Traditional musician King Ayisoba talking to CNN revealed that, judging by the genre of music he does and its content, he sees himself as someone who preaches.

“I see myself […] as a preacher. I talk with life stories, what happened, what people forget… I have to say it.”

Popular music has always provided the score for daily life. There is music to cover falling in love, heartbreak and every other emotion in between.

Music has also always been a vehicle for social commentary. Ghana’s musical reputation was built on Highlife, a melodic genre of music that began to spread across west Africa in the 1930s and provided commentary on the age.

Today the culture persists even though the sound has changed. From Boko Haram to gender inequality and corrupt leaders, Ghana’s biggest musicians aren’t just making beats, they are scoring intellectual points. If you’ve been looking for music that puts the world to rights, look no further than these gems.

FOKN Bois: Wanlov: “For us [FOKN Bois] is freedom. It’s freedom to say the darkest things we feel like saying and making fun of.”

Mensa: “We’re really just taking the moment and having fun, but yeah, I guess there is always something underneath.”

Jojo Abot: “A woman’s right is to choose. This EP acknowledges the burdens and expectations placed on us culturally and traditionally but to an even greater extent, it acknowledges our right as women to choose and to seek happiness in every aspect of our lives.”