Ghanaian musicians will perform in Barcelona, Spain, on August 2, 2026, to launch the “Highlife to the World, Black Star Experience 2027” global campaign.
The initiative seeks to promote and preserve Highlife music and dance while expanding the genre’s global audience and ensuring its continuity for future generations.
Bessa Simons, President of the Musicians Union of Ghana (MUSIGA), said the campaign was timely following the inscription of Highlife on the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) Intangible Cultural Heritage list.
“Highlife in its various shades has inspired many other genres and it is worth highlighting its significance to the world,” he said.
The concert, scheduled for Barcelona’s SeaSeaClub, will feature performances from Stonebwoy, Amandzeba Nat Brew, Obrafour, Bessa Simons and Jupitar, among others.
A statement copied to the Ghana News Agency said Ghanaian DJs based in Europe, including DJ Logs, DJ Demo, DJ Enoch and DJ King Solo, would also perform, with a guest appearance by Spain-based Nigerian DJ Enny.
The Barcelona event will serve as the first major activity of the campaign, which is expected to officially roll out in March 2027 as part of activities marking Ghana’s 70th Independence Anniversary celebrations.
The launch follows UNESCO’s inscription of Highlife on its Intangible Cultural Heritage list in December 2025, recognising the genre’s cultural importance and influence.
The concert is being organised by the Ghana Embassy in Madrid, MUSIGA, Showbiz Africa and the BlackStar Experience.
The Ghana delegation for the event will be hosted by Ghana’s Ambassador to Spain, Her Excellency Kalsoume Sinare Baffoe.
Members of the delegation include Madam Maame Efua Houadjeto, Chief Executive Officer of the Ghana Tourism Authority; Rex Omar, BlackStar Experience Coordinator; Gideon Nee Aryeequaye, Executive Secretary of the Creative Arts Agency; Verus Nartey, Chief Executive Officer of Showbiz Africa and Made in Ghana Consulting Ltd; and Eric Acquah, Chief Executive Officer of Benayacon Entertainment.
The campaign is aimed at promoting Highlife music and dance, creating platforms for international audiences to engage with the genre while preserving its cultural heritage.
The Barcelona concert is being organised in partnership with Benayacon Entertainment, the National Folklore Board, Ghana Tourism Authority and the Creative Arts Agency, with support from the Spanish Embassy in Ghana and the UNESCO Office in Ghana.
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