In light of the looming crisis facing Ghana’s iconic highlife music genre, the Santrofi band is urging young people to take an interest in preserving this important cultural heritage.
During an interview on Daybreak Hitz with Andy Dosty, the band emphasized the need for younger musicians and music lovers to embrace highlife, which has been a vital part of Ghana’s musical landscape since the 1920s.
The band expressed concern that many Ghanaian musicians and music enthusiasts have shifted their focus to foreign music genres like afrobeat, amapiano, R ‘n’ B, and hip hop, neglecting the rich tradition of highlife.
Emmanuel Ofori, the band leader, highlighted the significance of highlife to Ghana’s culture and heritage and lamented the lack of continuation in passing down this musical legacy to younger generations.
As highlife faces a decline and risks being lost with the passing of older generations, Santrofi issued a stark warning about the potential consequences of not preserving this Indigenous music style.
They emphasized that highlife is what makes Ghana unique and a standout in the global music scene.
While some critics have raised concerns about the influence of foreign music on highlife, others believe that the genre can evolve and adapt to modern forms while maintaining its traditional essence.
UNESCO is even considering listing highlife as Ghana’s intangible heritage by 2025, recognizing its cultural significance and historical value.
Santrofi, led by bassist and vocalist Emmanuel Ofori, is a dynamic collective of talented musicians from Ghana who have garnered international acclaim through their performances at various music festivals around the world.
