Veteran Ghanaian broadcaster and actor, Mikki Osei-Berko, has expressed concern about the potential decline of highlife music in Ghana. He emphasized that highlife is a crucial part of the nation’s cultural heritage and should not be overshadowed or renamed as Afrobeats by others.
In an interview with Kwame Dadzie from Joy FM, Mikki Osei-Berko stressed the importance of highlife music to Ghana’s cultural identity, stating that its loss would harm the country’s cultural legacy. Drawing a comparison to Jamaica’s preservation of reggae music, he called for greater efforts to protect and promote highlife.
“There is no culture without music, and Ghana has been blessed with its own unique music genre. Are we going to let it fade away, or allow others to rename it Afrobeats and erase its identity?” he questioned. “Jamaica would never let reggae die. Ghana should stand firm, improve, and develop highlife music.”
Highlife music, which originated in Ghana in the 19th century, has evolved over time and influenced various other genres. Despite its evolution, many cultural enthusiasts believe it should not be forgotten or replaced by newer music styles.
