Hiplife artiste, Okyeame Kwame
Renowned Hiplife musician, Okyeame Kwame, has raised concerns about the future of Highlife music in Ghana.
According to him, the country itself is not interested in making the genre attractive and affordable enough for younger artistes, hence, the genre is at risk of loosing its originality.
Speaking in an interview with 3Music TV, Kwame called for immediate action to preserve the genre, which he described as the foundation of Ghanaian music.
Kwame explained that creating authentic Highlife music is expensive and requires a deep understanding of music theory; something that younger artistes in the industry lack.
“We need to make it economically viable. However, as it stands, the country is not interested in making Highlife music so viable that my son would want to say, ‘One day, I’m a musician, and I make Highlife music.’
“One of the key reasons young people do not want to make Highlife music is because it is too expensive to create. To create a good Highlife song, you need horns, a guitarist, a keyboardist, and someone to record. You’re already spending about GH₵20,000 on just one record,” he said.
He also noted that many young musicians lack the apprenticeship or formal training needed to master the genre.
“Highlife music is not just creating a song; it’s actually music. Most young people today haven’t gone through apprenticeship or studied music professionally, making it almost impossible for them to become good Highlife musicians,” Kwame added.
The musician also pointed to modernity as a factor, with shorter song formats making it difficult for Highlife’s traditional elements, such as extended intros and medleys, to thrive.
“Young people don’t like that stuff anymore. Songs are now two minutes long, and that’s it,” he said.
To address these challenges, Kwame called for government intervention, suggesting that the Ministry of Tourism, Creative Arts and Culture collaborates with institutions like the Performing Arts School to offer scholarship programs and proficiency courses.
“Imagine Kuami Eugene, Kidi, and others sitting down with legends like Daddy Lumba and Pat Thomas for three weeks to learn the spirit of Highlife. That’s the kind of initiative we need,” he proposed.
Kwame warned that without such efforts, Ghana risks losing the originality and cultural significance of Highlife music.
“Yes, we are steering toward losing it. But it’s not just about the knowledge gap or cultural disassociation; it’s also about modernity,” he stated.
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