Ghanaians and Nigerians have long shared a musical language, and these songs prove how inspiration, when done right, can lead to timeless records.
Call it sampling, call it interpolation—what matters is the spark of influence that transforms one great song into another. Music has never respected borders, and in West Africa, the creative exchange between Nigeria and Ghana runs deep, giving rise to countless legendary Ghana-Nigeria collaborations that have shaped the sound of the continent.
Nigerian artists have long drawn from the rich well of Ghanaian classics, blending Highlife, Hiplife, Azonto, and Afrobeats with their distinct sound to create tracks that feel both familiar and refreshingly new. From reimagined melodies to borrowed lyrics and refrains, these moments of inspiration often result in instant hits—songs that pay homage while forging new ground.
If Burna Boy can flip Toni Braxton’s He Wasn’t Man Enough into Last Last, and Davido can channel Brenda Fassie for Funds, it’s no surprise that Ghanaian music has also served as muse for Nigerian stars time and again.
Here are 10 Nigerian songs inspired by Ghanaian classics, where Ghanaian rhythm meets Nigerian flair:
1. Wizkid – Manya
Inspired by: VIP – Ahomka Womu
VIP’s 2003 hit Ahomka Womu wasn’t just a Ghanaian anthem—it crossed borders and became a pan-African club staple. In 2017, Wizkid breathed new life into the classic with Manya, retaining the infectious energy of the original while layering it with a contemporary afrobeats polish. It became a jam that ruled Nigerian airwaves and dancefloors alike.
2. Mama G ft. Tonto Dike & Charles Awurum – Make We Jolly
Inspired by: VIP – Ahomka Womu
Before Nollywood stars dabbling in music became a trend, Patience Ozokwor, aka Mama G, was leading the charge. Her track Make We Jolly leaned on VIP’s Ahomka Womu, proving the song’s influence extended beyond club DJs to movie sets and pop culture crossovers.
3. DJ Tunez ft. Wizkid & Blaq Jerzee – Gbese
Inspired by: Tic Tac ft. Tony Tetuila – Fefe Ne Efe
Tic Tac and Tony Tetuila’s Fefe Ne Efe was one of the early 2000s’ most memorable Ghana–Nigeria collaborations. Nearly two decades later, DJ Tunez, Wizkid, and Blaq Jerzee borrowed its iconic hook—“Fefe Ne Efe, na the beauty of a woman”—to craft Gbese, a sultry groove while standing firmly in its own lane.
4. DMW All-Stars – Aje
Inspired by: R2Bees ft. Sarkodie & Nana Boroo – Ajeii
The link might not be immediately obvious, but the chant “Ajei” that echoes throughout R2Bees’ 2013 track finds new life in DMW’s Aje. Ajei is a stylistic lift that gives the Nigerian track an undercurrent of Ghanaian swagger.
5. Patoranking – Park Well
Inspired by: Guru Lapaz — Toyota
Guru’s Lapaz Toyota was a hiplife monster hit in 2011, dropping right in the heart of the azonto era with its catchy storytelling and thumping production. Patoranking’s Park Well is an unmistakable descendant—sampling the beat almost note-for-note while layering it with his dancehall delivery and Lagos flair. It’s as close to a cover as a sample can get without officially being one
6. Flavour – Kwarikwa
Inspired by: Wutah – Kotosa
Wutah’s Kotosa delivered some of the smoothest melodies of its time. Flavour’s Kwarikwa lifts both lyrics and melodic phrasing straight from the original—“your love took me by surprise“, reimagining it into a highlife classic that feels like a romantic rewrite.
7. Ice Prince ft. Peruzzi – Yawa
Inspired by: Joey B ft. Sarkodie – Tonga
Joey B’s Tonga was a minimal beat-driven track that became a Ghanaian anthem. Ice Prince’s Yawa doesn’t just borrow its sonic palette—it inherits its bounce. Yawa leans into the same minimal bounce, though it builds on it with more bass and a modernized tempo.
8. Burna Boy – Chilling Chilling
Inspired by: Vision DJ & AI – Grind
Grind was a track thriving in Ghana’s alt-rap and afrobeats crossover space on its release. Burna Boy’s Chilling Chilling borrows the flow and melodic feel of the original, offering a more fast-tracked spin with that unmistakable Burna delivery.
9. Curtis J ft. Tomie Boy – Check Your Balance
Inspired by: Ofori Amponsah & Kofi Nti – Atweetan
Curtis J, a rising star known for blending UK culture with Nigerian heritage, has been steadily making waves in the music scene. On one of his standout tracks, he samples the beat from the Ghanaian highlife classic Atweetan by Ofori Amponsah and Kofi Nti.
10. Kida Kudz ft. Jaykae – 1 am
Inspired by: VIP – Ahomka Wo Mu
Kida Kudz enlisted the talents of British MC Jaykae for his single 1AM, a track that pays subtle but undeniable homage to the legendary Ghanaian hiplife group VIP. Drawing heavily from their cult classic Ahomka Womu, 1AM weaves the infectious groove of the original into a fresh, modern context.
