Highlife to the World 2027 Launched in Barcelona Ahead of Ghana’s 70th Anniversary

The global campaign Highlife to the World 2027 (H2TW 2027) has officially been launched in Barcelona, Spain, marking the beginning of an international initiative to celebrate and promote Ghana’s iconic Highlife music as part of activities leading to the country’s 70th Independence Anniversary in 2027.

The official launch took place on Saturday, August 2, 2026, at the Seasea Club in Barcelona. The event was led by H.E. , Ghana’s Ambassador to the Kingdom of Spain, alongside the Executive Secretary of the Creative Arts Agency, Gideon Aryeequaye, in the presence of distinguished guests, government officials, diplomats, and celebrated Ghanaian music legends.

The Highlife to the World 2027 campaign aims to take Ghana’s indigenous music to audiences across the globe through a series of workshops, masterclasses, cultural exchanges, and major concerts in selected cities across Africa, Europe, Asia, and the Americas.

Speaking at the launch, Gideon Aryeequaye described the initiative as an important platform for projecting Ghanaian creative talent onto the global stage while preserving the country’s rich musical heritage.

“The Creative Arts Agency sees this partnership as the best platform to put talented Ghanaian creatives on international platforms, with the key goal of promoting and preserving Highlife for future generations,” he said.

The launch event featured performances from some of Ghana’s biggest music stars, including Jupitar, Bessa Simons, Obrafour, Stonebwoy, and the Lucky Star Band. The evening also included opening performances by DJ Logs, DJ Demo, DJ King Solo, and Nigerian guest DJ Enny, creating a vibrant celebration of Ghanaian music and culture.

Among the dignitaries who attended were Rex Omar, Presidential Aide and Coordinator of the Black Star Experience; H.E. Meredith Naakai Lamptey, Ghana’s Permanent Delegate to UNESCO in Paris; and H.E. Kurlsoume Sinare Baffoe, all of whom reaffirmed their commitment to ensuring that Highlife to the World 2027 becomes a successful global cultural campaign ahead of Ghana @70.

The organisers also received strong international support from Ms Lara Torres, Events Lead at Seasea Club, who expressed excitement about partnering with Ghana to promote Highlife music.

“We are so excited to support a brand as big as the one that birthed Afrobeat. We hope to host H2TW every year for our audience,” she said.

The Highlife to the World 2027 initiative is jointly organised by Showbiz Africa, the Musicians Union of Ghana (MUSIGA), the Black Star Experience, Benayacon, and the Ghana Embassy in Madrid. The campaign is being implemented in collaboration with the Ministry of Tourism, Culture and Creative Arts, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Creative Arts Agency, the Ghana Tourism Authority, and the National Folklore Board.

Organisers have also announced that the full Highlife to the World 2027 roadmap will be officially unveiled during the maiden Highlife Festival, which is scheduled to take place later this year at Laboma Beach Resort in Accra.

The initiative forms part of Ghana’s broader efforts to showcase its cultural identity, preserve the legacy of Highlife music, and position the genre on the global stage as the nation prepares to celebrate its 70th Independence Anniversary in 2027.