Today’s Afrobeats genre sits comfortably and enjoys the hard works of Highlife music.
Agree or disagree, without Highlife music there will be nothing like Afrobeat or Afrobeats but the purpose or intention behind what am about to say has nothing to do with the ‘beat’ or ‘beats’ instead how highlife music raised us before Wi-Fi, how the lyrics in highlife music told us how to survive life, love and two-step dance at family parties, how highlife music evokes the sense of joy and excitement each time we hear or listen yet have we done enough for Highlife music?
At a friend’s end of month family get-together, as I sat and enjoyed the Afrobeats mixes from the Dj- playing and mixing some good tunes from Kelvyn boy, Kuami Eugene and KiDi, I couldn’t help noticing something. Right after playing KiDi’s Adiepena song, the dj starts to play Kojo Antwi’s Adiepena’s song following it with Kakayi, Akonoba and Bomi Nkomo De.
Wondering why the Dj would play back-to-back Kojo Antwi highlife classics, I heard one aunty scream Ei! Play that song again, another screaming repeatedly “Bo Ammrika biom”! “Bo Ammrika biom” “Bo Ammrika biom”! …she was kinda losing her manners for a minute but the excitement in her voice made her careless about what anyone could think about her.
As the popular DJ jungle ‘Bring the track back’ echoed throughout the two mega sound speakers, Kojo Antwi’s 2002 classic tune Ammrika was repeated for the second time by popular request from the aunties.
For a moment, every aunt, uncle, daddy, mommy within generation X, generation Y and some generation Z were on the dance floor.
One thing was for sure, we didn’t just grow up on Highlife music, highlife music grew up within us.
As I smiled and watched these older adults swaying with joy, moving in bliss as they groove in delight, I wished I got join in on the flow with Kojo Antwi’s Ammrika song but anyone who knows me can testify I could never dance to save my life though my head swings left and right each times my ear hears any rhythm.
Everyone at the party jammed with joy in the continues highlife tunes that were been played from Kofi Nti & Ofori Amponsah’s ‘Atweentan’, Sardine, Emmanuela, Oheneba Kissi ‘Ateaa’ & ‘Kabribi Kyere Me’, Daddy Lumba’s ‘Y3 Nea Woho B3to Wo- Yentie Obiaa’, ‘Akoma Da Akoma So’ to the almighty Doctor Panee song amongst other incredible old Highlife classics.
I couldn’t help but noticed the energy the Highlife music brought. Whiles I enjoyed some traditional Ghanaian fare alongside the local beverages and abit of colorful non-alcoholic mojito and mocktails, I knew that wasn’t the place or time to be thinking but I couldn’t help myself.
A little voice in my head wished to scream into a microphone and inquire, let’s ask ourselves, have we as a people done enough for highlife music?
Now since I couldn’t ask at the get-together, I continue to wonder, have we as a people done enough for highlife music? Speaking in terms of documentation, rewarding and appreciating whose who pledged and devoted their artistic creativity, voices, instruments and livelihood in sustaining this beautiful genre we enjoy till date which I firmly believe is the backbone of any of the ‘Afrobeat(s)’.
Ghana music awards has the highlife categories’ featuring Best Highlife Song and Best Highlife Artiste which recognizes outstanding achievements in the genre.
The Lifetime Achievement Awards which is a prestigious honor recognizing artistes who have made extraordinary contribution and displayed lifelong dedication to music and Ghanaian culture which isn’t only bestowed on Highlife musicians though most of it recipients are highlife legends.
Yet still I ask again, have we as a nation, people, fans done enough for highlife music? Well, I strongly believe we have not done enough and I know a consensus will reveal that not enough has been done for highlife music.
Regardless of whatever we have done in the past or we continue to do, we have to do more; we need to go further for Highlife music and musicians.
Highlife must be REVERED, Highlife must be REVIVED, Highlife must be REWARDED and Highlife must be CELEBRATED…We may have evolved in time, sound and rhythm but our soul still swings to Highlife music’s timeless groove. Is it just me or highlife finds a way to speak to every generation?
By Nana Yaa Tanoah Boakye
(Entertainment Broadcast Journalist, Metro TV)
