Ghana’s Highlife music and dance has been formally added to UNESCO’s Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity, marking global recognition for one of the country’s most enduring cultural traditions. The announcement was made on 10 December at UNESCO’s 20th Session in New Delhi.
Ghana’s Permanent Delegate to UNESCO, Meredith Naa Odarkai Lamptey-Addy, described the decision as a historic moment for the country, the continent and the worldwide community invested in safeguarding cultural heritage.
“The inscription of Highlife music and dance onto UNESCO’s Representative List affirms what Ghanaians have always known; that Highlife is more than music. It is a living cultural legacy that embodies our identity, creativity and resilience,” she told the committee.
UNESCO’s Intangible Cultural Heritage List recognises living cultural expressions such as performing arts, oral traditions, rituals, knowledge systems and craft practices that are passed from one generation to the next. The aim is to highlight their significance, support diversity and help communities preserve them in an era of rapid global change.
During the New Delhi meeting, the committee reviewed 68 nominations from 78 countries, with Ghana’s submission earning approval. The decision follows Ghana’s success in 2024, when the country’s kente weaving tradition was added to the same list, strengthening its profile on the global cultural stage.
Ambassador Lamptey-Addy noted that the Representative List honours traditions that are “dynamic, adaptive and rooted in community,” qualities she said Highlife continues to embody.
The inscription is expected to support long-term efforts to safeguard Highlife music and dance and ensure that future generations inherit and appreciate one of Ghana’s most influential artistic forms.
