Get some Highlife in your Life: An African Musical Odyssey

Following up on my previous post “Lagos to London: Afrobeats and Grime Mashup 2020,” the musical journey of Africa is worth reflecting upon.

The creative industry in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) has witnessed a resurgence in recent years, especially in terms of music and dance. From Nigeria and Ghana to Botswana, Kenya, Mozambique and South Africa, and following in the footsteps of film, music and dance have now attracted global attention having featured prominently in Western media such as CNN and the BBC.

Indeed, a recent BBC documentary “Best Nightclub in Africa” profiled Botswana as a country where African youth have found an alternative art form — i.e. outdoor music festivals such as the “car park pimping” arising from the restrictive government taxes on entertainment in that country — described as a “tax on sin”.

A classic illustration of this alternative art form — notably in celebration of music and dance among the young:

“…people are dancing to live performances by local artists and showing off their latest dance moves — including the particularly impressive one of balancing bottles of beer on their bums.”

Where did it all start? It is deeply rooted in Highlife, and my book review of Highlife Music in West Africa, is my first foray into this space.

Did the Grime Artist, Skepta, just sample Nico Mbarga’s highlife hit, Sweet Mother? Oh yes he did!

Besides, Afrobeats sensation, Flavour, has always been known to bring out the cool in highlife.

OK, so it may be safe to conclude that behind the trend of Afrobeats and Grime, is Highlife, no?