Minister Designate for Tourism, Arts and Culture, Mark Okraku-Mantey has disagreed with the assertion that Highlife music is lost in Ghana's industry after the rise of other music genres.
Speaking at his vetting by Parliament's Appointment Committee Tuesday, he said that the many music genres young artistes are experimenting with currently, has the Highlife genre as the default rhythm.
“We still enjoy highlife, we are still producing highlife but it is in a different form for the youth of today. It will be difficult for highlife to die, because most of the music we listen to today, even the dancehall, or other genre of music, they all have the rudiments of highlife.”
The Former President of the Creative Arts Industry explained that Highlife has never died, but it certainly evolved over the years.
He told Asawase MP Muntaka Mubarak, who asked the question on how to revive Highlife, that it would be difficult to have the same kind of Highlife that held sway in the 1980s, currently.
Mr Okraku-Mantey stated that every generation put their own spin on Highlife music and so has the youth of today.
“If you listen to the 1970s Nana Ampadus, then it came to George Darko who changed it using burger beat, making it burger highlife. Then over time, we heard people like Charles Amoah also coming in with their type of Highlife, then Daddy Lumba, Kojo Antwi, Oheneba Kissi, then the Daasebere Gyamenas also came to change it.
“After that generation we got Ofori Amponsah. If you listen to all these rhythms, you will see that almost everyone comes with different rhythms. You will see that almost everyone comes with a different form of Highlife. So it will be difficult to have a particular type of highlife play for about 20 years.”
He, however, added that he has been a part of many projects, including the MTN Highlife Festival, to ensure the continued growth of the genre.
“Kuami Eugene is touted as championing Highlife but I'm sure some of you do not believe his kind of music is Highlife but it has evolved. King Promise, Wendy Shay, they all do a different form of highlife. But to go back to our Dr K Gyasi, Nana Ampadu and George Darkos, Mr Chairman, respectfully, ET Mensah will never come back.”
Latest Stories
-
Takoradi traders lament over low sales ahead of Easter
39 mins -
Michael Ampadu: One Student, One Tablet initiative will shape the future of education and innovation
50 mins -
I will partner you for development – Alan tells TUC
58 mins -
Malnutrition, anemia remain concern to UNICEF
1 hour -
Kasoa shrinking penis: Court remands Electrician over false alarm
1 hour -
‘I look forward to working closely with President-elect Faye to enhance Ghanaian-Senegalese relations’ – Akufo-Addo
2 hours -
Girl, 8, only survivor as 45 killed in bus crash in South Africa
3 hours -
Biden to host star-studded NYC fundraiser with Obama and Clinton
3 hours -
GDNR, AAU and others launch Universal Acceptance for local languages in internet domain names
3 hours -
Ogum and Kotoko’s March malaise
5 hours -
BushGang Zee releases new afro dancehall anthem “Accra Stay By Plan”
6 hours -
2 repair vessels dispatched for undersea cable repairs – says NCA’s latest update
6 hours -
Multimedia Group Limited’s Clinton Yeboah shortlisted for 2 International Sports Press Association Awards
6 hours -
Supreme Court upholds High Court verdict on fraudulent sale of property by Senior Police Officer
6 hours -
NHIS Biometric Membership Authentication System limited rollout satisfactory – NHIA Deputy CEO
6 hours