Dance trends have become one of the internet’s favourite languages.
All it takes is one catchy song, a simple set of steps and a phone camera, and within days, the same move can be copied by everyone from your neighbour’s teenage daughter to global pop stars.
What started with short looping clips in the early 2010s exploded into a worldwide phenomenon once TikTok arrived, turning ordinary people and songs into overnight sensations.
Several Ghanaian artistes have released songs that got the world dancing. Here are some of the dance trends that put Ghana on the map.
1. Azonto — Fuse ODG (2012)
Released as the Azonto wave was building, these songs came with dance routines that fans were encouraged to copy online. They carried Azonto into UK and US Ghanaian diaspora communities, turning it into one of Africa’s first viral dance exports, long before TikTok existed.
2. Akwaaba — GuiltyBeatz ft. Mr Eazi, Patapaa & Pappy Kojo (2018)
Released with a cartoon-style music video showing original dance moves, “Akwaaba”, meaning “welcome” in Twi, quickly turned into the AkwaabaDanceChallenge.
Celebrities like Genevieve Nnaji and Juliet Ibrahim joined in, and the song reportedly reached audiences as far as Japan.
3. Kupe Dance — A-Star (2018)
Choreographer Incredible Zigi created the Kupe move, a clap for attention followed by a peace sign. He then brought in London-based Ghanaian artiste A-Star to record the official soundtrack.
The challenge went global after four French influencers, nicknamed the “Kupe Boys”, posted a video dancing to it.
It spread across Africa and the diaspora, was performed during Janet Jackson’s Jimmy Fallon comeback, and took A-Star on tour to the US, Canada, Nigeria and England.
4. Touch It — KiDi (2022)
Released as the lead single ahead of his “Golden Boy” album, “Touch It” came with a dance routine that was pushed heavily online.
The challenge helped turn it into one of KiDi’s most streamed songs to date.
5. Terminator — King Promise (2023)
A snippet of King Promise dancing with choreographer Dancegodlloyd was shared online ahead of the song’s official release.
Within days, “Terminator” reached No. 1 on TikTok and on major streaming platforms including Boomplay, Spotify and Apple Music.
6. One Leg — Jay Hover (2023)
This one started as an actual dance lesson for people who “couldn’t dance.”
The tutorial video went viral on TikTok first, and once demand grew, Jay Hover released it as a full song, which caught fire all over again.
7. Kakalika — DopeNation (2025)
Released by twin duo B2 and Twist of DopeNation, “Kakalika” peaked at No. 35 on the US Billboard Afrobeat Chart and No. 2 on 3Music’s Monster Hitz chart in early 2026.
It has become a football goal celebration used by the Black Stars, Ghana’s Abdul Fatawu Issahaku and European-based players including Chelsea’s Chloe Kelly and Olivia Smith, plus Barcelona and PSG stars.
From Fuse ODG’s Azonto to DopeNation’s Kakalika, Ghana keeps proving it does not just make music, it makes the world move.
As long as there is a phone camera and a beat worth copying, chances are the next global dance challenge is already brewing somewhere in Accra, Kumasi or Tamale.
