Gyedu-Blay Ambolley, a well-known Highlife musician from Ghana, has voiced his dissatisfaction with the current generation of musicians, claiming that they are diluting the spirit of Highlife music.
The seasoned musician lamented the fact that contemporary musicians had abandoned the traditional Highlife components that contributed to Ghanaian music’s richness and diversity while appearing on the GhHighlifeShow with Ohemaa Acheampomaa.
Rather, he thinks they have incorporated Western elements, depriving the genre of its genuineness.
“If you listen to the songs of Shatta Wale, Black Sherif, and others, their beats are all Western beats. There is no Highlife in there,” he stated.
Ambolley claims that highlife music in his period was mostly based on narrative and experience, frequently combining trumpet and bass guitar to produce a distinctive and classic sound.
Younger musicians, according to him, lack the depth requisite to create music that has resonance and purpose.
“The musicians of today just make music about their girlfriends because they haven’t grown. They haven’t faced life in a deep way to be motivated to make meaningful, resonating music,” he argued.
Ambolley believes that this shift has “ruined Highlife” as the genre now struggles to maintain its original identity amid modern trends.
As we commemorate Ghana Month, his remarks coincide with continuing debates about whether Ghanaian musicians are doing enough to maintain Highlife, the nation’s defining musical style.
His comments may cause controversy, but they also bring up important issues regarding Ghanaian music’s development and whether current musicians ought to do more to preserve and honor the Highlife tradition.