jon@utcs.UUCP (Jon Alexander) (05/31/85)
Recently I was in a store in Toronto, and was introduced by the owner to a recording of music that she said was 'Ghana Hilife' music. She couldn't describe what exactly that was. Anybody know? -- 'Big J' Alexander
med@astrovax.UUCP (Mark Dickinson) (06/03/85)
> Recently I was in a store in Toronto, and > was introduced by the owner to a recording > of music that she said was 'Ghana Hilife' > music. > > She couldn't describe what exactly that was. > Anybody know? > -- > 'Big J' Alexander "High-Life" or "Hi-Life" or however you want to spell it is an uptempo, bouncy, fun type of music played in many West African countries and perhaps extending into Central Africa. It usually features a melodic mesh of staccato guitars, less emphasis on percussion than, say, Juju (another West African, primarily Nigerian form of pop -- we've all heard Sunny Ade?), and sometimes horns. I believe that it is a good example of African musical ideas that have been lent out to the rest of the world and then borrowed back by Africans; High-Life seems to have drawn upon Afro-Caribbean styles and perhaps a bit from American jazz. Recommended practitioners whose records should be available in the US and perhaps Canada include Rochereau and Franco, both of whom have releases on Shanachie Records. Also, the Sound d'Afrique compilations on Mango (I think) feature a lot of excellent High-Life -- a good introductory sampler. Mark Dickinson
med@astrovax.UUCP (Mark Dickinson) (06/05/85)
> > Recently I was in a store in Toronto, and > > was introduced by the owner to a recording > > of music that she said was 'Ghana Hilife' > > music. > > > > She couldn't describe what exactly that was. > > Anybody know? > > -- > > 'Big J' Alexander > > "High-Life" or "Hi-Life" or however you want to spell it > is an uptempo, bouncy, fun type of music played in many > West African countries and perhaps extending into Central Africa. > ... > Recommended practitioners whose records should > be available in the US and perhaps Canada include Rochereau and Franco, > both of whom have releases on Shanachie Records. Also, the Sound d'Afrique > compilations on Mango (I think) feature a lot of excellent High-Life > -- a good introductory sampler. > > Mark Dickinson Actually, now that I think about it, Rochereau's and Franco's music is really what one would call "Congolese", not High-Life. Both musicians are from Zaire. Although I don't have the records around to check, I think that most of the music on the Sound d'Afrique compilations may also be Congolese as well. This style is somewhat similar to High-Life, but not identical. Also, I have heard the term High-Life applied to other recordings of West African music that did not have guitar or horns or other "modern" instruments. Perhaps there is some better definition of the style. Anybody know? -- Mark Dickinson