The Cavemen - Dancing Shoes
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NC5K_y0zW0E
The Cavemen is a Lagos based ‘Afrocentric influenced’ band comprising of Kingsley Okorie and his brother, Benjamin James. The band champion a genre called ‘Highlife Fusion’ which is a combination of Highlife, Afrobeat, Jazz and Soul music.
Ghana Special (updated)
https://amf.didiermary.fr/ghana-special/
As of 11/20/2025, this “old” compilation isn’t available on Bancamp anymore, replaced by a new one, called “Ghana Special Highlife”.
K. Frimpong – Blue & Black albums
https://amf.didiermary.fr/frimpong-cubano-fiestas-blue-black-albums/
Reissue of two albums by Alhaji K. Frimpong (1939-2005), with His Cubano Fiestas, an icon of Ghanaian highlife: The Blue and Black Albums, released in 1976 and 1977 respectively.
“Here are the twins from Ghana!”
https://amf.didiermary.fr/basa-basa-homowo-african-soul-power/
Homowo, one of Ghana’s most sought-after LPs, emerges from obscurity on a high-quality reissue.
First released in Nigeria in 1979, this LP (Homowo and also known as Basa Basa Experience – Together We Win) is a unique collaboration with Themba ‘T-fire’ Matebese, who propelled Basa Basa’s sound, inspired by Ghanaian traditional music, [...]
Highlife Music of Ghana and Nigeria
https://amf.didiermary.fr/highlife-music-ghana-nigeria-60s-70s/
70s Highlife Music from Ghana and Nigeria in this documentary, unfortunately lacking all the songs and performers names. If you know, please comment below.
Post also includes "Highlife On The Move: Selected Nigerian & Ghanaian Recordings from London & Lagos 1954-66" with the 2 first ever recordings by Fela Ransome Kuti & his band The Highlife Rakers.
#60smusic #70smusic #Compilation #Documentary #FelaKuti #Ghana #Highlife #Nigeria
Louis Armstrong sings “Black and Blue” in Ghana
https://amf.didiermary.fr/louis-armstrong-sings-black-blue-ghana/
Louis Armstrong spent 2 days in Ghana in 1956, as part of The Jazz Ambassadors program to represent America abroad. He sang and played “Black and Blue” in front of the future Prime Minister Kwame Nkrumah.
I’m white inside, it don’t help my case
‘Cause I can’t hide, what is on my face, oh!
When Louis […]
Uhuru Dance Band
https://amf.didiermary.fr/uhuru-dance-band/
Uhuru Dance Band was formed in the mid-60s under the leadership of Stan Plange, when some of the musicians broke away from the Broadway Dance Band (established in 1958 and run by the management of the Zenith Hotel in Takoradi), after returning from a performance in post-independence Kenya.
Uhuru was a 24-piece band, the first big […]
Compilation “Afro Baby – The Evolution of the Afro-Sound in Nigeria 1970-1979”
https://amf.didiermary.fr/afro-baby/
Nigeria in the 1970s had one of the biggest recording industries on the continent as well as one of the most diverse. The fusion of African rhythms and culture with jazz, funk, soul and rock was an Africa wide phenomenon but nowhere was […]
#70smusic #Compilation #FelaKuti #Highlife #Nigeria #OrlandoJulius #AfroBeat
African System Orchestra – Bad Friend
https://amf.didiermary.fr/african-system-orchestra-bad-friend/
Hybrid of Soukous and Highlife, courtesy of Cameroonian guitarist Tambwe Dongo Pecos and his band African System Orchestra that started playing in Nigeria…
Manu Dibango – Waka Juju
https://amf.didiermary.fr/manu-dibango-waka-juju/
Waka Juju is an ode to Juju Music on this 6-track album from 1982.
Mixing Afrobeat, Highlife and Jazz Funk influences across 6 tracks, Dibango incorporated electronic elements into his sound, with synths played by legend Wally Badarou.
#80smusic #Bénin #Cameroon #Highlife #Jazz #JujuMusic #LiveMusic #ManuDibango #AfroBeat
Edo Funk Explosion
https://amf.didiermary.fr/edo-funk-explosion/
During the 80s, an intoxicating subgenre of highlife was born in Benin City, the heart of Edo State (south-western Nigeria), with Sir Victor Uwaifo, adding synthesizers and electric guitars to contribute to this new genre of psychedelic infused Funk. This was the Edo Funk Explosion!
It was in Benin City, in the heart of Nigeria, [...]
#80smusic #AfroFunk #Compilation #Highlife #Nigeria #SirVictorUwaifo #OldAfricanMusic
The Good Samaritans – Onughara
https://amf.didiermary.fr/the-good-samaritans-onughara/
Benin City in Nigeria. Edo-Funk. The Good Samaritans, led by Philosopher Okundaye, who composed many of the famous 80s tracks, between Funk and Highlife.
“No Food Without Taste If By Hunger” by “The Good Samaritans” is one of the most obscure Nigerian album ever recorded. Originally released in 1982, the band’s first album is full […]
Ghana Special 2: Electronic Highlife
https://amf.didiermary.fr/electronic-highlife-ghana-special-2/
“Ghana Special 2: Electronic Highlife & Afro Sounds In The Diaspora, 1980-93” is a collection of 18 Burger Highlife, Electronic Afrobeat and Reggae tracks, highlighting a time when the burgeoning Ghanaian diaspora across Europe and North America was utilising new music technology and recording techniques. [...]
#80smusic #90smusic #Compilation #Ghana #Highlife #AfroBeat #Electro
RIP Nana Ampadu
https://amf.didiermary.fr/rip-nana-ampadu/
Renowned Ghanaian highlife musician, Nana Ampadu (Nana Kwame Ampadu), died on September 28, 2021.
In this interview from 2007, historian Jennifer Hart talks with him about the music that made him famous: God was everywhere in the street.
Santrofi – Alewa
https://amf.didiermary.fr/santrofi-alewa/
Santrofi is a young allstar band from Ghana, an 8 piece collective made up of a young generation of awarded musicians who have backed anyone in Ghana from Sarkodie to 2Face Idibia. Their mission is to bring Highlife back, not only to the world but also to Ghana, where the young generation has forgotten all […]
Ebo Taylor – Love & Death
https://amf.didiermary.fr/ebo-taylor-love-death/
Ebo Taylor, Ghanaian guitarist, composer, bandleader, producer & Highlife musician. Here’s his first internationally released solo album in 2009, “Love And Death” where he reprises some of his ’70s classics alongside some new compositions, all backed by Berlin collective Afrobeat Academy.
Ebo Taylor & Uhuru Yenzu – You Need Love
https://amf.didiermary.fr/ebo-taylor-uhuru-yenzu-you-need-love/
Conflict was originally released in 1980 and was partially remade as part of Taylorʼs 2009 “Love and Death” album. […]
Kokoroko – Abusey Junction
https://amf.didiermary.fr/kokoroko-abusey-junction-we-out-here/
Released in 2018, “Abusey Junction” is the first record track of 8-piece band, London-based jazz collective Kokoroko.
“We Out Here” is a primer on London’s bright-burning young jazz scene. This new compilation brings together a collection of some of its sharpest talents. A set of nine newly-recorded tracks, We Out Here captures a moment where […]
Ogyatanaa – Yaa Amponsah
https://amf.didiermary.fr/ogyatanaa-yaa-amponsah/
In the 1930s, Sam’s Trio, led by Jacob Sam, was the most influential of the high-life guitar-bands. Their “Yaa Amponsah”, three versions of which were recorded in 1928 for Zonophone, was a major hit that remains a popular staple of numerous high-life bands.
The Ogyatanaa Show Band, aka Burning Fire Show Band, was one of […]
Ebo Taylor – Heaven
https://amf.didiermary.fr/ebo-taylor-heaven-ghana-soundz/
Ebo Taylor’s hypnotic track “Heaven” comprises modern jazz elements, and the song’s vocals borrow their format from a Ghanian nursery rhyme style, whereby children would repeat the final word of each sentence.
Originally released in 1977, Ebo Taylorʼs self-titled album is a rarity that truly exposes the genius of the Ghanaian producer and arranger. [...]
Etuk Ubong – Africa Today
https://amf.didiermary.fr/etuk-ubong-africa-today/
Reflecting the urgency of his messages, Etuk Ubong’s fast-paced channelling of Afrobeat, highlife, and jazz – encompassing echoes of Ellingtonian intricacy, blue period Miles, Coltrane transcendence, the roots rebirth of Masekela – all inspired by the ancestral ever-presence of Ekombi ritual drumming, creates a unique confluence of musical and spiritual questing. [...]
E.T. Mensah & His Tempos Band – FomFom
https://amf.didiermary.fr/et-mensah-tempos-band-fomfom/
The original “Tempos” band was formed in 1946 as a “jam session” group by some European soldiers stationed in Accra. It played for army dances and at the Accra club. Over time, African musicians replaced the European ones, until finally it became an all-African band. Mensah joined the band in 1947. Shortly after this the […]
Nana Kwame Ampadu – Yaa Amponsah
https://amf.didiermary.fr/nana-ampadu-african-brothers-band-yaa-amponsah/
Nana Kwame Ampadu (31 March 1945 – 28 September 2021) was a Ghanaian musician and composer credited with numerous popular highlife tracks and he is known to have composed over 800 songs. He was the lead singer, chief songwriter, and founder of the “African Brothers Band”. He is regarded as a pioneer of highlife music […]
Kabaka International Guitar Band
https://amf.didiermary.fr/kabaka-international-guitar-band/
Kabaka International Guitar Band, lead by G. Kabaka Opara, who was part of the legendary Oriental Brothers Band International, but walked out of the group in 1977, to set up his own band. […]
Hi-Lifes You Have Loved
https://amf.didiermary.fr/hi-lifes-loved/
Hi-Lifes You Have Loved is an old compilation (1972) of early African highlife tracks, featuring Stargazers Band, ET Mensah & His Tempos Band, Black Beats, Broadway Dance Band, The Rhythm Aces, etc. […]
