Osei Korankye – Seperewa Highlife
https://amf.didiermary.fr/osei-korankye-seperewa-highlife/
The seperewa, also known as seprewa or sanku, is a Ghanaian (specifically Akan) harp-lute and belongs to a class of harp-lute chordophones typical in West Africa. They are recognisable by their square wooden box resonator, which differ from the calabash ones used for Manding harp-lutes like the kora or kamele n’goni. […]
Fela Kuti – Waka Waka
https://amf.didiermary.fr/waka-waka-fela-ransome-kuti/
“Waka Waka” and “Se E Tun De” on this 45T from the sixties by Fela Ransome Kuti and His Koola Lobitos.
There’s a live version on the 3-disc set Highlife: Jazz and AfroSoul (1963-1969) below. A collection of recordings made between 1963 and 1969 that provide unique insight into the beginnings of Kuti’s craft. […]
#60smusic #Compilation #FelaKuti #Highlife #Jazz #Nigeria #AfroJazz
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. […]
Locomotive Train (Keteke)
https://amf.didiermary.fr/locomotive-train-keteke-african-brothers-band/
Released to coincide with the Ghanaian Independence Day celebrations on 6th March 2024, African Brothers Band International of Ghana’s “Locomotive Train (Keteke)” album is a fine example of the band’s fusion of Highlife, guitar based Rock and Reggae.
Originally formed as The African Brothers in 1963 as a concert party, the band has had a […]
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. [...]
Burger Highlife
https://amf.didiermary.fr/burger-highlife/
The first ever compilations focussing on the phenomenon of “Burger Highlife”, a crossover of West African melodies with synthesizers, disco and boogie that took over Ghanaian airwaves during the 1980’s and beyond.
The 1970s had witnessed an increased Western airtime and physical presence in Ghana introducing funk, soul and disco sounds [...]
#80smusic #90smusic #AfroFunk #Compilation #Disco #Ghana #Highlife #OldAfricanMusic
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. […]
Ebo Taylor – Palaver
https://amf.didiermary.fr/ebo-taylor-palaver/
“Palaver” is a long-lost, previously unreleased 1980 album from Ghanaian guitarist and songwriter Ebo Taylor.
“This was done with my touring band, pretty much the same guys as on the Essiebons records I was making back then,” Ebo Taylor says […]
Kola Ogunkoya – Easy Motion Owambe
https://amf.didiermary.fr/kola-ogunkoya-easy-motion-owambe/
Kola Ogunkoya is a Nigerian Afrobeat musician who uses the term “Afro Gbedu” to describe his style of music, which includes Jazz, Highlife, Jùjú, Funk and traditional Yoruba music.
K. Frimpong and his Cubanos Fiesta – Me Da A Ɔnnda
https://amf.didiermary.fr/frimpong-cubanos-fiesta/
Me Da A Ɔnnda is a classic and essential Hi-Life & Afro Funk album from one of the greatest Ghanaian singer and composer, recorded in 1980 by the legendary K. Frimpong and his Cubanos Fiesta band.
K . Frimpong was born on July 22nd, 1939 at Ofoase in the Ashanti – Akim district and entered right […]
Easy Motion Tourist
https://amf.didiermary.fr/easy-motion-tourist/
If you love old African music, from the Golden Age of Nigerian music in particular, you’ve known the song “Easy Motion Tourist”, made popular by Fatai Rolling Dollar in his last records before his death. But, there’s a long story behind this song since the ‘50s: who created it, who made it famous…
What’s for […]
#50smusic #Highlife #Nigeria #PalmWineMusic #OldAfricanMusic
Saka Acquaye
https://amf.didiermary.fr/saka-acquaye/
Saka Acquaye (1923 – 2007) was a Ghanaian painter, sculptor, textile designer, teacher, arts administrator, dramatist, composer and multi-instrumentalist.
He founded the African Ensemble while in the US and, as its leader, recorded an album under the ELEKTRA label. This group was made up of American musicians. He also put together a group known as […]
Geraldo Pino, Afrobeat’s Godfather
https://amf.didiermary.fr/geraldo-pino-afrobeat-godfather/
Geraldo Pino is considered, including by Fela himself, the Godfather of Afrobeat.
Geraldo Pino Biography
By Jason Ankeny / AllMusic
The acknowledged godfather of Afrobeat, Sierra Leone native Geraldo Pino laid the foundation for the West African soul and funk revolution of the 1970s.
Born Gerald Pine in Freetown on February 10, 1939, he was the […]
Nigeria Special 1970-76
https://amf.didiermary.fr/nigeria-special-1970-76/
“Nigeria Special: Modern Highlife, Afro-Sounds and Nigerian Blues 1970-76” is a compilation released in 2008.
Rex Omar
https://amf.didiermary.fr/rex-omar/
Modern Highlife / Hiplife by Rex Omar, born Rex Owusu Marfo in Kumasi, Ghana. With a career spanning 30 years, he has evolved the genre, pushed boundaries and dazzled listeners with his inventive output.
A definitive piece of Omar’s repertoire comes via his Dangerous album – critically acclaimed in Ghana. It’s a self-produced gem recorded […]
Okwy Osadebe – Igbo Highlife
https://amf.didiermary.fr/okwy-osadebe-igbo-highlife/
Highlife royalty Okwy Osadebe, son of the late Chief Stephen Osita Osadebe represents West African Highlife music and embraces what his father left behind, anchors his hopes and aspirations for humanity.
Eastern Nigeria created its highlife music style by the mid-1950s. Chief Osita Osadebe, the little man from across the great River Niger, was the […]
Nath & Martin Brothers – Money
https://amf.didiermary.fr/nath-martin-brothers-money/
The Martin Brothers, actual brothers, also known as The Shadows International with Saxon Lee, behind Pax Nicholas on the “Na Teef” album or as Tabansi Studio Band, made themselves known as one of THE backing-studio-bands in Nigeria before working on this album together.
“Money” was recorded in the legendary Arc-studios, supervised by Fela Kuti’s drummer [...]
If You Want to Make a Lover
https://amf.didiermary.fr/if-you-want-to-make-a-lover/
“Palm Wine, Akan Blues & Early Guitar Highlife, Pt. I & II” is a collection encompassing Akan blues, PalmWine and early guitar-based Highlife music, with recordings dating from the late 1920s through to the end of the 1950s.
The music included here can probably all be said to have all stemmed from a style that […]
Oriental Brothers International Band
https://amf.didiermary.fr/oriental-brothers-international-band/
The Oriental Brothers International Band of Nigeria was a popular Igbo highlife band from Nigeria [based in Owerri] for several decades, known for their powerful lyrics (whether it be of proverbs, or specials dedicated to special people in the country of Nigeria), and deft instrumental work (whether of the lead guitar, or the conga man’s […]
