Highlife music and dance from Ghana have been added to UNESCO’s 2025 Intangible Cultural Heritage List. The move celebrates over 100 years of musical creativity. It confirms Highlife as a globally recognised and protected cultural treasure. Ghana’s National Folklore Board led the nomination process in 2025. Highlife began along the West African coast, blending Akan rhythms, palm-wine guitar, brass bands and jazz.
Music legends like E. T. Mensah, Ebo Taylor and C. K. Mann shaped the genre’s rise. The UNESCO listing boosts visibility, preservation efforts, education and cultural tourism. It strengthens Highlife’s position as the foundation of modern African music styles.
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