Entertainment
“We didn’t invest in making hiplife attractive to younger acts” – Okyeame Kwame
Celebrated Ghanaian rapper and songwriter, Okyeame Kwame has bemoaned the seeming neglect of the hiplife tag by the current crop of rappers.
According to Okyeame, a lot of young rappers in Ghana would rather want to associate with hip hop or Asakaa (Ghanaian drill) now than call themselves hiplife artistes because it is difficult to find the genre name on digital music stores.
He made these comments while interacting with Joy FM’s entertainment journalist Kwame Dadzie on X.
Dadzie who expressed worry about the lull in the hiplife field wrote: “I admire @Okyeamekwame ‘s love for hiplife and his annual hiplife concert but what is the end-goal? Your people say hiplife is dead. Even these young rappers would rather want to identify with hip hop or Asakaa than hiplife?”
Responding to the post, Okyeame explained why the younger generation of rappers may have abandoned the name hiplife.
He said although they may not use the name, technically they still do hiplife.
“A younger generation will give up on tradition when it fails them. Reference “killing the game” if they call their music hiplife, how will it fit on Spotify and other streaming sites ? People choose their business hero’s based on financial and social impact, how many heroes did hiplife create? Nuances,” he intimated.
Okyeame Kwame was then asked what was not done right. In his answer he wrote: “We didn’t build a digital platform to sell our art . We didn’t collectively turn our gifts into a multi billion business. We didn’t create a culture that was inviting enough to attract the young artiste. We didn’t invest much younger acts . We didn’t invest in research and development. We left these to chance.”
Asked if he meant hiplife had failed, he answered in the affirmative.
“Yes please! We failed to find a spot on the streaming sites. The sites do not have hiplife as a genre but has Hiphop and afro beats so why would a young person who wishes to publish his music globally call it hiplife?” he indicated.
He therefore negated the supposition that concerts meant to celebrate hiplife (like his annual hiplife concerts ) may not be necessary in recent times.
“The goal is to evoke nostalgia and also maintain the heritage of Ghana’s music genre #HIPLIFE and make sure it is not forgotten in the annals of history.
The beautiful #asakaa music is #hiplife (Hiphop + Highlife). The term hiplife has just not been used for it,” he explained.
On why the Recording Academy of the Grammy Awards chose to mention Ghanaian drill instead of its parent genre hiplife, Okyeame Kwame noted that the awards scheme operate on business basis.
“The Grammy award is not consequential here . It is an American award , they choose what will benefit their agenda financially . Do you think they involve some Ghanaian genres because they love Ghana or because they want to be relevant in Ghana ? It is business not charity,” he stated.
Another iconic hiplife artiste, TiC, shared his thought on the matter.
“Hip Life is dead.” There’s no need to start the convo this way…. Is Hip Hop dead? No, but the real hip hop is not flowing like it used to. Again it has gone through different transformations, to the extent that the real hip hop lovers will say it doesn’t sound like before, yet hip hop is still alive. Why can’t we do the same here, accept that the original versions of HipLife is not flowing but we still got it in the new vibe rather than saying it is dead. Life goes on not backwards i guess,” he posted.
Affectionately known as the Rap Doctar, Okyeame Kwame will be hosting some hiplife greats at the 5th edition of his annual Hiplife Party at the +233 Jazz Bar and Grill on December 25, 2023.
Source: Myjoyonline.com
Africa’s celebrated music icon and highlife maestro, Kojo Antwi, has been selected as the headline performer for the 2026 Europe Day reception in Accra, marking a historic 50 years of partnership between the European Union (EU) and Ghana.
The event, scheduled for Thursday, May 7, 2026, at 6:00 pm, forms part of activities commemorating the Golden Jubilee of diplomatic, trade, and cultural relations between Ghana and the EU, which dates back to 1976.
Europe Day remains one of the most significant diplomatic gatherings on Ghana’s calendar, traditionally attracting more than 600 guests, including members of the diplomatic corps, senior government officials, and key stakeholders from various sectors.
The 2026 edition will be celebrated under the theme “Golden Bridge,” symbolising half a century of friendship, cooperation, and shared values between Ghana and the European Union.
Organisers say the evening will feature a rich cultural showcase, with Kojo Antwi affectionately known as “Mr Music Man” and “The Maestro” leading the entertainment segment.
His signature blend of highlife, soul, and Euro-African rhythms is expected to bring a fitting artistic touch to the milestone celebration.
In an official invitation letter signed by Rune Skinnebach on behalf of the EU and dated Wednesday, May 6, 2026, organisers described Kojo Antwi as the ideal choice for the occasion.
The letter stated: “We therefore cannot think of any better artiste to lift this special occasion to new levels of entertainment and national pride.”
It further expressed hope that the celebration would strengthen future collaboration, noting: “We hope this event will transform into sustained collaboration and partnership in the future.”
Kojo Antwi remains one of Africa’s most respected musical figures, with a career spanning decades and 13 acclaimed albums to his credit.
Widely regarded as the “King of Love Songs,” he has consistently delivered timeless hits that continue to resonate across generations.
From his early performances in Europe with his first band to his illustrious solo career in Ghana, the Maestro’s journey has been defined by creativity, resilience, and global recognition consistently projecting Ghana’s cultural excellence on the world stage.
Beyond his music, Kojo Antwi’s influence extends across the African entertainment landscape, inspiring generations of musicians. He recently expanded his legacy with the release of his memoir, “Mr Music Man: The Journey,” a deeply personal account of his life, artistry, and enduring impact making him one of the few African musicians to chronicle his story in his own words.
As Europe Day 2026 approaches, organisers say the choice of Kojo Antwi reflects more than entertainment value, but a celebration of an enduring cultural bridge between Ghana and Europe honouring a living legend whose music continues to unite hearts across continents.
By Enoch Ntiamoah Siaw
Veteran Ghanaian musician Okyeame Kwame has announced a new initiative aimed at engaging teachers and students through music and creativity.
The award winning artiste in a social media post revealed that the “Clap Challenge” will begin this week, starting with schools across the country.
He explained that the challenge will require a teacher together with students to record a video of themselves singing his “Clap” song.
According to him, the video must be lively and engaging to stand a chance of winning.
He stated that participants must also post their videos on social media with permission from their school authorities.
They are expected to use the hashtag #clap4others and tag him on any social media platform.
He added that one teacher will be selected as a winner every week and will receive a cash prize of GH¢1,000.
He noted that the final decision on winners will be made by him.
The musician encouraged teachers and students to take part in the challenge, stressing that it is designed to promote creativity, unity and positive expression among young people in schools.
This follows a GHC100,000 support from businessman, Richard Nii Armah Quaye, who lauded the musician for composing a song which has the tendency to change society and help eschew jealousy.
By: Jacob Aggrey
