Ghanaian singer Adina Thembi has opened up about the influences behind her decision to pursue highlife music.

Adina made these remarks while speaking on the panel of Joy FM’s eighth Showbiz Roundtable hosted by Kwame Dadzie, where she expressed her love for the genre.

“Growing up my grandmother used to sing ebibinwom in the Methodist church, and my mum picked it so I was drawn to that sound.

Amandzeba is one of the people who have influenced me heavily in terms of highlife music. I remember listening to his music and saying I wanted to take something like that and add modern influence to it, and maybe call it my own,” Adina noted.

She added that she was also influenced by the music of Akosua Agyepong, Princess Cynthia and A.B. Crentsil.

The eighth edition of Showbiz Roundtable examined the theme ‘Preserving highlife as Ghana’s music heritage.’

The programme aired live on Joy 99.7 FM, JoyPrime and JoyNews as part of the stations’ Ghana Month activities.

The panel featured Professor John Collins, ethnomusicologist; Amandzeba, highlife musician; Kofi Boachie-Ansah, also known as Beatmenace, audio engineer; Adina, highlife musician; and Jonas Bibi Hammond, a veteran music producer.

The keynote address was delivered by the Chief Executive Officer of the Ghana Tourism Authority, Maame Efua Houadjeto. In her address, she spoke about the importance of Ghana making greater gains from the highlife genre while passing it on to future generations.

A special guest for the programme was UNESCO’s National Professional Officer for Culture, Carl Ampah, who offered insight into what it means for highlife to be listed by UNESCO as Ghana’s intangible cultural heritage.

The show had a live studio audience made up of musicians, journalists, music producers, music executives and other creative industry stakeholders. Those in attendance included Asah Nkansah of Kwan Pa Band, Dela Botri, Yaw Darling, Seven Xavier and Tilly Akua Nipaa, among others.

Showbiz Roundtable was brought to audiences by the 2025 GJA Awards Entertainment Programme of the Year, Showbiz A-Z, powered by Joy Entertainment with support from Joy Prime television.

It was moderated by arts and culture journalist Kwame Dadzie and emceed by Noella Karyne Yalley.

The eighth Showbiz Roundtable was produced by Philip Nai, Anita Teye, Martin Kwasi Asare and DJ Wobeti.