Assessing the Influence of Modern Music on Ghanaian Lifestyles and Culture

Abstract

The study focused on the influence of modern music (Hiplife, Dance Hall, Drill, Afrobeat) on the youth, other patrons and culture. The researchers are of the view that the impact of modern music and its related practices, including lifestyles on most consumers particularly the youth, has culminated into a plethora of vices which the fundamentals of Ghanaian culture frowns upon. Data was gathered through the use of the descriptive survey, purposive sampling and unstructured interviews to elicit information from Tertiary students, High school students, Heads of schools, Parents and Guardians in the Greater Kumasi Metropolis, Ghana. The findings showed that music and daily human activities are inseparable, therefore, as patrons consume the brand they are easily attracted to the visuals, lyrics of the music, utterances and the general behaviour of the artist, which are mostly emulated by fans. The authors recommend that since music and the activities of the artist massively affect patrons holistically, steps must be taken by the appropriate state institutions to put in measures to check what musicians or artists put across as music, dress code, lyrics, actions on stage to the audience as part of their performances. This is to check the levels of acculturation and its negative effects to safeguard the foundations of Ghanaian culture and to protect its identity. Keywords: Social life, Modern music, Culture and Crime, Lifestyle, Impact.