Culture, Music, and Food
Ghanaians are known for their hospitality, respect for elders, vibrant fashion, and deep sense of identity. The country is home to many ethnic groups - including the Akan, Ga-Dangme, Ewe, Mole-Dagbani, Guan, and others — each with unique customs and languages. Yet across this diversity, there are shared cultural values: community, tradition, and unity. One of the most iconic cultural expressions in Ghana is kente cloth — a handwoven fabric worn at celebrations, symbolizing heritage, strength, and royalty. Each pattern tells a story and holds special meaning. You'll also find adinkra symbols in many parts of daily life — on clothing, buildings, jewelry, and art — each symbol representing a proverb, belief, or value. Chieftaincy and traditional leadership continue to play a key role in preserving these customs, with chiefs and queen mothers actively leading festivals and local ceremonies.
Music is a powerful force in Ghana and a big part of daily life. Whether at community gatherings, celebrations, or storytelling events, music brings people together. Traditional music often features drumming, call-and-response singing, and cultural dances like Adowa and Kpanlogo. In many communities, drumming serves as a meaningful form of communication. Through distinct rhythmic patterns, drummers send messages, tell stories, and recognize important moments. It’s a powerful blend of music and language that reflects the depth of Ghanaian tradition. Ghana is also known for modern music styles that blend the old with the new. Highlife, a fusion of local rhythms with jazz and Western instruments, was the soundtrack of independence. Hiplife took this further, combining hip-hop with Ghanaian languages like Twi and Ewe. Today, Afrobeats and gospel dominate radios, churches, and clubs. Artists like Sarkodie, Black Sherif, and Gyakie continue to shape Ghana’s music scene while staying rooted in tradition.
Ghanaian cuisine is bold, hearty, and built on local ingredients like cassava, yam, plantain, maize, rice, and fish. Meals are often eaten with the right hand and shared among family and friends. Food is more than nourishment — it's part of the social fabric. Popular dishes include jollof rice, a spicy tomato-based rice dish; waakye, a rice-and-beans mix served with plantain, egg, or fish; and fufu with soup, a dough made from cassava and plantain served with soups like light, groundnut, or palm nut. Banku and tilapia — a fermented corn and cassava dough served with grilled fish and spicy pepper sauce — is a popular coastal meal. Another staple, kenkey, is a fermented corn dish wrapped in husks and paired with fried fish and hot shito sauce. Ghana is also one of the world’s top cocoa producers, known for premium-quality beans used in chocolate around the globe.
From the rhythms of the drum to the richness of every dish, Ghana’s culture, music, and food offer visitors a welcoming and unforgettable experience.