Highlife Research Paper

Highlife is a kind of music that originated in Ghana in the early twentieth century. It is actually melodies and soulful singing. The incorporation of traditional Ghanaian rhythms highlights the basics of highlife music i.e. the balance between traditional and modern styles. The term highlife is actually a general term which refers to a couple of different styles which include Burgher highlife, disco highlife, and gospel highlife. Among the most popular highlife musicians are Alex Konadu, K. Gyasi, African Brothers, and C.K. Mann. one of the oldest and most influential music styles in Africa. The period between the 1950s and 1970s is regarded as the golden age of highlife music. Many bands operated across Ghana playing in nightclubs and social gatherings. Highlife music is characterized by tripping guitar Highlife is a melting
This is basically due to the fact that highlife is a convergence between traditional and foreign styles. It is characterized by multiple guitars and jazzy horns. Traditional music instruments that are incorporated into highlife music include drums, chordophones, Akan harp, rattles, and xylophones. Later on, trumpets were also incorporated thus some highlife tracks have a jazzy feel to them. Traditional Ghanaian instruments used in highlife utilize indigenous harmonies, scales, and tones. Dance- band highlife, for example, employs Western tonality in addition to functional harmony. Guitar- band highlife, on the other hand, uses traditional melodies and harmonies. In highlife music, vocals are built upon the particular guitar riff in use, instead of the classic changing of chords based on the vocal melody (Matczynski).
Yaa Amponsah by Ogytanaa is one of the greatest highlife music rhythms. It features a simple guitar riff that moves from I- IV- V. It features Western- style tonality with guitar stasis mirroring a traditional drumming ensemble and