THE RISE AND FALL OF HIGHLIFE MUSIC IN NIGERIA (I)

Highlife is a music genre that originated in Ghana in the early 20th century. It uses the melodic and main rhythmic structures of traditional Akan music but is played with Western instruments. Highlife is characterized by jazzy horns and multiple guitars which lead the band.  

Highlife gained popularity among the Igbo people of Nigeria after the 2^nd World War and rose to become the country's most popular music genre at independence in 1960. However, highlife does not describe simply a musical genre but also a musical phenomenon. It symbolizes the musical acculturation which has taken place in Nigeria, not only within formal institutions and contexts like the church and the night club, but also in the informal, everyday musical life of the people. Highlife music therefore highlights the emergence of a new status for the Nigerian musician. In contrast to the predominantly communal role of traditional musicians, the emergence of highlife music marked the incorporation of Nigerian music and the Nigerian musician into the imported, capitalist, cash economy.

VICTOR OLAIYA

By the early 1950s, dance bands were already flourishing in the larger cities of Nigeria like Lagos, Ibadan, Kaduna, Enugu, Onitsha and Calabar. The most popular of such bands was the ‘Chocolate Dandies Orchestra’ in which the present Oba of Lagos, Kabiyesi Oyekan, played. Other notable bands of the period were: ‘The Akpabot Players’ led by Sam Akpabot, who later became one of the prominent composers of Nigerian modern Art Music; the ‘Western Toppers Band’ led by King Kendy Adex; ‘The Good Band’ led by Chris Ajilo and ‘The Triumph Club Band’ led by Fela Sowande, who is the most significant African composer of modern African Art Music.

OSITA OSADEBE

The influence of E.T. Mensah, father of Ghanaian highlife music, on the development of Nigerian highlife is significant. His Nigerian tour of the late 1950s had a considerable influence on Nigerian musicians such as Adeolu Akinsanya, Cardinal Rex Lawson and Victor Olaiya, who in the late sixties, became the pioneers of Nigerian highlife music. Other well-known traditional highlife stars include Charles Iwuegbue, E. C. Arinze, Inney Uguseh, Celestine Ukwu, Chief Osita Osadebe, Prince Nico Mbarga, Victor Uwaifo, Sam Akpabot, Orlando Owoh, Bobby Benson, Bala Miller, Inyang Henshaw, Eddy Okonta, Oliver de Coque, Ikenga Super Stars of Africa and the Oriental Brothers.

IKENGA SUPER STARS OF AFRICA

 However, in the early 1980s some artists began to modify the original style of highlife. The notable artists in these contemporary modes of highlife expressions include, Chris Hanem of Ozigizaga fame, Bright Chimezie of African Style fame, Sunny Neji, Lagbaja and Jesse King.

To be continued…….