Lagos, Nigeria – February 4, 2025 – Virgin Music Group announced today a new partnership with Rain Labs, a boutique distribution and integrated label services company founded in 2020, in Accra, Ghana. Rain Labs is dedicated to propelling African talent onto the global stage. This collaboration aims to provide comprehensive support for African artists through digital distribution, marketing, creative production, and brand partnerships, ensuring that their music reaches global audiences and achieves lasting success.
Left to Right: Mercy Agbai, RainLabs; Barbara Debre, Virgin Music Group Nigeria; Motolani Alake, Virgin Music Group Nigeria; Olukorede ‘Kay’ Ikazoboh, Virgin Music Group Nigeria; Albert Donkor, RainLabs; Lindford Amankwaah, RainLabs; Michael Ashkar, RainLabs; Kwame Owusu Ansah, RainLabs.
Virgin Music Group, a global independent music distribution and services company, has a history of championing artists worldwide. With the establishment of Virgin Music Group Nigeria in 2023, the company expanded its commitment to the African music industry. Its services include global distribution, streaming strategy, marketing, and artist development, designed to elevate both emerging and established acts.
With offices in Accra and London, Rain Labs is committed to empowering independent and emerging African artists and enabling them to thrive. Its tailored services include digital distribution, PR, streaming strategy, and creative production. With its expertise in the African music landscape, the partnership with Virgin Music Group enhances Rain Labs’ ability to reach over 128 digital streaming platforms, including Spotify, Apple Music, Boomplay, YouTube Music, and Audiomack.
Rain Labs’ roster includes Joey B, Cina Soul, Baaba J, MAUIMØON, Kofee Bean, Ess the Legend, and AD DJ, all of whom will benefit from Virgin Music’s global network. Together, the partnership aims to deliver impactful campaigns and sustainable pathways for artists to reach their full potential.
Albert Donkor, the co-founder and lead of Rain Labs, expressed his enthusiasm: “This partnership marks an exciting chapter for African music. Virgin Music Group’s proven track record and global reach align perfectly with our mission at Rain Labs. We trust this is the right time to elevate African talent to new heights and are eager to see the impact this collaboration will bring.”
Olukorede ‘Kay’ Ikazoboh, Managing Director of Virgin Music Nigeria, shared her perspective: “Rain Labs is a well-established entity with a deep understanding of Africa’s music landscape. At Virgin Music Group, we are proud to collaborate with a company of this calibre. Together, we aim to harness Rain Labs’ full potential and continue to develop innovative pathways for African artists to shine globally.”
The Nigerian experience is physical, emotional, and sometimes international. No one knows it better than our features on #TheAbroadLife, a series where we detail and explore Nigerian experiences while living abroad.
Edith, the subject of this week’s Abroad Life, believes in three things: nobody should spend their entire lives in Lagos alone, birthdays shouldn’t be repeated in one city, and Nigerian Jollof shouldn’t compete with Ghanian Jollof. In this episode, she shares how she’s visited four countries and 17 Nigerian states and plans to help others do the same.
Where did your desire to travel the world come from?
I come from a family of travellers. My dad isn’t based in Nigeria, but he loves to travel, and my mom also loves travelling. So, as a child, we used to go on family trips. I also went on every excursion in school. I’ve been exposed to things, places, and people since I was a child, so when I grew older, I just knew I wanted to explore as much as possible.
So far, how many countries have you been to?
So far, I’ve only been to four West African countries, including Nigeria. I’ve visited Togo, Benin and Ghana. I’ve been to Benin twice, and I have to say that the people are at the heart of the country. They were so warm and friendly.
In Togo, what stood out for me was the food. I was determined to try out new food as much as I could, but I ended up with a runny stomach. Ghana is special to me because I felt this overall warmth there. I stayed in Ghana for two months, but I ended up getting sick. That sickness made me realize how caring the people were. The women were so happy to care for me and ensure I didn’t spend a dime on anything. It was insane because everyone I encountered in Ghana was so lovely. They also have beautiful cities like Accra and Kumasi. And yes, I know you didn’t ask, but Ghanian jollof is better than Nigerian jollof.
That’s a bold claim
It is, but I’ve been dragged for saying it before, so I can say it again with my full chest. Their jollof rice is so different—the texture, the taste, and everything else. It’s just amazing.
Nigerian jollof is better than Ghanaian jollof. How did you end up in Ghana anyway?
It was a family trip with my people. My dad woke up one day and said, “Let’s go to Ghana.” And we went to Ghana. My parents left earlier, but my siblings and I stayed back. I’m not really a fan of revisiting places, but I would definitely visit Accra again.
When did you start exploring the world?
It all started in 2022. Do you know how folks from Twitter say things like, “God, I don’t want to die in Surulere”? That was what started the whole thing. I visited Kwara State for the first time in 2022 and knew I didn’t want to spend the rest of my life in Lagos. But, I started documenting my travelling experiences in 2023.
Have you gone on any international solo trips?
No. All my trips have been with family. I’ve not done any international solo trips yet.
You guys just wake up and decide to tour the world?
Yes, we love to travel. As I mentioned, my dad is a traveller. He’s been to so many countries. Our trips are mostly randomly planned, but we typically plan for summer.
Besides Kwara and Lagos, have you been to other Nigerian states?
Oh yes. I’ve been to 17 Nigerian states. I made a deliberate decision not to go to UNILAG because I knew I wouldn’t have had as much freedom to travel if I stayed in Lagos. So, I decided to go to the University of Nigeria, Nsukka.
Visiting 17 states is crazy. Which state is your favourite so far?
Tourism-wise, it’s Enugu state. Enugu is blessed with highly breathtaking views – from the landscape to mountains, hills, rivers and waterfalls.
Enugu is also blessed with caves. The waterfalls are unique—every single one of them, the dams, the river, the rocks. And I’m not being biased because I was educated there. But there were things I found surprising about Enugu at first. For example, shops don’t open until 10 a.m.
And when do they close?
By 6 pm, it’s a very slow pace compared to Lagos. Everybody is so chill that it makes you wonder why we are always in a rush in Lagos.
Do you have a goal in mind?
There’s something called a budget traveller, and that’s what I am. Actually, I am a “budget-budget” traveller. Because I started travelling as a teenager, who didn’t have any money. My goal is to travel as much as possible on a tight budget, but my dad doesn’t support my travelling.
Why is that?
He doesn’t like the idea of it because the world is not safe for women but my mom is supportive. She has always wanted to do this, but she got married, started a business and no longer had the time for it.
So, how do you look out for yourself on these trips?
It’s all God. I’m very, very fortunate when it comes to meeting people. I don’t want to test my luck regarding security, so that I will tell my family and friends about my movement. I also carry spare cash anywhere I’m going because that’s important. Plus, I research to figure out where to go and where to avoid.
How do you afford your trips?
I should add that my first solo trip was in 2024. I have a birthday tradition of celebrating every birthday in a different city or another state, trying new foods, and meeting new people. I started the tradition in 2023. I plan to do it again this year. And I mentioned this because how I could fund that trip was 100% through savings. So, I was at university, getting an allowance and doing side gigs. I’m a video editor and social media manager. So, I saved a whole lot and budgeted accordingly. As I mentioned, I’m not just a budget traveller; I’m a “budget budget” traveller. I go for the cheapest alternatives to travelling to have enough money to enjoy the trip.
So, what are your travel plans for 2025?
I want to explore northern Nigeria and visit Cameroon later in the year, but some of my trips this year will be group trips. I’m currently drafting a travel calendar for my travel committee, which is a growing group, so anyone can join us.
Tell me more about your birthday tradition
In my family, birthdays are important, and we go all out for each other with cakes and gifts, but there was a particular birthday that just didn’t feel as warm as the others (even though I had gotten gifts). I always go all out for other people’s birthday so it was saddening not to get the same energy back. It was after that birthday that I decided never to have a terrible birthday again in my life. So, every year, I save for my trips. Even if I stay home all year, I must be in a new city to celebrate my birthday. So far, it’s been the best decision. I always end up having the most amazing conversations with new people, trying new food, and seeing new places.
Where are some of the places you’ve spent your birthday?
When I started the tradition, I spent my birthday in Erin Ijesha. I spent my second birthday in Port Harcourt trying new things.
Do you have a dream country?
I don’t have a dream country per se, but I’d love to go anywhere I can see the Northern Lights. So, think Denmark and Iceland. But my current obsession is Namibia.
In what country have you had the chance to be the happiest version of yourself?
It might be weird, but it’s Nigeria. I love this country so much, even though it frustrates me sometimes.
Do you want to share your Abroad Life story? Please reach out to me here. For new episodes of Abroad Life, check in every Friday at 12 PM (WAT).
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Cross-border payments aren’t always a walk in the park. When you aren’t worrying about the exchange rate and affordability of the transfer, it’s hoping the recipient gets the money as soon as possible. This article will solve that problem.
Whether you’re sending money from Ghana to Nigeria to support loved ones or sending money outside of Ghana for other reasons, we’ve outlined the fastest and most affordable options to send money from Ghana to Nigeria.
Bank Transfer
Several traditional banks offer seamless transfers between Ghana and Nigeria, and these banks are the most accessible:
Guaranty Trust Money Transfer (GTMT)
Image: TechCabal
This service allows GTBank account holders and non-account holders to enter any branch in Ghana and transfer funds for free to GTBank account holders in Nigeria. All you need to do is provide the recipient’s Nigerian bank details and full name at the bank branch.
Pros
The funds transfer is instant, and the recipient doesn’t have to worry about converting cedis to naira since the bank sends the exact naira equivalent. The bank also doesn’t charge the recipient for the transfer fees.
Cons
The sender must visit the bank branch to initiate the transfer. The maximum amount per transfer is $10,000.00 (or the equivalent in cedis).
AccessAfrica
Image: TechCabal
This is a payment product by Access Bank that allows Ghanaians to send money (in cedis or dollars) to Nigeria. If the money is sent in dollars and the recipient has a domiciliary account, the recipient in Nigeria will receive it in dollars. Otherwise, they’ll receive the money in naira.
To send the money, the sender requires an approved means of identification, their Access Bank account number (if they’re an account holder), and a transfer “send form” filled out at the bank to initiate the transaction. The recipient receives the money for free, but the sender pays a $5 flat fee + 1% variable fee on the principal per transaction. This means that the total transfer fee depends on the transaction size.
Pros
Money transfers are immediate and trackable. The recipient in Nigeria gets the money straight to their account (for Access Bank account holders) and doesn’t need to show up at the bank. The recipient also doesn’t have to be an account holder and can choose to walk into the bank to pick up the funds.
Con
The sender needs to be physically present at the bank to initiate the transaction.
Africash by UBA
Image: Abacus
Much like GTBank and AccessAfrica, you can visit any UBA branch—either as a UBA customer or not—to transfer money to anyone in Nigeria by filling in your details and choosing a PIN code for verification. Africash also offers the option to cancel, modify, and request refunds for unpaid transfers.
Pros
The service is available to both account holders and non-account holders, and transferred funds are instantly available. There is also no limit on receiving transfers.
Con
Currently, the service is only available at UBA bank branches across Ghana and other African countries.
Internet Banking/Digital Payment Platforms
These platforms offer the convenience of requesting money transfers right from the comfort of your home. We’ve outlined some of the best options available:
Bitnob
Image: Bitnob
Bitnob is a digital payment platform that enables money transfers across eight African countries, including Ghana and Nigeria.
To get started, you’ll need to download the Bitnob app, create an account and fund it. Next, under the “transfer” section, you can choose to transfer to a bank account or Momo wallet and change the currency to Nigerian naira. You can then input the amount you want to transfer and the beneficiary details.
Pros
Bitnob only charges a 1% transaction fee, and the recipient gets the funds immediately in real time.
Con
Transactions are only done in-app.
ATL Money
Image: ATL Money
This online money transfer platform offers users the opportunity to transfer money to over 60 countries, including Nigeria.
To initiate a transfer, visit the ATL Money website and create an account. Next, click on “transfer cash”, enter the amount you want to send, and indicate the country you are sending to. After entering the beneficiary’s details, the site redirects you to a payment channel where you can fund the transfer with your credit or debit card or bank transfer. After confirmation, the funds are then transferred to the recipient in Nigeria. Transaction fees range from 2 – 4% of the total amount sent.
Pro
Money transfers can be done via the website or the ATL Money app.
Con
Transfers can take up to three days to reflect in the beneficiary’s bank account.
Yellow Pay
Image: Yellow Card
Yellow Pay allows users to send Ghana cedis to someone in Nigeria who will receive the equivalent in Naira. The recipient must be a Yellow Pay user to receive the funds.
To transfer using Yellow Pay, download the app and create an account. Next, click on “Pay” and then select “Send.” The app will ask you to select the country code, the beneficiary’s details, and the transfer amount. Then, you’ll see the amount the beneficiary will receive and can confirm the transaction.
The transaction fee depends on the size of the transaction.
Pro
Transaction fees are competitive compared to traditional bank money transfer options.
Con
You can only send funds to Yellow Pay users or recipients willing to open Yellow Pay accounts.
Disclaimer: Please don’t take this as financial advice. We advise you to do your research before using any of these platforms.
A hall of fame solidifies the iconic work a person puts into their craft.
We should have an African music hall of fame, a museum to highlight the impact of its music on society and honour the significant contributors to the industry. But since we don’t have one yet, we can only imagine it would feature these greats.
Miriam Makeba
Mama Africa wrote, sang and performed music, acted in movies like “Come Back Africa” and campaigned against the apartheid — even got exiled from South Africa as punishment. While on exile in the U.S, she performed at the birthday party of US President John F. Kennedy at Madison Square Garden in 1962. Due to her exile from South Africa, she moved around a lot, eventually holding nine passports and honorary citizenships from ten countries — her situation is the grace japa warriors pray for. Her discography boasts nine albums, including the Grammy-Award winning “An Evening With Belafonte/Makeba”.
E.T. Mensah
The Ghanaian “King of Highlife”, E.T Mensah championed Highlife with his Tempos Band throughout the 1950s. In 1940, he joined the Tempos Band originally created by the European soldiers stationed in Accra. Soon, Mensah became the leader of the band which disbanded and was reshaped in 1946 to consist of only African musicians. Mensah’s popularity grew worldwide when he performed with Louis Armstrong in 1957.
Angelique Kidjo
The Beninese singer-songwriter, actress and activist was born into a family of artists. Her father was a musician; mother, a theatre director and choreographer. She first gained success as a teenager with her version of Miriam Makeba’s “Les Trois Z”. She performed as a backup singer for local groups and as a lead vocalist for Pili Pili, an Euro-African jazz and rock band in 1985. In 1991, she signed to Island Records and made four albums. Since then, she’s gone on to record 11 more, with five Grammy Awards to her name.
Fela Anikulapo-Kuti
Abami Eda, as Fela’s also called, was a Nigerian musician, bandleader, composer, instrumentalist and activist. His music is robust, endures in relevance, and his lyricism is unapologetic in delivery. He sang in Pidgin English, Yoruba and didn’t cater to the Western audience. As his music grew popular, the ruling class were not having it because of his political messages, and raids were launched on his Kalakuta Republic — his iconic home. Under military rule, Fela’s music grew too political for labels to publish and his commentary brought him at loggerheads with the soldiers. He was in jail for 20 months under Muhammadu Buhari’s first government. After his release, he continued to make and perform music until his death in 1997.
Brenda Fassie
She was the IT babe of her era and went by nicknames like MaBrr, Queen of African Pop, The Black Madonna, Madonna of the Township — titles that capture her brilliant musicianship and closeness to the grassroot. Due to the consistent anti-apartheid lyrics in her music, she enjoyed massive popularity. Among her multi-platinum selling albums is “Memeza”, South Africa’s best-selling album of 1998. Brenda’s impact earned her the 17th spot among the top 100 Great South African according to public vote, and the 2005 Lifetime Achievement Award at South African Music Awards.
King Sunny Ade
KSA performs juju music crafted out of ancient oriki — poetic lyrics to praise-singing people in high places. He ushered the steel pedal guitar into the Nigerian pop music scene and is the first juju musician to accompany the music with tenor guitar, clarinet, synthesizers and vibraphone in an effort to imitate the traditional juju instruments that were hard to carry on the road. His 1983 album, “Synchro System”, earned him a Grammy nomination — the first for a Nigerian artist. In 1998, he bagged another nomination for his album, “Odu”. Although he’s never won a Grammy, he’s regarded as one of the world’s greatest band leaders. KSA’s elite musicianship shows in his guitar prowess and impeccable dance moves when he comes alive on stage.
Oumou Sangaré
She’s considered the queen of Wassoulou, a region in Mali that heavily inspired her music, which advocates for women’s low status in the society. Oumou has recorded ten albums and received awards like Commander of the Order of Arts and Letters of France (1998), Ambassador of Food and Agriculture Organisation (2003), Artist Award at WOMEX 2017, all for her music and women’s rights advocacy.
Hugh Maskela
Dubbed the Father of South African jazz, Hugh Maskela was highly recognised for his beautiful compositions that addressed South African apartheid. While touring Africa in the 1970s, he worked as a teacher for a year in Guinea, played with Fela Kuti’s band and recorded five albums. He has over 45 albums to his name today.
Umm Kulthum
Umm Kulthum’s career spanned over four decades, from the 20s to the 70s, and her emotive performances captivated audiences across Africa and beyond. Her vocal range, mastery of maqam (Arabic musical modes) and improvisation made her an unparalleled artist. Her songs explored themes of love, patriotism and social justice, resonating deeply with the Egyptian masses and elevating her to a symbol of cultural identity and national pride. Umm Kulthum passed away in 1975, but her legacy as the “Star of the East” lives on.
Sir Victor Uwaifo
A multidisciplinary artist born in Benin, Nigeria, Victor Uwaifo started playing music in secondary school. He played at St. Gregory’s College, in Lagos, and with Victor Olaiya’s All Stars band before moving to E.C Arinze’s highlife group. At 24, he released his popular track, “Joromi”, in 1965 — the same year he founded his Melody Maestros band. The song won him the first gold record certification in Nigeria and Africa, courtesy of Philips, an old British record label. Throughout his career, he experimented and developed sounds like Akwete, Shadow and Ekassa.
Ali Farka Toure
Regarded as one of Africa’s most important musicians from Africa, Ali Toure is the creator of desert blues — a fusion of traditional Malian music and African-American blues. Many of his songs have featured in films and documentaries like the geo-quiz segment of The World PRI-BBC, the short film titled “L’Assedio”, 2018’s “Black Panther”, Nintendo’s Animal Crossing games and more. He passed away in 2006, but till today, he’s on the list of 100 greatest guitarists of all time, as seen on Rolling Stone and Spin Magazine.
Mahotella Queens
Talent scout and music producer, Rupert Bopape, formed Mahotella Queens in Johannesburg in 1964. Originally a band of five South African women, the supergroup, famous for their unique harmonies, guitar-led mbaqnaga music and fast-paced dance, now has three — Hilda Tloubatla, Nobesuthu Mbadu and Amanda Nkosi. Since the group’s inception, they’ve made hundreds of recordings, mostly for the international audience. Their music has been recognised and sampled by new generation artists like Cassper Nyovest.
Dorothy Masuka
https://youtu.be/9owfn3ljW-g
Dorothy Masuka was a renowned Zimbabwean musician known for her powerful voice and versatility in blending jazz, traditional African rhythm and afro-pop. Her music career began in the 1950s when she moved to South Africa and established herself as a prominent jazz singer. Her 1993 hit song “Hamba Nontsokolo” addressed migrant workers’ struggles and catapulted her to fame. Masuka fearlessly tackled political and social issues through her music, collaborating with notable artists like Miriam Makeba.
Mounira Mitchala
She’s a Chadian musician known for her soulful voice and captivating performances. She blends traditional Chadian melodies with contemporary African and global influences, creating a unique and eclectic sound. Her lyrics are a blend of local languages — Arabic, Sara and French — showcasing her commitment to promoting the language diversity of her country. Mounira has released several critically acclaimed albums, including “Talou Lena” (2010) and “Tchad” (2014). Her music addresses social issues and promotes unity and resilience, elevating Chadian music.
Khaled
Algerian singer, songwriter and multi-instrumentalist, Khaled, has been active in the industry since he was 14. His 1986 album, “Kutche”, shot him to the limelight and introduced rai music — an Algerian genre characterised by its folk music, Western influences and elements of pop, reggae, and funk — to a broader audience. Khaled’s bold voice and charismatic stage attracted audiences across continents to rai. His music has influenced artists like Rachid Taha, Acid Arab and Soolking.
Ghanaian music has evolved a lot over the years. We had the VIP era, with Ahomka Wo Mu and Two Women (with Tony Tetuila), in the early 2000s. The mid-2000s introduced us to R2Bees, with Kiss Your Hand, and the azonto dance craze, thanks to bangers from Sarkodie and Fuse ODG.
With artistes like Amaarae, Black Sherif, King Promise and Kwesi Arthur building up massive fan bases across the world, we’ve decided to look at some of the new school artistes putting their stamp on the scene and continuing the legacy of the icons who came before them.
Yaw Tog
What do you get when you take a cup of black coffee with two scoops of pre-workout and half a can of your favourite energy drink? Chaotic adrenaline, for sure — which is more or less what you get listening to Yaw Tog’s music. At just 19, the Kumasi-born rapper has helped introduce Ghana’s version of drill music — asakaa — to the world. Delivering bars in his native language of Twi, you don’t have to understand Yaw Tog’s music to feel gingered to take on the world.
You should listen to: His 2020 breakout single, Y33gye, when hitting the gym or looking for extra energy to fight capitalism.
Moliy
Moliy is no stranger to Nigerians who love good music. Getting her big break on Amaarae’s global chart-topper, Sad Girlz Luv Money, Moliy has since collaborated with everyone from BOJ to Ogranya and producer, P.Priime. Features aside, Moliy holds her own on solo projects, proving that she’s more than just a chorus girly.
You should listen to: Her 2022 EP, Honey Doom.
SuperJazzClub
Nothing beats live music, and as someone who’s seen and felt the energy SuperJazzClub brings to the stage, I can confidently say they’re the real deal. With nine members, a number that rivals some famous K-pop groups (BTS only has seven members), SuperJazzClub is bursting at the seams with talent across vocals and production. The creative mix is evident in the music they’ve put out since their 2020 debut EP, For All the Good Times. Their rave-like performances have built a cult following outside Ghana, with fans worldwide (including me) ready to shout “Flash”, as soon as their 2021 smash hit, Cameras, comes on.
You should listen to:Paradise off their 2023 compilation, ACT 3.
Baaba J
There’s no denying that Baaba J is one of the most exciting voices out of Ghana right now. Making a major entry into the scene with her 2020 debut EP, Lumumba St, Baaba J introduced herself as an artiste who’s comfortable knowing she doesn’t fit in. “I have no exes. I have no dresses. I’m a geek,” she declares on Tomboy, a standout track from the EP, before reminding everyone that, tomboy or not, she’s still the girl who can easily “pull both sexes”.
Listening to Fameye is like having a spiritual experience. Leaving his early rap days behind for a more high-life-leaning sound, Fameye has established himself as one of the most versatile artistes in Ghana, who’s not afraid to explore new territories.
You should listen to: His 2021 hit, Praise, and let his music minister to the deepest part of your soul.
Essilfie
If you’re looking for a lush and sultry mix of pop/R&B with a sprinkle of amapiano, then Essilfie is your girl. With a voice that would fit seamlessly into the 1990s era of Jill Scotts and Erykah Badus, Essilfie makes music for the baddies who know their worth and refuse to take shit from anybody. Her music is unapologetic and right in your face. Whether you get it or not, Essilfie is that girl.
You should listen to:KroKro Me from her 2022 EP, Tori’s Lounge.
Marince Omario
If you’re into no skips trap artistes like Pyscho YP and Don Toliver, then Marince Omario is the Ghanaian rapper you need to have on your playlist. Famous for creating his own genre of music , Marince combines trap, R&B and what sounds like nostalgic high-life, to make the distinct style he describes as “Fu”. With Manrice, you don’t know if you’ll get a club banger or a song to play in the background while you journal. But one thing’s for sure: you’ll have a good time.
You should listen to:Ramblers off his 2020 EP, Oblitey, while pre-gaming before a dirty Friday night on the streets.
Larruso
If Larruso was a Nigerian artiste, he’d be on the radio daily, with earworms you couldn’t possibly avoid even if you wanted to. Blending dancehall with afropop and a certain swagger that’s clearly innate as opposed to acquired, Larruso’s music holds your attention from start to finish. With a tested and trusted discography since his 2019 debut, he’s the captain of his musical ship and wants you to join him on his journey.
You should listen to: His 2022 EP, Sounds from the Slums,for the full Larruso experience.
Ghanaians put boiled eggs in everything except their music, and I’m sure that’s why it slaps so hard. While Nigerians have become the face of Afrobeats, there’s no denying the massive role the Ghanaian music scene has played in helping us define this sound.
Here’s a timeline of Ghanaian songs that crossed the border into Nigeria and took over our playlists.
2004: Ahomka Wo Mu — VIP
Even though it wasn’t the first Ghanaian song to cross into the Nigerian market, VIP’s Ahomka Wo Mu was the blueprint for successful crossovers. The song was so big that they ended up signing with Kennis Music, the biggest label at the time and home to 2Baba, Tony Tetuila and Eedris Abdulkareem.
However, VIP’s most significant impact was inspiring this Mama G classic:
2007: 16 Years — Mzbel
16 Years is an iconic song about consent and speaking up against sexual harassment, disguised as a party jam. Fun fact: I didn’t know it was a Ghanaian song until it popped up on a Ghananian YouTube playlist and I was shook.
2009: Kiss Your Hand — R2Bees and Wande Coal
For the longest time, I was convinced Wande Coal was the only one singing on Kiss Your Hand, and before you judge me, we all thought Wande Coal was singing on Fireboy DML’s Peru too. 2009 introduced us to the Ghanaian group R2Bees, and since then, they’ve churned out hit after hit, including one of my all-time faves, Slow Down with Wizkid in 2013.
2011: Azonto — Fuse ODG
Goes without saying. You have to have been there to fully understand the impact Fuse ODG’s Azonto had on the streets. This was a moment. Everyone started doing Azonto, even Wizkid. Good times for real.
2012: U Go Kill Me — Sarkodie
We should’ve all seen Sarkodie’s 2021 Non-Living Thing (feat. Oxlade) coming considering his breakout single was U Go Kill Me — I guess the babe succeeded. Continuing the Azonto craze that started in 2011, Sarkodie’s U Go Kill Me made him a household name in Nigeria, and the song still slaps till today.
2013: Muje Baya (Move Back) — 5ive
Taking us out of the azonto era and starting a new dance craze, 5ive’s Muje Baya (Move Back) showed us how to have a good time and still push our bad belle haters away. Talk about creating a multipurpose bop. Love to see it.
2014: Tonga — Joey B
“Tonga dey rhyme with corna. Will you come to my corna? I wan give you hard drive, format.” If you ask me what Tonga means, na who I go ask? All I know is dancefloors in 2014 ate Joey B’s Tonga up and have refused to swallow or spit it out since then.
I know what you’re thinking, “Mr. Eazi aka Tosin Ajibade is not Ghanaian.” But it’s hard to deny Ghana’s influence on his music, especially when he started out. Mr Eazi and Juls (who produced Skin Tight) introduced Banku music to a Nigerian audience and started a sonic trend that influenced everyone from Runtown to Tekno.
2017: One Corner — Patapaa
The One Corner dance is something that still haunts me to this day because why? Why did anyone think it was cool? 2017 was the year of One Corner, and I doubt we’ll be forgetting it anytime soon.
2018: Joanna — Afro B
Justice for all the Joanas out there because I’m sure their lives haven’t been easy since Afro B dropped Joanna in 2018.
2020: Forever — Gyakie
A real pandemic music baby, Gyakie ruled the last few months of 2020 and the start of 2021 thanks to her inescapable hit, Forever. This song was everywhere on TikTok and on everyone’s Instagram story. Now that I think about it, it made sense that she hit up another pandemic music baby, Omah Lay for the Forever remixthat dropped in 2021.
2022: Kwaku the Traveller — Black Sherif
Black Sherif’s Kwaku the Traveller is the definition of, “No one knows what it means, but it’s provocative. It gets the people going.” I’m not sure what this guy is rapping about, but something about his energy gingers my energy. It’s a feeling thing. If you know, you know.
Ensuring that Valentine’s Day fell within ten-day chocolate marketing period may have been a masterstroke for Ghana’s chocolate marketers. But they were also helped because a campaign launched 15 years ago to encourage local consumption of chocolate is beginning to bear fruit.
By Zubaida Mabuno Ismail, bird story agency.
“I have run out stock of Kingsbite milk chocolate, I only have the love chocolate (chocolate from Turkey),” announces a vendor stationed at the Dzorwulu junction in a suburb of Accra. It’s Valentine’s Day, February 14, 2022 and already vendors are selling out of Ghanaian chocolate.
That is a measure of success for the organisations behind Ghana’s National Chocolate Week Celebration, an annual marketing drive that was begun in 2015 and which is beginning to change the narrative on chocolate.
It’s also great news for the Ghana Cocoa Processing Company, which sells seven main brands of chocolates – including Kingsbite.
Three private firms — Chocolate 57, owned and run by London-based sisters, Priscilla and Kimberly Addison, Niche Cocoa and Cocoa Liquor Company-GIHOC Distilleries are the other key partners behind the country’s annual Chocolate fete. According to the managing director of the state-run Ghana Cocoa Processing Company, Nana Agyenim Boateng, more and more stakeholders are being drawn in every year.
It may have been luck that this year, Valentine’s Day fell within the 10-day chocolate fete, scheduled to run from February 12 to February 22 but the Valentines Day slogan, “Eat Chocolate, Stay Healthy, Grow Ghana; Our Chocolate, Our Health, Our Wealth” left no doubt as to what the day was meant to be about.
Valentine’s gift boxes and bouquets invariably contained a bar of Kingsbite Milk Chocolate.
Board member of the country’s COCOBOD, Naa Adwoa Dokuah, explained the celebrations’ origins – and why the board shares chocolate bars each year with the Darbah community in the Atwima Nwabiagya North District to share bars of chocolate to pupils.
“The national Chocolate Day celebration idea was mooted by former tourism minister Jake Obetsebi Lamptey during ex-President John Agyekum Kufour’s tenure and this is an opportunity to honour the president in his hometown,” he said.
Ghana has had plenty of chocolate visionaries. The first was the late Tetteh Quarshie. Quarshie is credited for bringing the first cocoa beans to the then Gold Coast in 1879. The agriculturalist planted the beans on his farm at Mampong-Akuapim, a town in the Eastern Region but little did he know that his discovery would later be the lifeline to his country’s economy, becoming an important part of the country’s export.
Born in 1842, Quarshie did not witness his country’s first official export of two cocoa bags in 1893, as he died on Christmas Day, 1892. But by 1910 Ghana was already the world’s largest exporter of cocoa and produced almost half of the world’s output until 1978, when Ivory Coast overtook Ghana as the largest producer.
Although cocoa beans originated in South America, the majority of the world’s annual crop is grown in Africa, and the 2017-2018 African harvest amounted to around 3.5 million tons. The top two producers are Ghana and Ivory Coast, with Ivory Coast producing more than twice the volume that Ghana does. Some three million people work in the industry in those two countries.
In 2015, while the world’s cocoa farmers received about 8 billion US dollars in revenue, the world chocolate market was valued at 110 billion US dollars, according to the African Development Bank. Ghana wants to retain far more of the chocolate market value than it currently does, by developing its domestic chocolate market and relying less on exports of unprocessed beans… basically changing the narrative from “raw cocoa exporter” to “processed chocolate consumer”.
To boost local cocoa consumption, in the academic year 2017/18, the government introduced a hot chocolate programme for senior high school students in the country. The country also encourages an interest in cocoa and chocolate production, at school.
School principal Lawrence Ahiagbor said that the strategy not only encourages learners to become familiar with chocolate as a local product but also promotes its consumption. Surprisingly few learners know about cocoa or chocolate, especially in the country’s north.
“Since cocoa is not something that is produced in the northern part of Ghana. Most of our learners would have seen it for the first time in its real essence and not in pictorial form. They would also learn the act of sharing and then begin to develop an interest in cocoa made products in Ghana,” Ahiagbor said.
One of those who got to enjoy chocolate products at the annual fete was Kanitatu Abdul-Latif, a pupil of the Alhassan Gbanzaba Memorial School in Ghana’s Northern region. She was fascinated with chocolate saying she had only seen the cocoa pods either in photos or television.
“I only see cocoa on television so seeing it today (chocolate day) brings me joy. Again, I have learned about other products produced from cocoa. Thank you for bringing us cocoa,” she said with a smile on her face.
Mohammed Farakhan, another pupil, enjoyed the celebration, too.
“I see today as a day to honour the cocoa farmers and the celebration in school is our way of saying thank you to the farmers.” Latif said.
Cocoa is mainly grown in the country’s forested areas of Ashanti, Brong-Ahafo, Central Region, Eastern Region, Western Region, and Volta, where rainfall is 1,000–1,500 millimetres per year.
While the global price of cocoa beans can fluctuate considerably, the price has gravitated been between 2,000 and 3,000 US dollars per metric ton for the past few years.
So while it may have been luck that Valentine’s Day this year fell during the annual Chocolate Week Celebration, it was no coincidence that it was chocolate, not flowers, that marketers across the country, were pushing on the day.
The Nigerian experience is physical, emotional, and sometimes international. No one knows it better than our features on #TheAbroadLife, a series where we detail and explore Nigerian experiences while living abroad.
Today’s subject on Abroad Life has travelled to three different countries with her family. She talks about her experiences in each country, sleeping at airports and borders, and why she’s never going to Ghana by road again.
What was growing up like?
I grew up in a pretty comfortable household with parents who made sure the family did stuff together, even if it was as little as going for lunch every Sunday. I’m the oldest of my siblings, so I was the first to go to a school outside the state where we lived. Generally, growing up was interesting.
When did you first leave Nigeria?
I was 13 and we went to the UK for Christmas. My parents had been there before and they were excited to go on the trip again with us.
God when? How was the trip?
It started off disastrous. On our transit stop at Casablanca, we discoveredthat it was snowing terribly where we were going to in the UK and this meant that our flight had to be delayed. Omo, we had to sleep in the airport all night. It was super, super cold, and all we had to eat was some bread that the airline provided.
We eventually left the next day.
What was the UK like?
It was cold, but it was great. We visited family and some of my parents’ friends, we went shopping, we had lots of fun. I almost didn’t want to return to Nigeria.
But you returned.
It was hard accepting that I had to come back. When I got back, all I could think about was going back. After some time in school though, I calibrated back to default Nigerian setting. I’d remember from time to time and wish I was in the UK, but I knew I was here. Tears.
LMAO. When did you next leave Nigeria?
With my family again, about four years later, this time to Ghana. We planned with some extended family and friends and did a long road trip.
How was this trip?
It was the worst trip of my life. First of all, one of the vehicles we went with had a problem on our way, so we had to stop to fix it. That one caused us to spend a long time on the road, so by the time we got to the Aflao border, it was getting dark.
“Oya let us pass”, they said no, that it was too late and they weren’t letting anyone enter the country again. Omo, we begged and begged, we explained our situation, we showed them that there were children among us and we didn’t have anywhere else to go, but they didn’t allow us. So we had to sleep at the border. Sleeping in a bus at the border of a country you’ve never been to before is terrible enough, but when you’re in a large group of people who are stressed and have been travelling all day, it’s much worse.
We eventually entered the country around noon the next day but all our ginger had died. We just spent the next few days resting and going to a few places, and then we left. We spent only one week there and it was very meh.
That sounds terrible. Have you been to Ghana ever since?
One time, yes. That’s the only time I didn’t travel outside Nigeria with my family. This time, I went for something work-related, and while I didn’t sleep at the border, it wasn’t smooth sailing too. We had some wahala at the border, but in the end, I went for my conference, and spent the remaining days enjoying my time in Ghana. I went to Cape Coast too to see all the amazing stuff there. But I promised myself I wouldn’t go to Ghana by road again.
Wait. Where else have you travelled to with your family?
Dubai. We went there fairly recently, and it was so, so, so fun. We went to the desert and all the other fun places you hear about in Dubai. I loved every second of it.
You travel a lot with your family. That must be nice.
It is. The best way to travel with family is to find group deals online. They’re fairly priced and they usually come with tour guides, so you don’t have to stress about finding your way about.
Let me go and call a family meeting. I have something to tell them.
LMAO.
Love Lifeis a Zikoko weekly series about love, relationships, situationships, entanglements and everything in between.
Audio: He Ghosted Me For three Months
*Godwin, 20, and *Tope, 19, dated for three months after which Godwin ghosted Tope for three months. Today on Love Life, they talk about what went wrong in the relationship and what they could have done better.
What’s your earliest memory of each other?
Godwin: I met Tope last year, during the lockdown. I rarely use Facebook, but because of the pandemic and boredom, I got on it. There was a post where someone was asking people to comment with their Twitter handles. Tope was the one who posted it. I followed her, and she followed back, and that’s how our conversation began. From there, we exchanged WhatsApp numbers and took the chats online.
Tope: I asked him how he got his followers. I don’t use Twitter frequently, and so to see someone excel at it was quite fascinating.
What was your first impression of each other?
Godwin: To be honest, I have a thing for dark-skinned girls, and fuck— sorry for the f-word— she had the complexion. I just couldn’t resist. I didn’t let her know my impression though. I stayed lowkey. Until we began talking.
Tope: You used the f-word.
Godwin: I apologised.
Tope: I can’t really remember my first impression of Godwin, but when we started chatting he was cool and sounded like he was going to be smart. Also yes, he was my spec. To be honest, if he wasn’t, we wouldn’t even talk.
So, when you both connected online, what did you talk about?
Tope: We talked about a lot of things. One of them was that he wanted me to come to his school, but I couldn’t. I’m in Ghana and he’s in Nigeria. The trip wasn’t very feasible, especially with the lockdown. We also spoke about his exes — it was part of our many conversation threads; we spoke about anything that caught our fancy.
Godwin: We talked about lockdown experiences: how it was going in Nigeria versus Ghana. We talked about school life too. And the talk about my ex: you know that moment when you’re chatting with someone and they begin to ask you questions like, “So how’s your boo/babe?”
That was what prompted the talk. Our conversation was already becoming interesting and I told her about my past relationships and exes. I also told her I was done with love, but I guess she pitied me and gave me some sort of assurance about finding love. Even when the chats stopped being intense, it was this assurance that brought me back to her. This plus the fact that she’s my spec.
The chats stopped being intense?
Tope: Yes. We moved to WhatsApp and the conversation died. But then one day he responded to my WhatsApp status.
Godwin: Lockdown was getting lonely and I kept seeing her status updates even though we weren’t talking as much. One day, I replied to a status update that she posted, and we picked up our conversation again.
Tope: And then, a few weeks after that, he asked me to be his girlfriend.
Oh?
Godwin: Her WhatsApp updates have a large part to play in this. Yes, she’s my spec and our conversations had stopped for a while, but seeing the updates again, the desire came afresh and I just did it.
Tope: I cleared him straight up. I told him I wanted something that would last long, a relationship that I saw a future in.
Interesting. What was your reaction to this, Godwin?
Godwin: I understood what she meant, so I assured her of my love in what little way I could. But despite all I said, she was bent on a long-term relationship.
I had never been in a long-term relationship before, but because she wanted one and she sounded convincing, I was willing to give it a try.
You’re in Nigeria and she’s in Ghana. How did you plan to make it work?
Tope: We thought we could, but the distance was a major issue.
Godwin: She was supposed to come to Lagos after the lockdown, but the government didn’t do things the way we expected.
Tope: We weren’t allowed to fly or travel by road. When they finally opened the Nigerian border, Ghana’s border was still closed. We were hoping we could see each other by the end of the year, but because it took too long for the lockdown to be lifted, it never happened.
And how did this affect your love life?
Godwin: We were feeling each other for the first few weeks, but things soon got a little bit tedious. She was attention-demanding, and because it was a lockdown, I understood how she must have felt and I tried to give her the attention to an extent. But we soon had minor fights that became quarrels.
Tope: He was always busy, and because it was a lockdown, I understood. But he wouldn’t pick my calls sometimes and he wouldn’t call back too. And then later, I’d see him post pictures on his status while my messages were still unread.
So how did you resolve this?
Godwin: I ghosted her.
Come again?
Godwin: Look, I don’t like facing quarrels or confrontation. Everyone I have dated knows this. So when I sense that something is coming up which would lead to a dispute, I suddenly ghost the person for a few days as a means to run away from the fight. I’m a very chilled and calm person. I hate stress.
With Tope, I didn’t really want to ghost, but Tope was so blunt.
Tope: Tope is still very blunt.
Godwin: I can’t remember her last insult to me, but that was it. I ghosted her for three months.
How old was the relationship by then?
Tope: Three months, but frankly, I wasn’t feeling his vibe anymore. I wasn’t as interested in him as I was in the beginning, and there was also the fact that we hadn’t seen each other. Plus, he was always talking about going to visit one girl or the other.
Godwin: It was a guy.
Tope: No, it was a girl. I saw the pictures you posted.
Godwin: But each time I told you I was going to visit a girl, it was actually a guy I was going to see.
Wait. So you went to see a guy but you told her it was a girl?
Tope: Please ask him.
Godwin: I lied to make her jealous. She was constantly seeking attention and we were already having one of our fights then. It was just once or twice, and at the end, I’d tell her what I did. But the picture she’s talking about, I went to see my best friend, a guy, and we went together to see a lady.
I think Tope takes things too personally and too seriously. The lockdown was a lot on everyone, but sometimes, it felt like she was taking out the frustration on me. So one day, I told her that she complains a lot and maybe she should try praying that the lockdown would be lifted. The next thing I got was an insult. This was why I ghosted her. I’d already reached my limit.
How were the three months of the relationship?
Tope: Stressful. Yes, it was nice at the beginning — it’s always nice at the beginning.
Godwin: For me, it was beautiful. All the things I experienced, I consider as the normal things that happen in a relationship, so I used them as an opportunity to work on myself.
How did the relationship end?
Tope: We just stopped talking.
Godwin: I ghosted her. We dated for three months and I ghosted her for another three months after which I reached out to apologise.
Why did you feel the need to do that?
Godwin: I do it to people I ghost. The main reason why I ghost is to avoid confrontation or insults. When I feel like the dust has settled, I return and apologise for ghosting.
I reached out to Tope because I still wanted her around, if not as a lover, but as a friend. I still miss her. When we got back to talking after I reached out to her, I told her I wished we were back together, but she said I was not someone who seemed serious.
What do you love most about each other?
Tope: I love how Godwin doesn’t argue. He keeps a calm head, no matter the situation.
Godwin: I love Tope because I think she’s wife material.
Tope: What the — ? Clearly you have jonzed.
What do you mean, “wife material”?
Godwin: She knows what she wants, and puts God first, and I love her for that. She’s also very encouraging, and she prays for me. I’m not a religious person — I’m a bad guy — but frankly, I don’t think there’s anything better for a man than a praying woman.
Yeah, she’s blunt. But I fuck with that too, at least to an extent.
What would you say you’ve learned from the relationship?
Godwin: Patience. Dating Tope taught me to see things from other people’s point of view. It also helped me value communication more. I also don’t think I’ll ghost anyone ever again.
Tope: Patience for me too. Dating Godwin taught me to be calm in situations. While we were together, I wasn’t exactly patient. If anything went wrong, I used to take it to the next level. But it wasn’t really worth it because that was one of the things that destroyed our relationship.
Now, I have learned not to lose my cool.
Do you think there’s a chance of you both getting back together?
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Fellow Nigerians, we believe you have heard the news: Twitter is now building a team in Ghana. In other words, Jack Dorsey and his fellow Twitter people bypassed Nigeria the giant of Africa, and our amazing Jollof rice and went to pitch their tent in Ghana.
But we are not angry. Honestly, we are not. Because if Twitter came to Nigeria, here are 11 things that will surely happen:
1. First of all, Sanwo-Olu will congratulate them.
As per, ‘We are proud of the strides our youths are making, etc etc’. But we both know that it is formality. Please take your seat, the real Sanwo-Olu will be with you soon.
2. Jack will have to drop something for the boys before they can start any business oh.
No more tuale, double puate! Jack Baba, drop something for the boys!
3. And then they will have to run on generator.
Because where will they see light to function properly?
4. Internet will spoil their market oh.
We that we are ordinary citizens sef, Internet providers are flogging us left, right and centre. How much more Twitter people?
5. Of course, hold-up will catch them.
No be Naija we dey?
6. Hello, the real Sanwo-Olu.
That man is a rite of passage at this point. Even Twitter will eat their own breakfast. Perhaps it will come in form of a ban. Or a restriction. Jack and his people must sha Sanwo-Olu.
7. D for what? DSS.
Let Twitter put out one tweet the high and mighty of this country consider insulting, the next thing you know, DSS will go and pick them up.
8. Besides sef, how will they buy SIM card and register NIN?
You that you are not working with Twitter, have you been able to do your NIN? This country get as e be, my dear.
9. Let’s not forget tax.
The way the governement will seedily create a tax for them ehn. Hmm.
10. Adamu Garba will finally launch his lawsuit.
If he cannot catch Jack Dorsey, at least he will catch his workers. Imagine being punished for a crime your oga committed.
11. One day, we will wake up and hear that Twitter has been banned. You know what will come next?
Crowwe, but maybe they will call it Crow-ter, or Twit-Gidi. Or even Twi-geria. You know, it’s like Twitter, but for Nigerians.
It is well with our souls. Please put some Jollof rice on fire.
