A GhanaWeb feature by Elsie Lamar
Highlife music has undergone a series of transformations both before and after Ghana’s independence, evolving into the genre we know today.
Originally birthed in Ghana, locals have championed the genre since its origin in the early 1900s, during the era of slavery, and has continued to evolve today.
With that being said, let’s explore the nine stages of highlife music’s evolution, which has now transformed into the globally recognised genre, ‘Afrobeats’.
Palm Wine Music
The origins of highlife music can be traced back to “palm wine music” in the early 1900s, created by the ‘Kru’ tribe.
The Kru tribe is an indigenous ethnic group from West Africa, particularly from Liberia, Ivory Coast, Ghana, and Sierra Leone.
After resisting slavery, the ‘Kru people’ were hired by European and American ship captains and merchants to work on their ships.
While at sea, the Kru sailors passed the time by playing European instruments, notably the guitar.
Popular Ghanaian musician, Agya Koo Nimo, eventually became the leading folk musician of palm wine music.
He became Ghana’s first exponent of acoustic highlife guitar and folklore, with over 100 songs to his credit.
Osibisaaba
When the Kru people arrived in Ghana and interacted with the Fantes, their diverse musical influences merged into a new genre called “Osibisaaba.”
The Fantes at the time played a traditional instrument called the “seperewa” that used a finger plucking technique.
The Kru sailors imitated this finger-picking style on Portuguese guitars, which led to the creation of Osibisaaba.
The instruments used for Osibisaaba are a combination of the guitar, concertina, and harmonica.
Later, the popular Ghanaian-British Afro-rock band “Osibisa” emerged from this fusion of influences.
Highlife Music
Out of palm wine music emerged “highlife” music, which introduced more instrumentation.
The genre became very popular in Ghana during the 1950s and 1960s.
Initially performed for the elite in society, the music came to be known as “Highlife,” a term that referred to its association with high society, or “high-class life.”
During the colonial period, highlife was closely tied to the local aristocrats.
Bands like the ‘Jazz Kings’, ‘Cape Coast Sugar Babies’, and ‘Accra Orchestra’ performed this genre.
The term “highlife” was used to describe orchestrated indigenous songs played at exclusive clubs.
Eventually, in southern Ghana and some Akan towns and villages where people couldn’t afford expensive brass instruments, local drum bands known as “konkoma” or “konkomba” were formed.
Later, electric guitars became more common, and artists like E.K. Nyame even helped link highlife to the popular theatre form known as the concert party.
E.T. Mensah was the first to introduce highlife to Nigeria, influencing legends like Fela Kuti, who later created his masterpieces inspired by highlife.
Burger Highlife
The influx of Ghanaians in Germany at a point, led to the creation of a new form of highlife known as “Burger Highlife.”
As Ghanaians settled in cities like Berlin, Düsseldorf, and Hamburg, they began collaborating with German musicians and producers, blending highlife with disco and funk.
This fusion led to the emergence of “Burger Highlife,” a genre that also gave rise to a distinct fashion style known as “burger dressing.”
Some of the pioneers of Burger Highlife include George Darko, Lee Dodou, Lumba Brothers (Daddy Lumba and Nana Acheampong), Rex Gyamfi, CK Mann, and Charles Amoah.
Fante-Style Highlife and Rap
Artistes like K.K. Kabobo and Gyedu Blay Ambolley pioneered the “semi-rap Fante-style” highlife genre, with Ambolley releasing his first record titled “Simigwado.”
Ambolley championed this genre with his performance style, which blended highlife with fast-spoken, poetic lyrics. He is often hailed as the father of rap in Ghana.
Over time, Ghanaians became influenced by American hip hop, which further shaped the evolution of the genre.
Afro Rock
Other bands began emerging with a style that was classified as “Afro Rock,” incorporating sharp beats and strong basslines.
These bands played a pivotal role in shaping the genre by blending traditional Ghanaian rhythms with funk, rock, and Afrobeat influences.
Afro Rock drew heavily from traditional African music styles, including Afrobeat, highlife, juju, and soukous, and was also influenced by Western genres like psychedelic rock, funk, and blues.
Prominent Afro Rock bands from this period include Osibisa, Assagai, and the Lafayette Afro Rock Band.
Nigerian musician Fela Kuti also played a significant role in shaping Afro Rock.
Hiplife
Hiplife’s history dates back to the early 1990s, with Reginald Osei, popularly known as Reggie Rockstone, often credited as one of its originators, although there are different opinions.
Sound engineer Jeff Tennyson Quaye, aka Jay Q, also played a significant role in the development of hiplife, introducing the ‘Jama/Kpanlogo’ beat that defined the sound.
Reggie Rockstone, alongside producers like Mike Cooke, Rab Bakari, Zapp Mallet, and others, helped craft the genre.
Chief G and the Tribe, one of the first rap groups in Ghana, which had artistes like Chief G (now known as Jay Ghartey) and Kwaku T also championed the genre.
A continuation of Hiplife fused with rap
A new era of hiplife emerged in the late 1990s when ‘Hammer of The Last Two’ introduced original beats and precision rap.
Hammer, born Edward Nana Poku Osei, merged hip-hop grooves with local highlife tempos and melodies, capturing the attention of both the elite and the masses.
His heavy drums and lead trumpets gave hiplife a unique sound, inspiring a new generation of musicians, including Richie, Ball J, Kill Beats, Jayso, and EL.
Some of the biggest artistes to emerge from hiplife include Kwaw Kesse, Edem, Obrafour, Tinny, Sarkodie, and Koo Wiase, all of whom rose to prominence through Hammer’s label.
Other Ghanaian rappers like Lord Kenya, Obour, V.I.P, Castro, and MzBel continued the trend, helping hiplife become one of the most popular forms of music in West Africa.
Afrobeats
Fela Kuti, a Nigerian musician, played a significant role in shaping Afro Rock, which eventually evolved into Afrobeats.
Fela championed the Afrobeat genre, which was known for its socially conscious lyrics, that addressed political and social movements, advocating for liberation and independence across Africa.
Today, artistes like Burna Boy have continued in Fela’s footsteps, promoting social advocacies that have earned them international recognition, including Grammy Awards.
Wizkid, Davido, Tiwa Savage, Tems, Rema, and many others have popularised and continued to carry the baton of Afrobeats, which now reigns globally.