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Ghanaian highlife could be heading for another major global moment, this time through the speakers of one of the world’s most anticipated video games.
Legendary highlife musician Pat Thomas and celebrated guitarist Ebo Taylor are at the centre of reports that their classic song, Gye Wani, will feature on the soundtrack of Rockstar Games’ upcoming blockbuster, Grand Theft Auto VI (GTA VI).
The reported inclusion of the 1984 classic has sparked excitement among music enthusiasts, particularly those eager to see Ghana’s rich musical heritage reach new audiences through international entertainment platforms.
However, the reported placement has yet to be independently confirmed through an official Rockstar Games soundtrack announcement.
A Highlife Classic for a New Generation
Originally released in 1984, Gye Wani represents the rich musical tradition that helped establish Ghanaian highlife as a distinctive sound across Africa and beyond.
With its infectious rhythms, intricate instrumentation and unmistakable highlife character, the record reflects an era when Ghanaian musicians blended traditional influences with contemporary sounds to create music that continues to resonate decades later.
If the reported GTA VI placement is confirmed, the song could introduce this important piece of Ghanaian musical history to a new generation of listeners around the world.
And considering the global reach of the Grand Theft Auto franchise, that would be no small achievement.
From Ghanaian Highlife to Vice City
According to circulating social media reports attributed to a soundtrack list highlighted by Complex Music, Gye Wani could join an eclectic selection of international music featured in the game.
Other names appearing on the reported lists include Asake, Bad Bunny, Charli XCX, MGMT, PinkPantheress, Black Sabbath, Pantera, Slayer, Hank Williams Jr. and Loretta Lynn.
The variety of artists reflects the musical diversity often associated with the GTA franchise, whose fictional radio stations have historically introduced players to sounds spanning different generations, cultures and genres.
For Ghanaian music fans, the possibility of hearing Pat Thomas and Ebo Taylor alongside internationally recognised acts would represent a particularly exciting cultural crossover.
Why a Potential GTA VI Placement Matters for Ghanaian Music
A confirmed placement in GTA VI could offer Ghanaian highlife an extraordinary platform for international exposure.
The franchise attracts players from different countries and age groups, creating opportunities for older recordings to find fresh audiences long after their original release.
For younger listeners unfamiliar with the genre, discovering Gye Wani through an in-game radio station could spark an interest in Pat Thomas, Ebo Taylor and the wider history of Ghanaian highlife.
It would also reinforce the value of preserving and promoting Ghana’s musical catalogue, particularly recordings that helped shape the country’s sound long before today’s global Afrobeats movement.
For now, fans will have to wait for official confirmation before celebrating the reported placement as fact.
But if Gye Wani does make it onto the GTA VI soundtrack, Ghanaian highlife could find itself cruising through Vice City and into the playlists of millions of gamers worldwide.
