Year of Return: Ghanaian culture lags as diasporans embrace Amapiano, Afrobeats — Bisa Kdei

Ghanaian Highlife musician Bisa Kdei has voiced concerns over the inadequate promotion of Ghana’s cultural music, particularly Highlife during the Year of Return initiative.

In an interview on Onua TV, Bisa Kdei criticized the dominance of foreign sounds like Amapiano and Afrobeats in Ghana’s music scene, especially during events meant to showcase Ghanaian culture.

“If people come to Ghana, what are we selling? Are we selling Highlife or Afrobeats?” Bisa Kdei questioned,

He lamented that during the Year of Return, which was meant to celebrate Ghanaian heritage, clubs and events predominantly feature Amapiano and Afrobeats, with very little Highlife and other local sounds being played.

Bisa Kdei believes this trend negatively impacts the international success of Ghanaian artists, as diasporans and tourists are more likely to return home with foreign sounds instead of Ghana’s native music.

“When the diasporans and tourists come and all they hear are Afrobeats, that is what they will take back. So when people say Ghanaians can’t sell shows outside, whose fault is that? We are not promoting Ghanaian culture enough,” he stressed.

Recounting his personal experiences, Bisa Kdei shared an incident where he confronted a DJ for playing only Nigerian songs at a local club, stating, “This is our song, we have to promote it. I have chosen Highlife as my career, so I have to fight for it. That is why I’ve been very outspoken.”