High life is a musical form that originated in Ghana in the late 1800s and spread to Sierra Leone, Nigeria and other West African countries in the 1920s. It has influenced all subsequent music borne of Africa. High life is a fusion of indigenous dance rhythms and melodies with Western sounds such as brass bands, hymns, European foxtrots sprinkled with some Caribbean “kaiso” and Liberian rhythms. The instruments employed in high life include African drums, harmonicas, guitars, and accordions. By the 1930s, three distinct styles of high life music had emerged: a ballroom dance style for the coastal “elite” class; a village brass band style; and a rural guitar band playing a “less Westernized style.”

By the 40s, bands were appearing along the coast of West Africa and thousands of records were being issued by groups such as Mensah’s Tempo, Ramblers International and Uhuru Dance Band. These bands played at mostly “society” and elite functions. The big band influence of jazz also influenced high life music of that era, and in 1947, the most important high life band appeared: E.T. Mensah and the Tempos Band, which enjoyed great success and toured the many countries that gave rise to high life.

Guitar band high life bands that played in the nightclubs and bars included groups Nana Kwama Ampadu’s African Brothers, Bobby Benson and Alex Konadu.

Although the 50’s were considered the golden age of high life, there became a fusion of high life with comic theater. By the time the 70’s arrived, high life was pretty much over; juju music was now the most popular music in western Nigeria, although high life still held its own in eastern Nigeria by artists such as Celestine Ukwu, Osita Osadebe, Prince Nico, the Ikengas and the Oriental Brothers International Big Band. The music was further diluted by the disco invasion and like many other music forms, could not hold up to the fierce weight of disco.

High life also influenced jazz musicians and can be heard in releases by artists such as Pharoah Sanders “High Life” on the Rejoice album; guitarist Sonny Sharrock’s “Highlife” on the album of the same name in 1990; and trombonist Craig Harris released the song “High Life” on the album F-Stops in 1993.