Highlife Music In Taadi

Sekunde-Taadi is a popular and also big twin city in the western part of Ghana and is widely known for being the home of Ghanaian music. The nearby twin city, Sekondi-Takoradi, is full of amazing musical talents from Ghana. Today, I want to share with you some great artists and popular songs that come from the Western Region.

When Did Music Started In Takoradi?

To my own surprise, when I asked some older men who love music in the area, they told me that music in the western part of Ghana began to get popular in the 19th century, around the late 1920s. They also said this is what their grandparents shared with them.

Meet A Popular Guitar Player – Kwamena Ato Bam

In Anaji, a district in Effia-Kwesimintsim Municipality (EKMA), there I met a well-known man named Kwamena Ato Bam, At 74 years old he still loved to play the guitar, which he also added that it is his hobby. He also mentioned that his grandfather was the first person in Takoradi to start doing rap music, and he helped make this type of music popular among the people in the district.

How Guitar Playing Became Popular In Anaji

Opanyin Ato Bam shared that his guitar was given to him by his grandfather, Nana Arhinsah, who got it as a gift from a white boss he worked for in Takoradi. His grandfather would often gather lots of people in the town square of Anaji, light a bonfire, and tell stories through music while playing his gifted guitar.

How They Brought Him Food

Nana Arhinsah became the favorite of the chief and the people because he always made them happy every evening even when he was sick. They often visited him at his house and brought him food and bush meat to thank him for his kindness to everyone in the community.

The Part Taadi Played In Highlife Music

Now let’s talk about music in our region in the 21st century. Artists like C.K Mann, Gyedu-Blay Ambolley, and also Felix Owusu made highlife music a wonderful experience during their time. Ambolley is well-known in Ghana for mixing rap with highlife music and for creating a music style called Simigwa music.

Meet C.K Mann

The father of Highlife music in Taadi, C.K Mann is a beloved figure among the people of Takoradi, and they have honored him by naming a road after him in Anaji, called C.K Mann Road. He is a well-known highlife musician and music producer, not just in the region but all over Ghana. He has shared his music for more than 35 years and was even seen and recognized by President Kufour in 2006 for his talent and hard work.

Meet Felix Owusu

Let’s focus on Felix Owusu, who is known as the Woaben and Okwantuni hitmaker. He used to be the leader of a music group in Takoradi called Osabirima. While he was with the band, he had the chance to sing with Shasha Marley, who is famous for the song “Maata”. Living legendary singer, Felix Owusu was born in Taadi, the same place where he started his music journey and became famous among his people. Now, he is a famous highlife music star all around the world.

Awards Won By Young Stars In The Region

The young musicians in the area now are leading the music scene and doing great in the country. Many of them have won big awards like Popular Song, Highlife Song of the Year, Songwriter Awards, New Artist, and also Unsung Award in Ghana.

Meet Taadi Music Gate Keepers

Musicians like Castro, Tc-Clique, th4 kwages, Nhyiraba Kojo, Kofi Kinaata, Fameye, Old Sodja, Nero X, and Ayesem are leading the music scene in Ghana. Some of them have been around for a while, and many are still doing very well in the music industry, making their country and Taddi proud.

Many artists like Snow B, Aya Ramzy B, Kwaku Bany, Westside Gang, Hyndu, Qwesi Flex, Sally M, and many other talented people are helping to make our region proud in the music scene in Ghana.

Visit Taadi To Explore Good Music

If you find yourself in the country or near the Western Region, especially in Takoradi, please come and visit us. We want you to discover our amazing music talent and help us share the great music we create. You will enjoy how our songs tell stories that are both fun and teach important lessons. Come see for yourself.