Francis Doku, Chief Executive Officer of Maestro Africa Group and a respected figure in Ghana’s culture and tourism space, has called on the country to elevate highlife music as a central feature of its tourism offerings.
In an interview with Kwame Dadzie on Joy FM’s Showbiz A-Z, Doku emphasised the need for Ghana to recognise and market highlife as a powerful cultural asset that can attract international visitors.
“Does anyone travel to Ghana because of highlife? That’s a question we need to ask ourselves,” he said. “People go to Jamaica for reggae—it’s an integral part of their tourism experience.”
Doku proposed that Ghana develop a structured tourism strategy that integrates highlife music into the travel experience. For instance, he suggested curated tours that allow tourists to visit the homes or studios of legendary highlife musicians as part of their travel packages.
“Imagine a system where every visitor gets to explore at least five homes or studios of iconic highlife artists. That could become a major draw,” he added.
He also cited Nigeria’s successful promotion of Fela Kuti’s Shrine in Lagos as an example of how countries can leverage their music heritage for tourism.
Highlife, which originated in Ghana in the early 20th century, combines African rhythms with Western instruments such as guitars and horns. It laid the foundation for many modern African music genres and remains one of Ghana’s most defining cultural exports.
Doku’s comments came during a broader conversation on preserving the legacy of highlife legend Daddy Lumba. He also highlighted the potential impact of UNESCO’s ongoing consideration to list highlife as an Intangible Cultural Heritage—an endorsement that could significantly boost its international appeal.