns ft. Brella – “Hustle”
Learn more about hiplife/dancehall singer Ebony Reigns

* Sarkodie ft. Runtown – “Pain Killer”
Learn more about Ghanaian rapper/hiplife/songwriter Sarkodie

* Stonebwouy – “Into the Future”
Learn more about Ghanaian Afro-pop musician Stonebwouy

* Gyakie – “Forever”
Learn more about Ghanaian R&B/Afro-fusion singer Gyakie

* Daddy Lumba – “Aben Waha”
Learn more about Daddy Lumba – a prominent figure in modern highlife

* Sarkodie ft. Victony – “Jailer”

* Osibisa – “Ojah Awake”

Here’s a great web resource for contemporary Ghanaian music: https://ghanamusic.com/

Here is a link to the whole playlist on YouTube: