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Highlife is a Ghanaian music genre that originated along the coastal cities of present-day Ghana in the 19th century, during its history as a colony of the British and through its trade routes in coastal areas. It encompasses multiple local fusions of African metre and western jazz melodies. It uses the melodic and main rhythmic structures of traditional African music, but is typically played with Western instruments. Highlife is characterized by jazzy horns and guitars which lead the band and its use of the two-finger plucking guitar style that is typical of African music. Recently it has acquired an uptempo, synth-driven sound.
The music of Nigeria includes many kinds of folk and popular music. Little of the country's music history prior to European contact has been preserved, although bronze carvings dating back to the 16th and 17th centuries have been found depicting musicians and their instruments. The country's most internationally renowned genres are Indigenous, Apala, Aurrebbe music, Rara music, Were music, Ogene, Fuji, Jùjú, Afrobeat, Afrobeats, Igbo highlife, Afro-juju, Waka, Igbo rap, Gospel, Nigerian pop and Yo-pop. Styles of folk music are related to the over 250 ethnic groups in the country, each with their own techniques, instruments, and songs.
Osibisa is a British-Ghanaian-Caribbean Afro rock band founded in London in the late 1960s by four expatriate West African and three London based Caribbean musicians.
Palm-wine music is a West African musical genre. It evolved among the Kru people of Liberia and Sierra Leone, who used Portuguese guitars brought by sailors, combining local melodies and rhythms with Trinidadian calypso to create a "light, easy, lilting style". It would initially work its way inland where it would adopt a more traditional style than what was played in coastal areas.
Afro rock is a style of rock music that incorporates African influences, blending elements of Western rock with traditional African rhythms, melodies, and instrumentation. Emerging in the late 1960s and early 1970s, Afro rock reflected a dynamic interplay between the global popularity of rock music and the rich musical heritage of Africa. Prominent Afro rock bands and artists from this period include Osibisa, Assagai, and the Lafayette Afro Rock Band.
Christogonus Ezebuiro Obinna, alias Dr. Sir Warrior, also known as Ultimate Dr. Sir Warrior was a Nigerian Igbo highlife musician, guitarist and bandleader. A musical prodigy, he was one of the pioneers of highlife music in Nigeria and was the leader of the Oriental Brothers International Band which was famous in the Nigerian Igbo highlife music scene for several decades. He performed primarily in Nigeria, as well as performing internationally in places such as London and the United States of America with his crew.
Chief Stephen Osita Osadebe, often referred to as just Osita Osadebe, was a Nigerian Igbo highlife musician from Atani. During his career spanning over four decades, he became one of the best known musicians of Igbo highlife. His best-known hit was the 1984 single "Osondi Owendi", which established him as a leader in the highlife genre and was one of Nigeria's most popular records ever.
Oliver Sunday Akanite, better known by the stage name Oliver De Coque, was a Nigerian guitarist and one of Africa's most prolific recording artists.
Bernard Olabinjo "Bobby" Benson was an entertainer and musician who had considerable influence on the Nigerian music scene, introducing big band and Caribbean idioms to the Highlife style of popular West African music.
John Akintola Ademuwagun, known as Roy Chicago, was a Nigerian musician and band leader. He played in the Highlife style to which he added talking drums. The peak of his popularity was in the 1960s.
Mike Ejeagha is a Nigerian folklorist, songwriter, and musician from Enugu State. He hails from Imezi Owa in Ezeagu Local Government Area of Enugu State. He grew up in Coal Camp in a family headed by his civil servant father, then working with Ministry of Health Enugu. He attended St. Patrick's Primary School, Ogbete Enugu.
Igbo highlife is a contemporary musical genre which combines highlife and Igbo traditional music. The genre is primarily guitar-based music, with a rare characteristic blend of horns and vocal rhythms. Igbo highlife lyrics are sung mostly in Igbo with occasional infusion of Pidgin English. One of the most influential composers and performers of the music is Chief Stephen Osita Osadebe whose career spanned over 40 years. Osadebe's discography comprises numerous popular songs including the 1984 hit "Osondi Owendi" which launched him on the world stage as a pioneer of the Igbo highlife genre.
Mama Africa is the second studio album by Nigerian singer Yemi Alade. It was released on 25 March 2016, by Effyzzie Music Group. Mama Africa is the follow-up to her debut studio album King of Queens (2014); it features collaborations with P-Square, Sarkodie, Sauti Sol, Flavour N'abania, Rotimi Keys, DJ Arafat and Selebobo. Mama Africa was produced by GospelOnDeBeatz, DJ Coublon, Selebobo, Philkeyz, BeatsByEmzo, Masterkraft, Rotimi Keys and Mr. Chidoo. It was supported by the singles "Na Gode", "Do As I Do", "Ferrari", "Kom Kom", "Africa" and "Tumbum". The album's deluxe edition features collaborations with South African musicians Bucie and AKA. Mama Africa won World Beat at the 2017 Independent Music Awards.
Nelly Uzonna Edith Uchendu, MON, was a Nigerian singer, composer and actress. Revered for modernising traditional Igbo folk music, Uchendu rose to prominence upon the release of her 1976 song "Love Nwantinti" which earned her the "Lady with the Golden Voice" sobriquet. She released 6 LP recordings during her career.
Celestine Ukwu was a Nigerian Igbo highlife musician during the 1960s and 1970s, best known for his hit songs "Ije Enu", "Igede" and "Money Palava". Described as a "prolific and outstanding composer" by music critic Benson Idonije of Radio Nigeria Two, Ukwu's works have been featured on various world music compilations including The Rough Guide to Highlife and The Rough Guide to Psychedelic Africa.
Ifiok Effanga, professionally known as Fiokee, is a Nigerian guitarist. He is known for his trebly guitar solos infused with highlife steeped guitar lines. He was born on 10 January 1982. Fiokee is associated with acts such as Tiwa Savage, Yemi Alade, Patoranking, Reekado Banks, Adekunle Gold, Flavour, Simi, and Kiss Daniel, among others. He studied at the Petroleum Training Institute in Effurun, Delta State.
Orlando Julius Aremu Olusanya Ekemode, known professionally as Orlando Julius or Orlando Julius Ekemode was a Nigerian saxophonist, singer, bandleader, and songwriter closely associated with afrobeat music.
Owerri Bongo(Bongo/Igbo Bongo) is a style of Igbo highlife music that has its origins in the Igbo people of Owerri and spread around all Imo State, which is in eastern Nigeria. The musical style is a sub-genre of Igbo highlife music. Unlike Igbo highlife, which is known for its brass horns and often somber feel. Owerri Bongo is typified by its heavy use of drums(Igba) and the Owerri dialect in which the genre is usually sung.
Godwin Opara, known as Kabaka was a Nigerian Igbo highlife musician, guitarist, and one of the original members and founders of the Oriental Brothers International Band.
References
- 1 2 "No royalties, no government recognition for Peacock Band – Akagha, 94-yr-old 'Eddie Quansah' crooner laments". DAILY TIMES Nigeria. 2024-05-18. Retrieved 2025-01-10.
- ↑ "RALPH AMARABEM (THE PEACOCKS BAND) – Evergreen Musical Company Ltd" . Retrieved 2025-01-10.