By Aaron Hammond 
Ghanaian highlife is making its way into one of gaming’s biggest franchises, and this time, a legendary voice is leading the conversation.
Veteran musician Pat Thomas has earned a place on the Grand Theft Auto VI radio playlist with his classic song Gye Wani, featuring the late guitarist Ebo Taylor. Rockstar Games’ newly revealed radio preview has put Ghanaian music alongside contemporary African sounds, giving the country’s rich musical heritage another opportunity to reach a global audience.
Pat Thomas and Ebo Taylor Bring Highlife to GTA 6
The song Gye Wani dates back to 1984 and comes from the album Pat Thomas and Ebo Taylor. Its inclusion in GTA 6 connects a golden era of Ghanaian highlife with a modern entertainment franchise enjoyed by millions of people around the world. Thomas, widely celebrated for his distinctive voice, and Taylor, remembered for his contribution to highlife and Afro funk, represent a musical tradition that continues to influence African sounds today.
The song will feature on AfroBank FM, a radio station designed to showcase African music, from 20th century classics to newer styles such as amapiano and 3 step. Rockstar Games has also listed Joha by Nigerian star Asake and Shay’sana by DJ Lag and Robot Boii, featuring Kamo Mphela, among the tracks in its station preview. This mix brings together different generations of African music rather than limiting the station to one sound or country.
African Voices Take a Bigger Place in GTA 6 Radio
The excitement goes beyond one Ghanaian song. AfroBank FM will feature characters voiced by Nigerian music star Burna Boy and DJ Palms Trax, who appears as Palmsy in the game. Their involvement gives the African music station a recognisable identity while the playlist brings together highlife, contemporary African music and dance sounds. For Ghanaian players, hearing Pat Thomas in the same virtual world as current African hits offers a reminder that the continent’s music did not begin with today’s chart-toppers.
Rockstar’s approach also shows how video games can introduce listeners to music they might not normally search for. A player driving through the fictional world of Leonida could hear Gye Wani without having planned to listen to Ghanaian highlife that day. That kind of discovery can encourage younger audiences to explore the musicians, recordings and history behind the song. It does not guarantee increased streams or sales, but it creates another route for older Ghanaian music to find new listeners.
What Pat Thomas’ GTA 6 Feature Means for Ghana
For Ghana, the inclusion is a welcome moment for local music and cultural recognition. Highlife has shaped generations of Ghanaian musicians, and recordings by artists such as Pat Thomas and Ebo Taylor remain important examples of the country’s musical identity. Featuring their work in a major international game places that heritage beside newer African sounds and helps demonstrate the depth of the continent’s music scene.
GTA 6 is scheduled for release on 19 November 2026 for PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X/S, according to the game’s published release information. While the full radio experience may reveal more as launch approaches, the confirmed AfroBank FM preview has already given Ghanaian music fans something to celebrate. For Pat Thomas, it is a chance for a classic recording to reach another generation. And for Ghanaian highlife, it is another opportunity to prove that good music does not lose its value simply because the years keep moving.
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