Ghanaians Don’t Hold Onto Their Own, That’s Why Nigerians Are Claiming Highlife – Ben Brainy on Bryt TV

Ghanaian musician Ben Brainy has sparked an important conversation about Ghana’s music industry following his recent appearance on Bryt TV with El Baby during his music video premiere. Addressing a growing concern, Ben Brainy pointed out that Ghanaians do not hold onto their cultural and musical heritage long enough, which has allowed Nigerians to dominate and claim ownership of Highlife music. Highlife music, one of Ghana’s most treasured musical genres, has played a crucial role in shaping African music. With pioneers like E.T. Mensah, Nana Ampadu, Amakye Dede, and Daddy Lumba, Highlife has long been a symbol of Ghanaian identity. However, Ben Brainy believes that Ghana has not done enough to preserve and promote the genre. According to him, Ghanaian musicians often abandon their traditional sounds in pursuit of newer trends, leaving a gap that Nigerian artists have strategically filled. By fusing Highlife with Afrobeat, Nigerians have managed to rebrand and commercialize the ge...