Entertainment entrepreneur and media personality Nana Yaw Wiredu, also known as Nana Yaw 18, has raised concerns about Ghana’s failure to maintain the momentum of hiplife music, once hailed as the country’s most promising musical export.
Speaking on a recent panel discussion about Ghana’s cultural impact on the global stage, Nana Yaw lamented what he termed a “strategic failure” by the music industry and cultural policymakers to preserve and evolve the hiplife genre.
“At a time when Ghana had the world’s attention with hiplife, we failed to build the necessary infrastructure, branding, and industry support to globalise it,” he said.
Hiplife, which fuses traditional highlife melodies with hip-hop elements and urban storytelling, gained popularity in the 1990s and 2000s through pioneering acts like Reggie Rockstone, Obrafour, Lord Kenya, and VIP. The genre was praised for its originality, African identity, and urban appeal.
However, according to Nana Yaw 18, the genre was allowed to “fade into obscurity” just when it could have been Ghana’s flagship sound on the world music scene, similar to how Nigeria pushed Afrobeats into global prominence.
“We sat on gold and didn’t realise it,” he added. “Instead of innovating within hiplife, we abandoned it for foreign trends. That’s how we lost our advantage.”
He explained that while Ghanaian talents continue to thrive, the absence of a clear and unified cultural export like hiplife weakens the country’s music identity globally.
“Today, Ghana has great artistes, but we don’t have a unique genre the world can identify us with. Hiplife was that opportunity, and we let it slip.”
Nana Yaw called on music industry stakeholders, cultural leaders, and government agencies to revisit Ghana’s musical heritage and make conscious efforts to revive and modernise hiplife for both domestic growth and international appreciation.
“It’s not too late. We need archiving, education, and strategic investment to make hiplife relevant again — not just as nostalgia but as a living, evolving genre.”
He suggested national initiatives such as hiplife documentaries, revival concerts, collaborations between old and new acts, and the inclusion of the genre in music education and international showcases.
The media entrepreneur also challenged young artistes to embrace Ghanaian cultural elements in their music to create a more distinctive sound in an increasingly competitive global market.
“We must learn from the Afrobeats model. Global success comes when local content is treated as premium.”
Nana Yaw 18’s comments have sparked debate in creative circles, with many agreeing that Ghana must reclaim and redefine its place in the world through its unique musical legacy — beginning with hiplife.
