Ghanaian highlife legend Pat Thomas has gained fresh international recognition after his classic track “Gye Wani,” featuring Ebo Taylor, was confirmed for inclusion on the in-game radio of Grand Theft Auto VI. The song appears on AfroBank FM, one of the radio stations revealed for the highly anticipated Rockstar Games title.

Lists circulating online, including posts from music accounts, place “Gye Wani” alongside other African selections such as Asake’s “Joha” and “Shay’sana” by DJ Lag and Robot Boii featuring Kamo Mphela. AfroBank FM is described as a station dedicated to African music, spanning 20th-century classics, lesser-known gems and contemporary styles including amapiano and related sounds. The station is hosted by characters voiced by Burna Boy and Palms Trax.

“Gye Wani” originally dates to the mid-1980s and forms part of Pat Thomas’s extensive catalogue of highlife recordings. The collaboration with Ebo Taylor, another foundational figure in Ghanaian music, reflects the rich collaborative tradition within the genre.

Over the decades the track has maintained a presence among highlife enthusiasts and has found renewed audiences through reissues and streaming platforms.

The inclusion of the song in Grand Theft Auto VI places Ghanaian highlife within one of the world’s largest entertainment franchises. Previous Grand Theft Auto titles have featured diverse soundtracks that expose players to music from multiple cultures and eras.

Rockstar Games has a long-standing practice of licensing both contemporary hits and archival recordings for its in-game radio stations.

Grand Theft Auto VI is scheduled for release on November 19, 2026, for PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X/S. The game is set in the fictional state of Leonida, inspired by Florida, and centres on dual protagonists Lucia and Jason.

Details about the radio stations form part of broader pre-release information shared by Rockstar, which has also highlighted original soundtrack contributions and other licensed tracks spanning pop, Latin music, country, metal and hip-hop.

Pat Thomas, often referred to as the Golden Voice of Africa, has enjoyed a career spanning more than five decades. He has worked with ensembles including the Broadway Dance Band, Sweet Beans and Marijata, and has continued to record and perform into recent years.

His partnership with Ebo Taylor has been particularly enduring, with the two musicians collaborating across different periods of Ghanaian popular music.

Public Reaction

The appearance of “Gye Wani” on the GTA VI radio has generated discussion among Ghanaian music fans and the wider African diaspora. Many view the selection as a significant moment of cultural visibility, bringing a classic highlife recording to a global gaming audience that numbers in the tens of millions.

Similar reactions followed earlier inclusions of African artists in major video game soundtracks.

Other confirmed tracks on AfroBank FM illustrate a blend of generations and styles. Asake represents contemporary Afrobeats, while the presence of amapiano-linked material points to the station’s coverage of current South African and broader continental sounds.

The combination positions the radio station as a curated introduction to African music for players who may be encountering these genres for the first time.

Licensing decisions for Grand Theft Auto radio stations typically involve careful selection to match the atmosphere of specific in-game locations and the overall tone of the open-world experience. AfroBank FM’s focus on African music expands the sonic landscape available to players as they navigate Vice City and the surrounding regions of Leonida.

As the November release date approaches, further details about the full soundtrack and remaining radio stations are expected. For now, the confirmation of Pat Thomas and Ebo Taylor’s “Gye Wani” stands as a notable recognition of Ghanaian highlife’s lasting influence and its capacity to reach new listeners through unexpected platforms.

The development adds another chapter to Pat Thomas’s long career, demonstrating how recordings made decades earlier can find renewed relevance in contemporary global entertainment. For many observers, the placement of the track in Grand Theft Auto VI underscores the continuing international resonance of classic African music.