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Gilly & The Stars: Reviving highlife music with a global touch

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Ghana’s own Gilbert Otoo, widely known by his stage name Gilly & The Stars, continues to establish himself as one of the country’s finest highlife voices and songwriters.

Celebrated for his ability to compose in both English and Ga, Gilly stands in the tradition of great songwriters whose lyrical depth and cultural fluency elevate music beyond entertainment into timeless art.

Gilly blends Ghana’s native rhythms with modern influences to reach audiences worldwide.

Most of his songs are crafted in the Ga language, reflecting both pride in his heritage and a desire to showcase Ga culture on the world stage, and he is determined to make Ga-language highlife resonate across continents.

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Highlife, Ghana’s gift to the world, has long enjoyed international acclaim — from West Africa to the Caribbean, Europe, and beyond. Gilly’s music is carrying that tradition forward.

With tracks available on iTunes, Amazon, YouTube, and other platforms, his sound defines a modern highlife — energetic, danceable, and soulful, yet enriched with crossover elements that appeal to a worldwide audience.

Fans can now enjoy the visuals to Gilly & The Stars’ highlife release, “Ye Oshia Sane (Dzi Wofie Asem),” a fresh tune set to hit the TV airwaves very soon.

The song “Ye Oshia Sane (Dzi Wofie Asem)” carries a powerful message about the importance of minding one’s own business.

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It serves as a reminder to respect the personal choices of others and refrain from interfering in matters that do not concern us.

Watch video on YouTube here – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cO1uExTGDXc

Other songs such as “My Dear Adjeley,” “CHRISTIE,” and “Ekomefeemor” have become favorites among Ghanaians, songs that ignite dance floors at any gathering. These tracks embody the vibrancy of his style: rooted in highlife, yet universal in their groove.

“Highlife is Ghana’s gift to the world, and I want my Ga roots to shine through it globally,” Gilbert said.

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His landmark 2010 release, the album “Fighting My Way Back”, remains a shining example of his versatility. The project carried something for everyone — from Hiplife and Reggae to R&B, Pop, and traditional Highlife — creating a rich crossover experience.

The album also boasted collaborations with both Ghanaian greats and international stars, including Cynthia Johnson of “Funky Town” fame.

Gilly shared studio time with Ghana’s finest artistes such as Adane Best, King David, Castro, Screwface, and Shilo, with the project expertly engineered by the legendary Jay Q, whom Gilly praises for perfectly capturing his musical vision.

Listen to ‘Fighting My Way Back’ album on YouTube here – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4OTIfoEu7PA&list=OLAK5uy_meQiWiaxU5CNJS1VHAgbw5EC9EiKQpeGA

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Gilly’s passion for music traces back to his secondary school days at Aggrey Memorial, where he first showcased his talent as a member of the school’s pop group, The Cooking Pots. Those early experiences laid the foundation for his journey into professional music.

Today, Agyingo Studioz serves as his creative hub, where he continues to record and refine his sound alongside one of Ghana’s most respected studio engineers, Agyingo.

As a songwriter and performer, Gilly remains devoted to carrying Ghanaian music into the global spotlight while honoring the traditions of highlife. With his artistry, he is not just preserving the sound of his homeland — he is expanding it, modernizing it, and sharing it with the world.

Subscribe to Gilbert Otoo’s YouTube page here – https://www.youtube.com/@gilbertotoo2665

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Follow Gilbert Otoo’s Facebook page here – https://web.facebook.com/gilbert.otoo

Follow Gilbert Otoo’s Instagram page here – https://www.instagram.com/gillyotoo/

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Dierre Doors names King Promise as Brand Ambassador for Ghana campaign

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Italian premium security door manufacturer Dierre S.p.A. has named award-winning Ghanaian Afrobeats and Highlife artiste King Promise (Gregory Bortey Newman) as the face of its new Ghana and West Africa marketing campaign.

The partnership, managed by Regiments Management Company Limited, forms part of Dierre’s efforts to strengthen its presence in the West African market.

The two-week campaign, themed “Secure What Matters,” will run across digital, outdoor and influencer platforms, with King Promise featuring in a campaign film showcasing Dierre’s Prestige and Synergy security door ranges.

“Home is everything. It is where you protect the people and things that matter most. Dierre builds doors that reflect exactly that security, quality and style without compromise. I am proud to represent a brand that stands for those values,” King Promise said.

Founded in Italy, Dierre is a global manufacturer of armoured security doors, interior doors and fire-protection systems. Its products carry international anti-burglary certifications across Classes 3, 4 and 5, with the company producing hundreds of thousands of doors, locks and safes annually.

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King Promise is one of Ghana’s leading Afrobeats and Highlife artistes, known for his distinctive sound, international collaborations and growing global audience.

The partnership combines Dierre’s security and design expertise with King Promise’s influence in contemporary African music and culture, as the brand expands its consumer engagement in Ghana and across West Africa.

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Rhythms On Da Runway goes ‘Unbound’ on November 28 at Palms Convention Centre 

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Organisers of Rhythms On Da Runway have announced November 28, 2026 as the date for the 16th edition of the event, to be held at the Palms Convention Centre.

This year’s edition, themed: ‘UNBOUND: Because You’ve Got Style’, is focused on breaking barriers in fashion and creating space for all.

According to the Chief Executive Officer of Nineteen57 Events, Shirley Emma Tibilla, affectionately called Cookie Tee, the focus of this edition is to give everyone an opportunity to express themselves without barriers.

She told The Spectator that as a leading fashion brand in the country and beyond, they want to open doors for people regardless of their colour, size and abilities among others.

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Described by the BBC as “the biggest cultural exposé in Africa,” Rhythms On Da Runway returns this year as a celebration of fashion, music and individual expression without limits.

Organisers say for years fashion has been shaped by narrow ideas of who belongs on the runway, with certain body types, ages and abilities placed at the centre while many others are left out. UNBOUND seeks to open that picture.

This year’s runway will welcome people with different abilities, backgrounds, body types and personal stories. The theme will influence model casting, the collections, the stories told through the clothes and the way guests experience the event.

Beyond the runway, ‘Unbound’ will create room for young people to learn from established designers, gain practical experience and explore careers within fashion and the wider creative industry.

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 It will also open conversations around adaptive fashion, accessible event design, talent discovery, mentorship and employment.

The 2026 edition will bring together fashion designers and music stars from Ghana and across the African diaspora, with strong collections, live performances and an all-star cast of celebrity models.

The event will also feature the Black Star Awards, which will honour public figures shaping Africa’s future through leadership and contributions to the continent’s Orange Economy.

Organisers say the list of participating designers, performing artists, award recipients and other event details will be announced in the coming weeks.

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By Edem Mensah-Tsotorme 

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