The Musicians Union of Ghana (MUSIGA) has announced plans to celebrate and preserve the contributions of Ghana’s music greats, including the late Highlife maestro Daddy Lumba, through the creation of a National Music Museum and Hall of Fame.
The initiative comes amid mounting calls for better recognition and documentation of the nation’s music pioneers—especially those who shaped Highlife, a genre deeply woven into Ghana’s cultural identity.
In an interview with Graphic Showbiz on August 5, MUSIGA President Bessa Simons revealed that the union is partnering with the Ghana Museums and Monuments Board (GMMB) to develop a comprehensive national archive dedicated to Ghanaian music.
Mr. Simons explained that the museum will be a permanent space to showcase the country’s rich musical heritage, chronicling different genres, historic milestones, and the lives of the musicians who shaped them.
“We are determined to document our artists because there’s hardly any detailed information on them,” he said. “Take CK Mann, for example—there’s no proper record of his work. Daddy Lumba will also be included in this effort. This is why we need a national music archive to honour these icons.”
According to him, the project will not only highlight Highlife’s roots and influential figures but will also cover all music styles produced in Ghana. The Hall of Fame, he noted, will be designed as an all-encompassing resource where visitors can explore the full story of Ghanaian music.
Alongside the museum project, MUSIGA is planning a series of tribute activities for Daddy Lumba and other late musicians. These will include nationwide concerts and educational events to trace the evolution of Highlife and demonstrate its continued significance.
“We’ll organise a special tribute concert and workshops to show what Daddy Lumba contributed to Highlife, because his style brought a fresh dimension to the genre,” Mr. Simons noted.
He added that an end-of-year Highlife seminar is being planned with the involvement of the Ministry of Tourism, the Creative Arts Agency, the Ghana Tourism Authority, the Commission on Culture, and the Folklore Board.
Mr. Simons further disclosed that MUSIGA is in discussions with key stakeholders to have Highlife officially recognised as part of Ghana’s intangible cultural heritage—a move they hope to finalise by November.
“These plans began before Daddy Lumba’s passing,” he said. “We want UNESCO to acknowledge Highlife in the same way Reggae is linked to Jamaica, so that when Highlife is mentioned, the world immediately thinks of Ghana.”
The MUSIGA President also expressed concern over the genre’s declining popularity among young people, attributing it to insufficient promotion and the absence of strong narratives around its importance.
“We need to make Highlife appealing to the younger generation. Too often, it’s dismissed, but it’s the bedrock of much of today’s music in Ghana. Every modern rhythm we enjoy carries a trace of Highlife,” he stressed.