The 1979 Military Coup Messed Up Ghana's Thriving Music Industy - Shasha Marley

Veteran Ghanaian musician, Shaha Marley has said the 1979 military coup significantly disrupted the country’s once-thriving music industry, particularly its vibrant nightlife and live band culture.

Speaking in an interview with Ghanaian broadcaster Kafui Dey, Marley recalled that prior to the coup, Ghana’s music business was among the most active in Africa, with highlife concert bands touring extensively across the country.

“Look, at the time, the music business in Ghana was number one in Africa”, he added.

According to him, musicians frequently traveled between regions such as Volta to perform nightly, often crossing paths with other well-known bands on the road. He said live music was continuous and well-supported by an active nightlife economy.

Marley attributed the decline of this system to prolonged curfews imposed after the 1979 coup, which he said effectively shut down nightlife and live performances.

“The 1979 coup disengaged the nightlife in Ghana because there was a long-time curfew, and that destroyed the nightlife,” he said.

He explained that as a result, many musicians left the country in search of opportunities elsewhere, particularly in Nigeria and Europe, where live music performances continued.

Marley also described the climate of fear during the coup period, recounting how his family took precautions to avoid attracting the attention of military personnel. He said his father would wake the family at night to dispose of empty beverage bottles to prevent being accused of enjoying life during the coup.

"My father would wake us up to carry empty Fanta bottles, Coca-Cola bottles and dump them in the valley because when the military  comes to your house and they see empty bottles, they'll beat  you up because you're enjoying life", the Mata Family hitmaker recounted.

Marley said these experiences shaped his understanding of the long-term impact of military takeovers, noting that younger generations may not fully appreciate the social and cultural consequences of coups.

He warned that calls for military intervention often overlook the disruptions such actions cause to everyday life, including the arts and entertainment industry.