Highlife legend Pat Thomas is taking a piece of the country’s musical history to a global level after his classic song “Gye Wani” featuring Ebo Taylor was confirmed for Grand Theft Auto VI.
The song is among a star-studded selection of tracks confirmed for the highly anticipated game which is being developed by Rockstar Games.
Originally recorded in 1984, “Gye Wani” has travelled an impressive musical journey over the past four decades and is now finding a new audience through one of the world’s biggest video game franchises.
Now its inclusion in GTA VI places the decades-old Ghanaian recording alongside music from some of the biggest names in contemporary and classic music.
The confirmed soundtrack features Zara Larsson and PinkPantheress’ “Midnight Sun (Girls Trip),” Charli xcx’s “Good Ones,” MGMT’s “Electric Feel,” Bad Bunny’s “EoO,” Asake’s “Joha” and David Banner featuring Lil’ Flip on “Like a Pimp.”
Other songs include Romeo Santos and El Chaval de la Bachata’s “Canalla,” Loretta Lynn’s “Don’t Come Home A-Drinkin,” Hank Williams Jr. and Waylon Jennings’ “The Conversation,” and “Shay’sana” by DJ Lag and Robot Boii featuring Kamo Mphela.
Rock classics also feature on the list with Black Sabbath’s “I,” Pantera’s “I’m Broken” and Slayer’s “Raining Blood.”
For Pat Thomas, the GTA VI placement offers another remarkable chapter in the life of a song first recorded more than 40 years ago.
For Ghanaian music, it represents another opportunity for highlife to reach millions of listeners who may encounter the sound for the first time through a global entertainment platform.
