Examining The Musical Connection Between Ghana And Jamaica

Though separated by thousands of miles, Ghana and Jamaica share a profound cultural connection that manifests in music.

In May, Moliy’s “Shake It To The Max (Fly)” rose to the top of the Billboard U.S. Afrobeats Songs chart, dethroning Tyla’s “Push 2 Start,” which had spent 20 consecutive weeks at the No. 1 spot. “Shake It To The Max (Fly),” which initially debuted on the chart about four months ago, has remained at No. 1 since its rise to the top, coming a long way from its original release in November 2024. The single has also become Moliy’s highest-charting single in numerous other countries worldwide, including the United Kingdom, Canada, Germany, Austria, and Switzerland.

The Ghanaian-American singer, who already achieved some global success for her stellar contribution to Amaarae’s “Sad Girlz Luv Money,” struck gold again late last year once she began to tease a snippet of a new single featuring Jamaican producer Silent Addy. The song’s breezy fusion of Dancehall and Afropop quickly inspired an uncomplicated dance challenge that went viral on social media. 

Everyone from professional dancers to market women participated in the challenge, helping the song go viral weeks before its official release. Moliy finally dropped the single in November after weeks of relentless teasing, and it took off almost immediately. Three months later, Jamaican stars Skillibeng and Shensea hopped on the remix, taking the song from a regional viral sensation to a globally recognised smash hit. 

At the 2025 BET Awards, Moliy became the first Ghanaian artist to perform at the prestigious award show, giving a show-stopping performance of “Shake It To The Max (Fly),” which underscores just how much of a global hit the single has become. While the single and her memorable BET performance have helped etch her name in the history books, the success of “Shake It To The Max (Fly)” is a natural progression of Ghanaian and Jamaican musical connections, which comes from a long, shared history that has blossomed over the years. 

Though separated by thousands of miles, Ghana and Jamaica share a profound cultural connection that finds its roots in the complex history of the Transatlantic slave trade. The forced migration of enslaved Africans, many of whom originated from or passed through territories in Ghana (like the Elmina Castle and Cape Coast Castle), laid the foundation for what shaped the demographic and cultural landscape of modern-day Jamaica. That shared past and cultural exchange forged an enduring bond between both countries that now shows up in various aspects of the culture, most evidently in music. 

Reggae and Dancehall, the two genres most synonymous with Jamaican culture, draw inspiration from traditional West African rhythms, while some of Ghana’s most prominent artists today also take influence from these popular Jamaican genres, furthering both countries’ historical ties. Before “Shake It To The Max (Fly)” became ubiquitous, there had been several collaborations between Ghanaian and Jamaican artists that also celebrate their rich musical heritage. In the early 2000s, Beenie Man and Ghanaian rap legend Reggie Rockstone teamed up on the remix of 2face’s “Nfana Ibaga,” while UK-based Ghanaian artist Fuse ODG featured global star Sean Paul on “Dangerous Love,” a hit single from his debut album ‘T.I.N.A,’ in 2014. 

Stonebwoy and Shatta Wale, two Ghanaian music stalwarts who draw heavily from Dancehall and Reggae, are some of the most prominent names responsible for popularising these genres across the continent. The former famously also teamed up with Sean Paul for his 2023 release “Most Original,” and he’s also worked with other Caribbean artists like Shaggy, Spice, and Morgan Heritage. In 2023, Shatta Wale linked up with Vybz Kartel, another Dancehall heavyweight, for an anthemic release titled “Mansa Musa Money.” The following year, he performed at Kartel’s Freedom Street concert, lighting up the legend’s first concert following his prison release in July 2024, when his conviction was overturned after serving 13 years. In an interview with N.O.R.E. and DJ EFN on the popular Drinks Champs podcast shortly after his concert, the world boss praised Shatta Wale, talking about his electric performance at the Freedom Street concert. “Shatta Wale from Ghana came to Freedom Street and fucked the place up. Yeah, that’s my bro.”

Other Ghanaian stars like Efya, rap legend Sarkodie, and J. Derobie have also collaborated with Jamaican artists. Sarkodie brought his A-game to a 2023 remix of Bob Marley & The Wailers’ 1973 classic “Stir It Up,” while J. Derobie featured Popcaan on the remix of his 2020 hit “Poverty.” 

While Moliy’s “Shake It To The Max (Fly)” has quickly risen to become the biggest collaboration between a Ghanaian and Jamaican artist in a short period – and it looks like it could stay that way for a while, significantly raising Moliy’s profile – the single is also hugely representative of an intricate tapestry of global cultures that continues to produce bops that ignite dancefloors locally and internationally. 

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