Ghanaian Vibes: Nightlife and Music in Ghana

Nightlife

Accra is known for its vibrant nightlife and there are plenty of things to do after dark. Some popular areas for nightlife in Accra include Osu, Labadi, and East Legon.

In Osu, you’ll find a variety of bars, nightclubs, and restaurants that cater to a diverse crowd. Osu was originally settled by the Ga people and became an important center of trade in the 17th century due to its proximity to the coast. The neighborhood was later taken over by the Danes, who established the Christianborg Castle that was used as a trading post by the Danish colonial government in Ghana. As a result, Osu became a hub of cultural exchange and was home to Europoeans, West Africans, and Afro-Carribeans. The mix of cultures is evident in the neighborhoods architecture, cuisine, and nightlife. In the 20th century, Osu became popular among expats and affluent Ghanaians which caused it to develop a reputation as a trendy and cosmopolitan area. The nightlife scene in Osu began to take shape in the 1960s and 70s, when a number of bars and clubs opened in the area. One of the most iconic venues was the Talk of the Town nightclub because it hosted a range of live music and was popular with both locals and foreigners. In the 1990s and 2000s, Osu’s nightlife reemerged as more upscale rooftop bars and casual hangout spots opened that offered affordable drinks. Osu is a popular destination because of its central location as it is situated between the beach and the city center, making it easily accessible. You will find most people on Oxford Street because it is lined with a variety of shops including local markets and street vendors to high-end boutiques and international brands. The nightlife scene on Oxford Street gets a big crowd because of the options of bars and clubs that play a variety of music genres from Afrobeats, highlife, hiplife, reggae, and live DJs playing the latest hits. Additionally, Oxford Street is a great place to try Ghanaian Cuisine. There are restaurants and street vendors who sell jollof rice, fufu, grilled seafood, and international cuisine. 

Labadi is known for its beachside bars and clubs, which offer a more relaxed atmosphere than some of the other areas in Accra. There are also several upscale restaurants in the area for a more refined night out. One of the most popular spots is Sandbox Beach Club that features a beach location and live music. Another popular spot is Tawala Beach Club which is a bit more fancy and has a pool, restaurant, and bar. This club often hosts live music events and other cultural performances. For a more casual spot, Labadi beach offers a variety of bars and restaurants where locals tend to often go.

East Legon is another popular area with a mix of bars, clubs, and restaurants. It is more upscale than Osu, but there is still a diverse crowd. As recommended by Jade, Twist Nightclub is a multi-level club that has a big dance floor, high tech sound system, and VIP area. The club often plays a mix of local and international music genres. But for a more sophisticated night in East Legon, a couple sites recommended the Urban Grill and restaurant bar, Coco Lounge and Piano Bar. 

Moreover, most clubs and restaurants have dress codes, especially if there are specific events being hosted. For men, the attire includes a collared shirt, dress shoes, and trousers or khakis. Jeans and sneakers are allowed but it all depends on the specific place. For women, bouncers tend to have higher expectations of women. This means women tend to wear smart casual or dressy attire and are often forced to wear high heels or fashionable sandals.

In order to have a good night out, there are safety precautions that should be taken. A lot of problems can be avoided by having street smarts and just being aware of your surroundings.  But one of the biggest issues that people encounter in Accra at night is theft, especially in crowded areas where there are a lot of tourists. Another concern is safe transportation. Jade recommended not traveling from the hours of 1AM-3AM, and especially not to travel by yourself, always have at least two other people with you. Taxis and Uber are generally safe but it is suggested to avoid sharing rides with strangers. 

Tiktoks showing Ghanaian nightlife:

https://www.tiktok.com/t/ZTRKe3RNt/

https://www.tiktok.com/t/ZTRKeWCXW/

https://www.tiktok.com/t/ZTRKe3uCH/

Music:

Music:   

According to an article written by FolkCloud, traditional Ghanaian music is split geographically with the vast and savanna-like plains of Northern Ghana being different than the forested and fertile where we will be. Northern Ghanaian traditional music mixes string instruments to create softer melodies. Some of these traditional instruments include the Kologo lute and the Gonjey fiddle. There is a long history of praise-singing or storytelling within music. 

For Ghana’s southern and coastal regions, music was a tool for social functions, so it relies on drums, bells, and harmonized songs. The music was for dancing. Most widely known as Highlife originated in Ghana in the mid-1900s. Ghana became an independent nation in 1957 which influenced the ways in which Ghana was able to create distinctive and original musical genres, especially Highlife. Dance Highlife shifted or evolved after the Second World War because American soldiers introduced swing and Jazz. Influential bands like The Tempos were responsible for introducing Caribbean music to the Ghanaian music scene as well as American jazz. During the 1950s and 1960s bands to go on a huge role in Ghanaian music that was highly influenced by other countries however in the 1970s there was a movement to go back to the roots of Ghanaian Highlife. At the beginning of the 1970s traditional Highlife became overtaken by dancing pop and electric guitars. In 1971 the Soul-to-Soul music festival came to Accra which brought big names like Ike and Tina Turner and Carlos Santana to Ghana legitimizing the Ghanaian music scene to many. 

In the 1990s an artist named Reggie Rockstone introduced what Ghanaians referred to as Hiplife. He had spent time in the United States where he learned about Hip Hop and then found his own unique style bringing it back to Ghana. Hiplife differentiated itself from Hip Hop because Ghanaians used local dialects to shift their flows or patterns of rapping as well as used traditional elements of highlife to back up the track.  

As of the late 2000s afrobeats have become extremely popular even in Western countries. artists like Stormzy who has a  Ghanaian background but grew up in the United Kingdom is one of the biggest stars I’d say in the world right now. You can hear the Highlife influences and his newest album This Is What I Mean.

Ghanaian music is a blend of cultures and unique and empowering musical talent. I think it would be incredibly difficult to not find something you like in the diverse and vast music that makes up Highlife.  

Artists To Listen To:  

Stonebwoy  

Kidi 

Shatta Wale 

King Promise 

A Playlist:

https://music.apple.com/gh/playlist/top-10-ghana-songs-currently/pl.u-aZb0kW4CPXKPEjD

about the authors:

Thank you for reading! I am Kenovia Neely a double major in African American studies and Business administration. I am from Tacoma Washington and I am finishing up the last weeks of my sophomore year right now. While in Ghana I cannot wait to be in the sun with delicious food and amazing people surrounding me.  

Citations:  

Azari, C. (2020, April 14). How highlife continues to influence a new generation of Ghanaian music. OkayAfrica. https://www.okayafrica.com/highlife-music-ghana-new-generation/ 

Wikimedia Foundation. (2023, February 9). Music of ghana. Wikipedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Music_of_Ghana