highlife

Stop The Lies! Nigeria Did Not Originate Highlife
17 Feb

Stop The Lies! Nigeria Did Not Originate Highlife

CUD Wontumi0 CommentsShowbiz,
It is laughable that in 2025 some people from other countries still want to rob Ghana off the credit for birthing highlife music. An interview that Nigerian artiste Yemi Alade had with CNN’s Larry Madowo about three months ago has goaded me to write this piece. A comment Yemi made in that interview with CNN’s Larry Madowo, claiming highlife did not originate only in Ghana but also in Nigeria, reeks of ignorance if not for ill agenda. While talking about how successful her song ‘Johnny’ was, Larry Madowo made reference to the highlife elements in that song, crediting the genre’s origin to…
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Okraku Mantey Calls For Repositioning And Revitalization Of Highlife Music
22 Mar

Okraku Mantey Calls For Repositioning And Revitalization Of Highlife Music

wontumionlineShowbiz,
Deputy Minister for Tourism, Arts, and Culture, Mark Okraku Mantey, has emphasized the significance of Highlife's positioning in attracting artists to associate with the genre. He noted that the reluctance of contemporary artists to fully embrace Highlife music is influenced by the genre's image and perception. In an interview on Joy FM, Okraku Mantey pointed out that the brand image plays a crucial role in the showbiz industry, with younger artists often avoiding labels associated with being old-fashioned. He cited examples like Kelvyn Boy and Kuami Eugene, who incorporate elements of Highlife without explicitly identifying as Highlife artists. Expressing concern over…
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“Such Nonsense!” – KOD Reacts To Ambolley’s Claim That VGMA Is A Curse To Highlife
03 Apr

“Such Nonsense!” – KOD Reacts To Ambolley’s Claim That VGMA Is A Curse To Highlife

wontumionlineShowbiz, , , ,
Ghanaian broadcaster, Kofi Okyere Darko (KOD) has expressed his disappointment with a recent statement made by veteran musician Gyedu-Blay Ambolley about the current state of highlife. Ambolley in an interview with Graphic Showbiz said that the Vodafone Ghana Music Awards (VGMA) has vitiated the highlife music genre. He said giving the topmost awards to artistes in other music genres in the VGMA has affected the fortunes of highlife. He also raised concerns the quality of artistes nominated in the Best Highlife Artiste of the Year category of the awards. “It is unfortunate that people think when you sing in Twi…
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Calling Black Sherif’s Music Highlife Could Revive The Genre Internationally – Akwaboah
08 Mar

Calling Black Sherif’s Music Highlife Could Revive The Genre Internationally – Akwaboah

wontumionlineShowbiz, ,
Akwaboah has argued that Black Sherif's music is ignorantly called Hiphop or Afrobeats by the music industry. “I will describe most of the songs Black Sherif does as Highlife,” Akwaboah told the host of Accra-based Joy FM’s morning show, Kojo Yankson. The ‘Obiaa’ hitmaker explained by adding that: “When you listen to the way he [Black Sherif] sings and everything,” it is evident he is a Highlife artiste, “but he has been pushed to Hiphop.” Akwaboah opined that should Black Sherif be tagged a Highlife artiste, he could carry the iconic Ghanaian genre on his ascendency. “So going global, imagine…
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The Origin Of Hiplife: How Rapping In Twi ‘Blew People’s Minds’
07 Feb

The Origin Of Hiplife: How Rapping In Twi ‘Blew People’s Minds’

wontumionlineShowbiz,
Hiplife is a music genre birthed in Ghana in the early 90s from a fusion of American hip-hop and Ghanaian highlife music. It established itself as music with a truly African identity for a new generation of Ghanaians. BBC News Africa spoke to some of the originators of the genre about how the sound came to take over West Africa. Watch the full documentary Hiplife Rewind:       Source: BBC
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Akufo-Addo Pays Tribute To Legendary Highlife Musician, Nana Ampadu
10 Oct

Akufo-Addo Pays Tribute To Legendary Highlife Musician, Nana Ampadu

wontumionlineShowbiz, ,
President Akufo-Addo paid tribute to the legendary highlife musician, Nana Kwame Ampadu. Speaking at the funeral of the legendary Highlife musician, held at the forecourt of the State House in Accra, President Akufo-Addo emphasised the Musician’s contribution to the music industry and how it impacted his (Akufo-Addo’s) political life. “Talk of the commencement and growth of highlife music, and one of the people whose names will be on the lips of most Ghanaians is Nana Kwame Ampadu. “The outpouring of grief by many Ghanaians following the news of his death is in appreciation of the impact his music had on successive…
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