“Mariama”, a programme with African music. Highlife – part 1, the better (dancing)life.
Highlife music is considered to be the music of independence of the English-speaking West Africa. They combine local styles like almwine and juju with influences from jazz, big band swing, calypso and rumba. Especially in the fifties and sixties highlife dance music was for the more well-to-do classes in the dazzling nightlife of that time in the larger cities like Nigeria and Ghana. In this Mariama we will briefly sketch fifty years of highlife. From the precursors in the 1920’s via the ‘wind orchestra highlife’ to the guitar oriented highlife from the 70’s.
So put on those impeccably polished dress shoes and dance!
Playlist:
CD: Fela Ransome-Kuti – Lagos Baby 1963-1969 (2008) Vampisoul CD 097
1. “Awo” – Fela Ransome-Kuti & His Koola Lobitos
CD: Ignace de Souza – The Great Unknowns (1994)Original Music OMCD 026
2. “Anyenko” – The Black Santiagos
CD: Cardinal Rex Lawson & His Mayor’s Band of Nigeria: Rex Lawsons’s Greatest Hits (1997).Timbuktu Records / Flame Tree FLTRCD 531
3. “Tamuno Bo Ibro Ma” – Cardinal Rex Lawson & His Mayor’s Band of Nigeria
CD: Highlife Time – Nigerian & Ghanaian Sound from the 60’s and early 70’s (2008), Vampisoul CD 101
4. “Grazing in the Grass” – Stan Plange & the Uhuru Dance Band
CD: Living is Hard – West African Music in Britain, 1927-1929 (2008). Honest Jon Records CD 33
5. “Asin Asin Part 2” – Kumasi Trio
CD: Vintage Palmwine – Highlife reorded in Ghana in the Bokoor Studios by John Collins (2003),Otrabanda Records – OTB02
6. “Mami Wata” – Kwaa Mensah
CD: Highlife Time – Nigerian & Ghanaian Sound from the 60’s and early 70’s (2008), Vampisoul CD 101
7. “Trumpet Highlife” – Dr. Victor Olaiya & E.T. Mensah
LP: African Music (1983). Vertigo 814-480-1
8. “Ekassa 24 (Kirikisi)” – Sir Victor Uwaifo & His Melody Maestroes
9. “Onu Kwulunjo”– Chief Stephen Osita Osadebe
CD: The Kings of Highlife – The Vibrant Music of West Africa (2003). Wrasse Records; Wrass 097
10. “Igede” – Celestine Ukwu
CD: Highlife Time – Nigerian & Ghanaian Sound from the 60’s and early 70’s (2008), Vampisoul CD 101
11. “Won Bum” – Opotopo with Fatai Rolling Dollar
CD: Nigeria Special – Modern Highlife, Afro-Sounds & Nigerian Blues 1970-6 (2008), Soundway SNDWCD009
12. “Feso Jaiye” – The Sahara All Stars of Jos
13. “Ayamma” – The Anambra Beats
