Some of the popular hit songs that have flooded our airwaves in recent times were popularised not through traditional media, but through social media.
Love it or hate it, new media platforms like TikTok and Instagram have ushered songs into a new era and are making bangers out of them.
TikTok, in particular, has become a game-changer for both emerging and established artistes globally.
What was once just a platform for dance routines and funny trends has now evolved into a global stage, where musicians who once struggled to find a wide audience are now earning millions of streams.
TikTok has not only generated new streams for emerging Ghanaian artistes, but has also propelled Ghanaian music onto the international stage.
From Black Sherif’s usual street anthems to the popular dance challenges created by the likes of Moliy, these artistes have gained a global platform and millions of views, thanks to TikTok.
Here are some Ghanaian songs that went viral on TikTok and how they did it:
‘Shake it to the Max’ – Moliy
A perfect example of how TikTok can elevate a song from underground to mainstream is Moliy’s ‘Shake It to the Max.’
Moliy used a simple dance routine to tease out the song on TikTok. After the dance routine went viral on social media, the official song gained over 660,000 user-generated videos.
To capitalise on the success, Moliy later featured Jamaican dancehall artistes Shenseea and Skillibeng on the remix.
‘Excellent’ – Kojo Blak ft. Kelvynboy
‘Excellent’ by Kojo Blak is another Ghanaian song that went viral on TikTok.
Kojo Blak strategically shared the song’s catchy lyrics and behind-the-scenes videos on TikTok, allowing users to create their own content.
With its catchy tune and upbeat mood, the song was ideal for lifestyle content and dance challenges.
Sarkodie, among other well-known figures in the industry, took an interest in Kojo’s TikTok craze.
Kojo Blak is now one of Ghana’s fastest-rising musicians, with over 284,000 user-generated pieces of content on ‘Excellent.’
‘Kwaku the Traveller’ – Black Sherif
In 2022, Black Sherif’s ‘Kwaku the Traveller’ became a global anthem, dominating social media feeds and streaming platforms.
The ‘emotional’ street anthem, which was first performed on the 3Music Awards stage, tells the story of a young man striving for success despite making mistakes and facing difficulties.
The song’s famous phrase, ‘Who never f**cked up, hands in the air,’ made it go viral on TikTok.
TikTok users got creative with their personal stories of failure, growth, and accomplishment, sparking a viral challenge.
Some even doused themselves in water to imitate Black Sherif’s performance from the 3Music stage.
One of the most popular African songs of 2022, ‘Kwaku The Traveller’ had around 700,000 user-generated videos.
‘Sugarcane’ – Camidoh ft. Mayorkun, Darkoo & King Promise
When Camidoh first released ‘Sugarcane,’ it gained moderate attention.
However, the remix featuring Mayorkun, Darkoo, and King Promise took the song to new heights, thanks to social media, particularly TikTok.
A viral dance routine created by Ghanaian dancer, Dancegod Lloyd, and several other Tik Tokers led to over 1.6 million user-generated videos.
With its success on social media, ‘Sugarcane’ topped music charts across Africa and gained international recognition, especially in the Caribbean and the UK.
To show appreciation to these influencers, Camidoh invited them on stage during the 2022 VGMAs (Vodafone Ghana Music Awards) to perform with him, as they had greatly contributed to the success of the song ‘Sugarcane.’
‘Down Flat’ – Kelvynboy
Kelvynboy’s ‘Down Flat’ became an unexpected worldwide hit. The love song, released in 2022, quickly gained popularity on TikTok.
Content creators were drawn to the song’s distinct feel, which led to lip-sync videos and dance challenges that gained significant traction.
The song has accumulated more than 141,000 user-generated videos on TikTok.
‘One Leg’ – Jay Hover
‘One Leg’ by Jay Hover started as an easy dance routine for partygoers who struggled to dance.
On TikTok, the fun and simple dance routine went viral, encouraging others to join in.
Jay Hover responded by releasing an official version of the song, which was a perfect fit for the viral trend.
More than 221,000 user-generated videos were created, increasing the song’s popularity.
‘Touch It’ – KiDi
KiDi‘s first single from his Golden Boy album, ‘Touch it,’ fused dancehall, Afropop, and Afrobeats.
While the song was already well-known in Ghana, TikTok helped it gain international recognition.
The song quickly gained popularity on TikTok, especially in India and other Asian countries, after a simple dance challenge was created.
KiDi collaborated with Indian singer Tanishk Bagchi for an official refix, further extending its reach.
‘Touch It’ became one of KiDi‘s biggest tracks, topping Shazam and Apple Music charts globally, with over a million user-generated videos.
Meanwhile watch videos from the 2025 budget presentation in parliament below:
AK/EB
