Writing with Highlife Archives

Overview

“Writing with Highlife Archives” is a one-day intensive workshop led by Prof. John Collins, Ghana’s foremost Highlife scholar, musician, and archivist. The workshop invites writers, journalists, students, musicians, and cultural practitioners to engage directly with the Bokoor–Dikan archive—a rich collection of recordings, photographs, posters, manuscripts, and oral histories documenting nearly 100 years of Highlife music.

Highlife is more than a genre—it is a living history of Ghana, carrying stories of migration, independence, politics, gender, urban life, and joy. Through guided sessions with Prof. Collins, participants will learn how to read, listen, and write with these archives, transforming sound and image into fresh narratives and critical reflections.

Why Join This Workshop?

• Gain a historical overview of Highlife—from palmwine to contemporary Afrobeats.

• Explore rare archival materials: cassettes, records, photographs, manuscripts, and interviews.

• Develop practical writing skills for working with archives: essays, cultural criticism, creative stories, and academic reflections.

• Produce your own short written piece inspired by Highlife’s legacy.

• Learn directly from Prof. John Collins, who has spent five decades documenting Ghana’s music scene and whose collections form the foundation of the Bokoor Department at Dikan.

Who Should Attend

This workshop is open to:

• Writers (creative nonfiction, fiction, poetry)

• Journalists and cultural critics

• Students of music, history, literature, or African studies

• Musicians and cultural practitioners interested in documentation

• Archivists, curators, and educators

Workshop Details

Date: 27th September, 2025
 Time: 10:00 am – 5:00 pm
 Venue: Dikan Annex, close to Kukun Resturant

Registration

Seats are limited. Secure your place today. Deadline - 19th September, 2025

Register now:
For inquiries: education@dikancenter.org