Veteran broadcaster Kafui Dey has urged radio and television presenters to diversify their playlists and give more attention to traditional Ghanaian music, emphasizing that such genres remain lively despite limited mainstream exposure.
Speaking on the Max Morning Show on Max TV, Dey highlighted that media professionals act as cultural gatekeepers whose choices significantly shape public taste and perception.
According to him, highlife music continues to flourish across Ghanaian communities even if it is seldom heard on urban radio. “Highlife hasn’t disappeared — it’s just off the airwaves. Visit the villages, and you’ll still find people dancing to highlife,” he remarked.
Dey argued that modern programming, which heavily favors Afrobeats, distorts the reality of Ghana’s diverse musical scene. “When DJs play 90 percent Afrobeats, it gives the impression that highlife is dead — but it’s not. It’s still alive and well,” he stressed.
He maintained that broadcasters have a duty to spotlight authentic Ghanaian music from various regions instead of focusing solely on commercially dominant genres.
To illustrate his point, Dey referenced the late John Peel, a celebrated British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) presenter renowned for giving exposure to underground musicians through his late-night shows. Peel, who hosted on BBC Radio 1 from 1967 until his passing in 2004, championed emerging artists in punk rock, reggae, electronic, and indie music.
His show, The Perfumed Garden, aired from midnight to 2 a.m. on Radio London during the late 1960s and provided a crucial platform for lesser-known talents. Later, his Peel Sessions on BBC Radio 1 became famous for live recordings that offered many musicians their first national spotlight.
“For many artists, that was their only access to airplay. That’s the power of media — you can transform lives when you promote music out of passion, not just profit,” Dey reflected.
He encouraged Ghanaian presenters to take similar initiative by promoting traditional sounds. “Traditional music isn’t dead. Go to any village, funeral, or wedding — you’ll find it alive. Presenters have the power; they just need to use it,” he urged.
Dey’s comments tie into broader discussions within Ghana’s entertainment industry about cultural preservation versus commercial influence. While Afrobeats continues to dominate international charts and attract major investment, many cultural stakeholders fear that its success overshadows deeply rooted local genres like highlife.
Originating in the late 19th century, highlife blends African rhythms with jazz and European instrumentation. It gained prominence across West Africa between the 1930s and 1950s, led by icons such as E.T. Mensah. The genre remains integral to Ghanaian social life, featuring prominently at funerals, weddings, and festivals.
Kafui Dey’s broadcasting journey includes hosting the GTV Breakfast Show from August 2021 to July 2025, after which he stepped down following four years of service. He also hosted GH Today on GhOne TV and has built a reputation as one of Ghana’s most respected corporate MCs. His extensive career spans several outlets, including Kapital Radio in Kumasi and Choice FM in Accra.
Today’s broadcasters face growing challenges balancing commercial appeal with cultural responsibility. Advertisers often prioritize youth-oriented shows that feature global hits, leaving traditional genres with limited funding opportunities despite their enduring popularity at the grassroots level.
Both the Ghana Music Rights Organisation (GHAMRO) and the Musicians Union of Ghana (MUSIGA) have, at various times, called for increased local music quotas on radio. While some support genre-specific targets to safeguard cultural heritage, others argue such measures could restrict creative freedom.
Advocates for cultural preservation maintain that media outlets are vital to sustaining intergenerational musical knowledge. With younger audiences relying on streaming platforms dominated by global algorithms, they warn that Ghana’s traditional sounds risk fading from the nation’s collective consciousness unless actively promoted by local broadcasters.