The Effects Of Highlife Music During And Post World War II

Music During & Post World War II Highlife music has always been in the Ghanaian scenes, taking different names and different forms. The name “Highlife”, which was coined in the 1920s has already become a household name prior to the Second World War. During the world war, the British employed local popular music such as the Konkoma highlife marching songs in recruiting the Black servicemen and increasing their morale for war. Ghanaian dance orchestra musicians who are proficient in the reading of music, and their counterparts – the foreign soldiers in Ghana who loved jazz and swing – entertained the troops through their bands, the Black and White Spots and the Tempos Swing Bands. In 1948, the Tempos became all-Ghanaian group lead by the renowned Ghanaian musician, E.T. Mensah as the foreign servicemen departed after the war.
There exist freedom of speech and the freedom of the press. This encourages Ghanaians to readily share their opinions and condemn any societal vice even through music. Sarkodie’s record, Pizza and Burger, explored the hardship in the Ghanaian economy. It also warned government officials who are engaged in corruptive activities and applauded the patriotic acts of Anas Aremeyaw, the renowned Ghanaian journalist who is focused on exposing culprits of the law. The track also calls on the government to take action to remedy the situation. The song was not only popular in Ghana but across the continent despite the use of the Ghanaian vernacular. Again, in 2008, the hiplife artiste Sydney, recorded the song “Oga Dey Chop Am” which stood strong against fund embezzlement by our political leaders. The increasing acceptance of music into Ghanaian politics without oppression from political figures spoke well about Ghana’s embrace of freedom of speech. It also put political leaders on the known that they are being watched by citizens who will demand accountability at the right time – during