HighLife
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. Since the late 2010s, particularly from 2018 onward, it has acquired an uptempo, synth-driven sound.
Highlife gained popularity and the genre spread throughout West African regions. After the Second World War, its popularity came within the Igbo people of Nigeria, as they were influenced to form Igbo highlife which became their country's most popular music genre in the 1960s. Pioneers Rex Lawson, E. T. Mensah and Victor Uwaifo all perfected this sound by infusing traditional Africa drums and western "native blues".
Highlife has remained a part of popular music for Ghanaians and their diaspora globally through its integration with religious institutions and the positive effect it had on immigrating Ghanaians leaving their homeland. In 2025, it was recognized as intangible cultural heritage by UNESCO.
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