Ghanaian dancers who pursued music and made it big

Within the creative space, music and dance go hand in hand.

In Ghana, the rise of dancers transitioning into full-time music has become a notable trend, fueled by the belief that once someone knows how to move crowds, stepping up to the microphone is a natural progression.

These ‘dancers-turned-musicians’ do not just hop on beats; they bring a whole performance culture with them.

From ‘selling steps’ to selling records, some Ghanaian creatives show how blending dance and music can open new lanes and some of these creatives includes:

Meet the top five Ghanaian YouTubers with the most subscribers

1.Reggie Rockstone

Reggie Rockstone, known today as the pioneer of Hiplife, did not enter the scene through rap.

His first love was dance. Rockstone was already moving crowds in the 80s long before touching a microphone in the 90s.

For instance, the famous “moonwalk” dance is widely regarded as the signature move of Michael Jackson, who introduced it to the world in 1983 during his performance of “Billie Jean.”

But in January 2023, Reggie Rockstone claimed he was the originator of the moonwalk dance and that Michael Jackson only popularised it.

He explained that Michael Jackson’s choreographer, Jeffrey Daniel, is his personal friend and would confirm his claim.

@nashirubaniyonese

Reggie Rockstone v Adjetey Sowah

♬ original sound - Nash

2.Mr Drew

Highlife artiste Mr Drew also had his journey rooted in dance long before the fame. On Adom TV’s Ahosepe Xtra, he shared that he spent about 20 years as a backup dancer for mainstream artistes.

Gyedu-Blay Ambolley, Kobby Rana, EL are just a few of the mainstream acts he danced for some years ago.

Often nicknamed the “Ghanaian Chris Brown,” Mr Drew has been vocal about how the American musician, Chris Brown, influenced his craft, blending vocals with choreography and performance theatrics.

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3. Black Sherif

Black Sherif’s rise from Konongo to global stardom has been well documented, but it is often forgotten that he did not start as a musician.

Before songs like Destiny, Ankonam, Money, Ade Akye and Mariana became early gems in his catalogue, Blacko was dancing at events.

In an interview on the Afrobeats Podcast hosted by Nigerian music executive Adesope sometime in December 2022, Black Sherif disclosed that he used to dance at weddings for money.

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4.Oseikrom Sikanii

Kumasi-based hip-hop act, Oseikrom Sikanii, known for his flashy lifestyle, designer drip and hits like Yagye Sika, Twatis and Sika Duro, also did not begin with music. Before the bars and the flexes, he was a dancer.

Today, he still sneaks in dance moves during live sets, using footwork and comedic timing to entertain crowds and keep the stage active.

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5. Slim Buster

Ebenezer Asare, widely known as Slim Buster, came into the spotlight through dance after winning the 1986 National Dance Championship.

He later moved to the UK to study music and sound engineering before returning home to take up music full-time.

With hits like Marsherita, Masan Aba and Ofiri Hen Ara, Slim Buster built a brand that fused choreography, fashion and live performance in a way that made him a household name.

His routines became part of his music identity, influencing a generation of performers who began to treat stagecraft as part of the art, not just an add-on.

@mobile_money0 Ghana OG dance combo😹💔#fyp #foryou #fypシ #viral #viralvideo #dance #ghanatiktok🇬🇭 #tiktok #trending #trend #fypシ゚viral #parati ♬ original sound - mobile_money0

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