Sista Afia has protested the narrative that Highlife is on the decline. To her, the genre remains vibrant and deeply rooted in Ghana’s musical identity.
During a discussion on Joy FM’s Showbiz A-Z with Kwame Dadzie, the Ghanaian singer criticized assertions that paint Highlife as a dying art form. She believes such conversations do more harm than good.
“I don’t like the fact that people keep saying Highlife is dead. It’s become a whole debate now. But personally, I want to keep it going. I love the music. It’s something I grew up listening to. My dad was a Highlife artiste, so it’s part of me. I don’t want it to die, not while I’m alive,” she said.
Sista Afia also celebrated the increasing involvement of young artists in revitalizing Highlife, pointing to rising talent like Super Sandy, with whom she has collaborated. She sees the budding musician as a crucial player in the genre’s future.
“There’s this girl called Super Sandy. I love her. We have a song together. The first time I heard her, I was amazed. I felt like, wow, here’s someone who’s going to help keep the spirit of Highlife alive. And we hardly have women doing Highlife right now; we are very limited,” she revealed.
Though she acknowledged that female representation in Highlife remains low, Sista Afia reiterated her determination to play her part in keeping the genre alive through her music and partnerships.
“I’ll keep doing my part to make sure Highlife stays alive,” she stated.
Watch her statement below.
