Burna Boy
Ghana and Nigeria are heading into one of the biggest video games ever made. Rockstar Games has given fans a first listen to the radio stations in Grand Theft Auto VI, and one of them, AfroBank FM, puts West African music front and centre. Nigerian superstar Burna Boy is one of the station’s hosts, while Ghanaian highlife legend Pat Thomas and the late guitarist Ebo Taylor appear on the playlist with their classic song “Gye Wani”.
The preview, released on Thursday, October 8, 2026, also includes Nigerian hitmaker Asake, whose song “Joha” is one of three tracks fans have heard on the station so far.
What Rockstar Revealed
Rockstar opened a preview page on its official website where fans can sample six in-game radio stations ahead of the game’s launch. Each station came with a short taste of its sound and three songs.
The six stations are Cocotea FM, Back Country Radio, AfroBank FM, The Chamber 106.6, Flash FM and Dirty South Classics. Together they cover Latin party music, country, African sounds, metal, pop and Southern hip-hop.
The hosts are a mix of big names. Bad Bunny hosts on Cocotea FM, Lana Del Rey and Morgan Wallen are on Back Country Radio, and rap duo Trick Daddy and Trina run Dirty South Classics.
Burna Boy Takes the Mic on AfroBank FM
AfroBank FM is hosted by Burna Boy, who goes by the on-air name “Burna”, alongside German DJ and producer Palms Trax, known on the station as “Palmsy”.
The station blends African classics with newer sounds, including Afrobeats, amapiano and 3-step. That mix gives highlife from the 1980s and modern Lagos and South African club music a shared home in the game.
For the Afrobeats star, it is another global moment. Fans of Asake also have reason to celebrate, as his song “Joha” sits on the same playlist.
Pat Thomas and Ebo Taylor’s “Gye Wani” Gets a New Audience
For Ghana, the biggest talking point is “Gye Wani”. The highlife song by Pat Thomas features the legendary guitarist Ebo Taylor and was first released in 1984.
The Twi title speaks about enjoying life and finding happiness even when times are hard. More than four decades after its release, the song is now set to reach millions of gamers around the world.
A Bittersweet Moment for Ebo Taylor
The news carries extra weight because Ebo Taylor passed away on February 7, 2026, at the age of 90. He did not live to see his guitar work appear in the game, but the placement adds to a legacy that already reached far beyond Ghana.
Taylor worked with Fela Kuti in London in the 1960s and later produced records for Pat Thomas and C.K. Mann. His song “Heaven” was also sampled by Usher on “She Don’t Know”.
Who Is Pat Thomas?
Pat Thomas, born in 1946, is often called “The Golden Voice of Africa”. He began his career in the 1960s and was closely linked with Ebo Taylor’s highlife bands.
He later formed the band Sweet Beans and recorded with Marijata. Today he tours with his Kwashibu Area Band, keeping classic highlife alive for new generations.
Quick Facts
- Game: Grand Theft Auto VI by Rockstar Games
- Station: AfroBank FM
- Hosts: Burna Boy (“Burna”) and Palms Trax (“Palmsy”)
- Songs previewed: “Joha” by Asake; “Gye Wani” by Pat Thomas ft. Ebo Taylor; “Shay’sana” by DJ Lag and Robot Boii ft. Kamo Mphela
- “Gye Wani” first released: 1984
- Preview released: October 8, 2026
- Game release date: November 19, 2026
- Platforms: PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X/S
More Than Just Car Radio
Rockstar is also changing how players hear music. For the first time in the series, players will be able to listen to the stations while on foot, through earbuds and headphones worn by the characters.
The studio also announced new themed podcasts that players can tune into, adding more voices and stories to the game world.
How Fans Are Reacting
News of the AfroBank FM line-up spread quickly online, with Ghanaian music lovers proud to see a homegrown highlife classic in such a huge franchise. Nigerian fans also cheered Burna Boy’s hosting role and Asake’s inclusion.
It is not the first time Ghanaian artists have played with the GTA name. Rapper Medikal even released a track titled “Grand Theft Auto Gh (GTAGH)”, but this time the music is going inside the game itself.
Why It Matters for Ghana and Nigeria
GTA soundtracks are known for introducing older songs to young listeners. A spot on AfroBank FM could send a new wave of streams to “Gye Wani” and to Pat Thomas and Ebo Taylor’s wider catalogue.
It also shows how far West African music has travelled. Afrobeats stars and highlife pioneers now share space with global names on one of gaming’s most famous platforms.
What’s Next
Only three songs per station have been revealed so far, so more African tracks could still appear on AfroBank FM. Fans will hear the full playlist when Grand Theft Auto VI launches on November 19, 2026.
For now, Ghana and Nigeria can enjoy a proud moment: a highlife classic from 1984, a modern Afrobeats hit and one of Africa’s biggest stars behind the mic, all heading to the streets of the new GTA.
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