Highlife is a music genre in Ghana dating back in the 19th Century. The music genre cuts across all aspects of life; funerals, parties, diplomatic functions, gospel especially notable for conveying messages in forms of folklores spiced with a touch of advice, proverbs and idiomatic expression.
What makes highlife exceptional is its flawless live band incorporating instruments such as the guitar, konka drum, piano, flute and drums giving it its smooth melodic and rhythmic structures. Till date, certain important functions featuring notable dignitaries implore highlife music to grace the occasion.
However, the dynamism of culture has changed the face of the music in the country. Most of the youth and young musicians have joined the trend of adapting to other music genres such as reggae, dancehall and hip pop as the new order of the day. Today, highlife is viewed as genre for the oldies and aged.
As a result, Ghanaian highlife legend, Gyedu Blay Ambulley in a GNA report has called on music actors to uphold the genre of highlife music to preserve its originality for future generations. He made this statement at the launch of the “Highlife is Alive Fan Club”. The purpose behind the club’s establishment is to awaken the spirit of highlife music among the people and make it an international art and work towards its recognition as a national cultural heritage.
“Every country has its own music so why do we have to leave highlife and chase other genres like reggae and dancehall among others. It is quite sad that our radios are supporting the promotion of other genres which is a total deviation” he added “Highlife is the mother of every dance music in the world. We cannot sit down and let highlife die because the young ones are now doing songs on borrowed rhythms. The deviation from our original music is becoming very rapid due to the missing links between the older and younger musicians so we the older ones have to put our minds together and salvage the situation.
Legends like AB Crentsil, Alex Konadu, Amakye Dede, CK Mann, Nana Ampedu, Daddy Lumba, Ben Brako and Osibisa filled our ears with melodious songs and till now we still dance their songs. Which Highlife song do you love and can you sing well?
