President of the Musicians Union of Ghana (MUSIGA), Bessa Simons
The President of the Musicians Union of Ghana (MUSIGA), Bessa Simons, has expressed concern over the gradual decline of highlife music’s identity in Ghana, emphasizing the need for immediate action to preserve and promote the genre.
When asked on Atinka TV’s Entertainment Lounge, hosted by Odefour DiAsa Paapa, Bessa Simons noted that while highlife remains widely recognized, it is losing its stronghold as Ghana’s signature music style.
“It is worrying,” he stated.
As part of efforts to protect and promote highlife music, MUSIGA is planning a series of seminars to educate both musicians and the public on the unique characteristics of highlife.
“We will start organizing seminars about highlife. We are also working on a documentary with Prof. John Collins for our Golden Jubilee to showcase how highlife has evolved over the years and the key elements that make it distinct,” – Bessa Simons revealed.
He explained that highlife is deeply embedded in Ghanaian culture and remains a part of everyday life.
“Highlife music is played and consumed in every Ghanaian home. It is unique, and once you start singing on a highlife beat, everyone—whether Black or white—can relate to it,” – he emphasized.
According to Bessa Simons, the essence of highlife lies in its rich rhythms and instrumentation.
He pointed out that the genre incorporates various guitar styles such as Amponsah, Odo Nsor, and Dagomba rhythms.
“These elements are what make highlife special. That is why the seminar is very important—not just for Ghanaians but for anyone who wants to learn. Even in London, I saw white musicians travelling to Côte d’Ivoire to learn highlife guitar, and when they returned, they were playing highlife perfectly,” he said.
Despite concerns about highlife’s fading prominence, Simons believes there is hope for the future. He acknowledged the efforts of top Ghanaian guitarists such as Odekro Kyekyeku and Aka Blay, who continue to uphold the genre.
However, he stressed the need to train young musicians to carry the legacy forward.
“Fortunately, we have great guitarists like Odekro, Kyekyeku and Aka Blay, who are holding the fort. But we need to start building the next generation so that Ghana can officially claim highlife as our musical hallmark,” Bessa Simons urged.
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