Highlife

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For other uses, see High life (disambiguation).

Highlife is a musical genre that originated in Ghana in the 1900s and spread to Sierra Leone, Nigeria and other West African countries by 1920. It is very popular in Liberia and all of English-speaking West Africa, although little has been produced in other countries due to economic challenges brought on by war and instability. Joromi is a sub-genre.

Highlife is characterized by jazzy horns and multiple guitars which lead the band. Recently it has acquired an uptempo, synth-driven sound (cf. Daddy Lumba).

Saka Acquaye and His African Ensemble are featured on Nonesuch Explorer Series album Ghana: High-Life & Other Popular Music (Voices of Africa: High-Life and Other Popular Music 1969/2002). Other artists include:

Koo Nimo (Daniel Amponsah)
AB Crentsil
Dr. Sir Warrior
Dr. K. Gyasi and The Noble Kings
S. E. Rogie
Koola Lobitos
The African Brothers Band
George Darko
Charles Amoah (singer)
Solomon Ilori
Rex Lawson
Prince Nico Mbarga
Jerry Hansen and The Ramblers
E. T. Mensah
Osibisa
The Sweet Talks
Eric Agyeman
The Tempos
Pat Thomas
Aaron Bebe Sukura
Daddy Lumba
Bolga Zohdoomah
King Bruce
Nana Kwame Ampadu
Rex Gyamfi
Alhaji K. Frimpong
Amakye Dede
Paapa Yankson
Celestine Ukwu
'Sir' Victor Uwaifo
Oriental Brothers International
Bobby Benson
The Seagulls (Port Harcourt)
Victor Olaiya
Gyedu Blay Ambolley
Chief Stephen Osita Osadebe
University of Colorado Highlife Ensemble

[edit] Highlife in jazz

Saxophonist Pharoah Sanders recorded a song called "High Life" on Rejoice (1981)
Pierre Dørge and his New Jungle Orchestra played in the highlife style, e.g. on Even The Moon Is Dancing (1985)
Guitarist Sonny Sharrock had a song called "Highlife" on the album of the same name (1990)
Craig Harris (trombone) had a song called "High Life" on the album F-Stops (1993)