The Top Savannah (Northern Ghana) Songs of All-Time - Starting Eleven
One fine day in 2025, I was in a VIP bus traveling from Accra to Bolgatanga and I thought about music from the Northern sector/zone or Savannah Belt of Ghana. After Barcamp Bolga 2025, I asked some friends and then in #BolgaKonnect, #NavrongoKonnect, #NortheastKonnect, #TamaleKonnect, #SavannahKonnect and #WaKonnect about the top songs ever from these parts of Ghana. I was looking at artistes who were and are largely based in these areas, which means I did not consider the likes of Samini, Mugeez, Rocky Dawuni, and co.
I Want To See You My Father - King Ayisoba (2006)
The day this song was crowned the "Most Popular Song" in Ghana for 2006, that is when more ammunition was added to the #WeAreNotASeriousPeople hashtag. Someone should convince me this song's popularity was not tripled due to people making fun of it. Anyway, the song had to be doing something right. Apparently, King Ayisoba clarified that the correct lyric is "I want to sue you, my father". Did you know this? I did not, I confess. Ahhhhh okay! That's why! This track was also on his debut album Modern Ghanaians (the title track was a great patriotic song featured Kontihene, Kwabena Kwabena, and Kwaku-T). All K people, k.
As you could have guessed from listening to the song - it is a plea from a neglected son, urging his father to be responsible and prioritize his families. This is the original sidechick song, from the point of view of the children of the legal wives (association). Do you think the son should take someone to court? Back to the matter. King Ayisoba says the song talks about "suing" one's father to emphasize the gravity of parental irresponsibility and the repercussions on the family. Bold, right?
Albert Apoozore is known as the "King of Kologo" for his mastery of the kologo, a traditional two-stringed lute from Northern Ghana. The kologo is a two-stringed instrument from Northern Ghana. The song's sound resonated with modern hip-life and contemporary sounds as well, endearing it to the larger Ghanaian market. The use of English helped, but the use of Frafra also brought with it some uniqueness and novelty that sometimes works for many songs that trek.
Total Cheat - Fancy Gadam (2017)
Born one virgin.... Born Four Virgin. This statment makes me think about some sexual health event I attended in 2012 or so at KAMA Hall in Accra, where I learnt about primary and secondary virgins. Music does things to people. Like why at all should people like singing the lyrics of this song? The makeup deceit cheating part? A whole other discussion on its own.
Around the time Fancy Gadam's hit won the Most Popular Song of the Year at the Ghana Music Awards in 2018, I was in Tamale due to Barcamp Tamale. Mayhem in T-town. Fancy Gadam fills stadia and big venues in Accra. He is surely the first artiste from this part of Ghana to truly become a music superstar, being based and operating out of the Northern part of Ghana. He's a pioneer and is a living legend as a result. Sure, having Sarkodie on the song drove its commercial success across Ghana, and earned him the Collaboration Of The Year gong. What a song!
Gadam Nation drove this. The song dominates charts in Ghana. The music video became one of the first by a Northern Ghanaian artist to surpass one million views on YouTube. Fancy was already fancied but this song catapulted him, and broke ground for more upcoming artists from the Northern Region to gain followers, influence, success, etc. Mujahid Ahmed Bello bellowed loudly with this one.
In Heaven, There Is No Beer - Atongo Zimba (2004)
Atongo Zimba is just a kologo player like King Ayisoba, he is also a griot. This track is philosophical, innit? Just like Ayisoba, he is also from Bolgatanga.
Apparently, there is a polka classic called "Im Himmel gibt's kein Bier" from 1956. Cool beans. Atongo Zimba's version was massive and he toured in Europe and even South America. Imagine how these people jammed with this song, or actually drank to it or with it.
Tinambanyi - Wiyaala (2014)
Circa 2012, I was invited by my friend who has a popular well-known wealthy father in Ghana to her birthday party. They called out a lady to come and perform and she had this Angelique Kidjo vibe. That was Wiyaala. She was prettu much saying, "Here I come, watch out". She's grown from strength to relevance, local flavour to international star. "Tinambanyi" means "We are not out yet" or "Here We Come!". If you have heard Wiyaala in interviews in the Ghanaian entertainment scene, she is as defiant as this song is, and powerful.
This song is a battle cry on behalf of women and the oppressed - female empowerment. This is another traditional Northern Ghanaian song which broke into the mainstream. It is sung in her native Sissala language. Its lyrics translate to: "We are not out yet, We are just preparing, You are already scared, The battle has not started, The battle has not begun, Didn't your mother tell you, Never to under-estimate the challenge!" More vim for this song!
Noella Wiyaala Nwadei is from the village of Funsi in the Upper West Region of Ghana. Shew grew up in Wa. We have been having Wa Konnect meetups at First & Last Gardens, which has a stage she often performs on. Her nickname is the "Lioness of Africa". Wiyaala means "the doer" in her native Sissala language. She fits well into modern local and foreign pop as well as traditional African music or world music, depending on who's talking. Her music leverages kologo, djembe drums, etc, She has that raw energy and vim!
Election Time - Sheriff Ghale (2009)
As you can tell, this is a political song. Not a partisan song. In fact, this song needs more airplay in Ghana. "Election Time" by Sheriff Ghale (2009) is a reggae song which is a social and political critique, throwing sand on the electoral process in Ghana. Sheriff is from Tamale and this song broke boundaries across regions.
This song is a warning to the public about how politicians can deceive. But clearly, many have not heard or heeded this warning, but they should receive. Sheriff sings: "I don't trust no politician" and "I never trust no politrixian". Politricks galore en core to the fore with this lore. I can rhyme when it is time. Just how we should be thinking about this reggae song and Sheriff Ghale whenever there are polls.
Let's listen to Mohammed Sheriff Yamusah. No, he didn't become a politician. He is also a teacher, with lots of messages to impart into us for our development. His classes should be interesting!
Nice Me - Atimbila (2014)
This song featured heavily in the poll and I was surprised I was not familiar with this song. Many refer to this song as Ghana Pogsi. It features Sarkodie and another musician named Mohammed).
The song talks about a certain lady's beauty and the desire to marry her. The phrase "Ghana Pogsi"means "Ghanaian girls" or "Ghanaian women" in Frafra, which is Atimbila's native language. This track also gave more visibility to music from Northern Ghana.
Beautiful - Sherifa Gunu (2010)
Before Wiyaala, there was Sherifa. I have seen a lot of Sherifa Gunu through the years, especially when she featured on Sarkodie's hit track, Sherifa. I love songs that celebrate us, and this is a beautiful addition to that by Sherifa Gunu. The song tells us to embrace our origins. Sherifa grew her music career in a time where many musicians had to bow to popular music and pressures to be like others. She stayed true to herself and did quite well in her lane. Her beauty comes from within, just like her music.
Beautiful has a catchy tune and Sherifa's vocals shine in this one. This classic track is sung in Dagbani and English. Sherifa is from Savelugu, which is close to Tamale. She reps various major towns in Ghana in this song, singing about national unity, and embracing where we belong, etc. "Africa is my home, and Ghana is my land". It is the kind of positive music I love too.
Wunpini - Don Sigli (2016)
I was not familar with this name, but it seems I have been living under a rock so far as this one. No, Don Sigli is not from Bolgatanga. Tanga means Rock by the way. I know the phrase "Wunpini" in Dagbani for "God's Gift". I have my friend Jemila who has this as her middle name to thank. She thought me a lot of Dagbani phrases. This language the most widely spoken language in Northern Ghana. "What Is Your Name?" God knows your name. Hmmm, this made me think about the meaning of our names and naming people.
This is surely Don Sigli's biggest hit and a favorite among fans in Northern Ghana. And beyond, given how others who have not spent a lot of time there know about the song. It has a nice melody for sure.
Di Kuyuui - Abu Sadiq (2001)
I did not know about Abu Sadiq at all, which is not surprising, given that his heyday was the turn of the 21st century when I was still in Presec and as far from Northern Ghana as possible. "Di Kuyuui" means "Don't Say You Love Me". The song is sung in Dagbani, or should I say Dagbanli? The singer is skeptical of their partner's declaration of love. This is a timeless track, in Tamale and beyond.
Abu Sadiq is considered a living legend, especially within the Savannah music scene, often cited as its greatest musician. The moniker "Naanigoo" means "natural greatest". He has won numerous local and international awards. In 2020, he was honored at the Village d'Expression des Musiques (VEMAO) awards in Burkina Faso. He is seen as a mentor for many musicians in his cultural neighbourhood.
Tahama - Kawastone ()
I have heard about Kawastone and I heard this song many years ago. This track features STRAW. It is a song about about hope and resilience. The title "Tahama" itself means "Hope". The song's central message encourages listeners to never give up on their dreams and to believe in the power of their efforts. This is one of Kawastone's all-time favorite and most inspirational songs. Mohammed Abdul-Rashid Kawawa is also known as Abdul-Rashid Kawastone.
Some people reading this might say this is a Total Cheat because of the choice of this song. Well, it was nominated by others, not just me. Maccasio is the major competitor to Fancy Gadam - and is also from Tamale. He has more than 69 fans though. But why did he choose to name this song 69 fans? It is not because 23*3. Your guess is as good as mine though.
The song was released in the 2017 album Ninsala. The track is an expression of gratitude and appreciation from Maccasio to his followers, collectively known as the "69 fans". The number "69" has become synonymous with his fan army, in its own lane aside other fan nations like Gadam Nation. Sherif Abdul Majeed launched a fashion brand called "69 clothing", emphasizing the significance of this song and the number. It is such a great number, do you not agree?
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