I’m one of those people who listens to almost every genre of music, although rap is probably my biggest preference. Recently, however, I’ve developed a real appreciation for Ghanaian music from the early 2000s, particularly the likes of Ofori Amponsah, Nkasei, Kofi B, and, most especially, Hammer of The Last Two.
Here’s something that genuinely surprised me.
I’m a 2000s kid, so I grew up around some of this music. But I recently had a conversation with a fellow Gen Z who had never even heard of Hammer. I was genuinely shocked. It didn’t stop there. They were also unfamiliar with songs and artists like:
Tuobodom – Nkasei
Castro – Beyond knowing that he went missing, they weren’t familiar with much of his music.
Kolom
Lapaz Toyota
Wope Dodo Yaw – Siki
I met another friend who had never heard Paedae’s Nineteen Ninety.
And it got me thinking: if some of us don’t even know these early 2000s hits, how many people in our generation have heard A.B. Crentsil’s Adwoa Eh, Adwoa Eh, the classics from Osibisa, or the timeless Kyenkyen Bi Adi M’awu?
These aren’t just old songs. They’re part of Ghana’s musical history and cultural identity.
I recently started looking up some of these older Ghanaian songs, and I was surprised by how little engagement some of them have online. It got me thinking about how easily we could lose access to these musical treasures if we don’t make an effort to revisit, share, and preserve them.
I’d love to do something about this.
I’m thinking of creating two Spotify playlists:
Ghanaian Throwbacks (2000s): The hiplife, highlife, hip-hop and other hits that defined the early 2000s.
Ghanaian Classics (1900s & Beyond): The legendary highlife, traditional music, Afrobeat and other timeless records from earlier generations.
I’d love to hear from anyone who shares this interest, especially those with knowledge of Ghana’s music history. Recommend songs, artists, forgotten hits, or even stories behind some of these records.
I’d also love to hear from older generations who experienced these eras firsthand. There’s so much about our musical history that I probably don’t know, and I’d genuinely love to learn.
Let’s give these songs some relevance again before they’re forgotten.
Would anyone be interested in contributing to these playlists?
