Remember when music groups ruled the airwaves, lit up stages, and stole our hearts? Back when artists came in trios, quartets, or dynamic duos each member adding their own flavor, like the perfect blend of spices in your grandma’s legendary jollof? Ah, those were the golden days.
But somewhere between the era of ringtones and the rise of TikTok trends, something changed. The crews disappeared. The solo acts soared. And now, music groups have become as rare as cassava leaf stew on a city restaurant menu.
So, what happened to the magic of musical brotherhood and sisterhood? Where did the harmony go? Why are the very groups that once shaped our soundtracks vanishing like vinyl in a Bluetooth world?
Let’s flash back. From the 1950s through the early 2000s, Ghana was a breeding ground for iconic collectives. Osibisa put the country on the global music map with their debut studio album Beautiful Seven. VIP wasn’t just a group; it was a movement. Their Ye De Aba album shook the industry, and the chart-topping hit Ahomka Womu dominated for 20 weeks, sweeping five awards at the Ghana Music Awards.
Then came 5Five, who eventually went solo. Papi Staunch of Adabraka (one of the members) once confirmed that although internal issues were resolved, they ultimately had to part ways. R2Bees, though technically still together, aren’t as vibrant as they once were. I mean, how does a 2013 BET nominee go quiet all of a sudden?
Praye turned love into a national anthem. 4×4 brought energy strong enough to power a stadium. Wutah delivered pure vocal gold. And who could forget Dead Peepol with Otan Hunu? That track was a whole vibe Ghana felt their fire from coast to coast.
These weren’t just groups. They were cultural forces. They wore matching outfits, danced in perfect sync, and dropped hits that touched on everything from love and hustle to betrayal and celebration. Their voices blended like kente threads each unique but stronger together.
But now… where are they?
Wutah split. Praye disbanded. VIP rebranded to VVIP and even that couldn’t last. And then came the heartbreak. Captain Planet of 4×4 made a blunt announcement that hit fans hard: “4×4 will never come back as a group.”
Never? Not even a reunion tour? A nostalgic EP? One last track?
That post felt like the final nail in the coffin for Ghanaian music collectives. And it hurt. Because 4×4 wasn’t just a group they were an era. A sound. A movement.
Even award shows have noticed the shift. Remember when the “Group of the Year” category at the Telecel Ghana Music Awards (TGMA) was one of the most anticipated? Now it’s barely surviving. At one point, TGMA nearly scrapped the category altogether because there weren’t enough active groups to compete.
From a jam-packed category of legends to a quiet corner on the stage how did we get here?
These days, no one wants to form a group. Everyone’s chasing collaborations. Quick linkups. One-hit partnerships. The industry has shifted from musical marriages to casual flings.
But let’s pause and ask: Why the breakup epidemic? Is it the money? Lack of investment? Ego clashes? Creative differences?
And here’s the real question: Can a hot collaboration ever replace the long-term magic of a group that lives, writes, and performs together? Can a one-off track match the chemistry of a crew that’s grown together from day one?
For true music lovers, group harmonies will always hold a special place. And maybe just maybe somewhere in the wings, a new generation of groups is preparing to rise.
Let’s not forget the rising twin duo Lali x Lola, ready to reignite that flame. Or Keche,La meme Gang and Dope Nation still waving the banner of unity and reminding us that there’s power in teamwork.
Because no matter how loud a solo gets… sometimes, harmony just hits harder