Highlife

Highlife is a genre of West African music that originated in Ghana in the 1920s and spread throughout the region. Characterized by its infectious horn sections, driving Afro-Caribbean rhythms, and soulful vocal harmonies, highlife combines traditional Akan and Ewe musical elements with jazz, swing, and calypso influences. Emerging as a popular dance music, highlife flourished in the 1950s and 1960s, with its catchy melodies and witty lyrics capturing the imagination of urban audiences. As a cultural phenomenon, highlife played a significant role in promoting social mobility, cultural exchange, and national identity in post-colonial West Africa. While influenced by Afrobeat and juju, highlife's distinct blend of brass fanfares, guitar riffs, and percussive textures sets it apart, with its unique sound continuing to inspire contemporary artists and fans alike.

Latest Highlife Release
undefined album image
Sweet Songs 4 You
Album - 10 Tracks - Released June 27, 2025

RecentMusic users are tracking 450 Highlife artists for new releases, and have access to the full timeline of 5,142 releases .

Join them and feed your new music addiction, and add the Highlife artists you love!

Get Started Browse Releases
2Face
AKDOBLEA
AMB HOLY IROWA MUSIC
Adeleye Omotayo
Afreeka
Afrika Gumbe
Akobeghian
Ala Nkolika
All One
Arusi Igba
B.O.J.
BLAKKY
Baba Tundey
Beeztrap KOTM
BhadBoi OML
Bẹ̀ẹ̀Rẹ̀
Chuksie
City Boys Band
Di Tchaps
Dogo Du Togo
Don Vs
Dopenatio
Duncan Mighty
Ebo Taylor
Edomusic Legent
Ejyk Nwamba
Ejyke Nwamba
Everlasting Tiki
Fameye
Femi Kuti
Femi Tahiru
Flavour
Florence Adooni
Gbenga
Gimba
Gnonnas Pedro and His Dadjes Band
Great Ampong
Gyedu-Blay Ambolley
IDEMI
Ijeoma
Influence Akaba
Jayclassic
Joey B
Kaleta
Kanu
Kay Slice
Ken erics
Kimati
King Bala
King Paluta
Kuami Eugene
Kwabena Kwabena
Kwaku Benson
Kwame Dabie
Lasmid
Lil Win
Lucky sky
MR ZION
Man Sango
Mega 99
Mercy K
Mic Flammez
Nero X
Ngoma
Nsikak David
ODODOAFROBEAT
Obi Original
Oboy & Gambian Child
Odah Odah
Ogene akara Ugo
Oke
Omah Lay
Osibisa
Phaize
Prince Ausuma Malaika
Prince Charles Osadolor
Prince Gozie Okeke
Reggie Dartey
Renard Barakissa
Rev. Fr. Ejike Mbaka C.
Rybeena
SPICE VISION
Sarkodie
Seanbreeze
Sekouba Traoré
Sossi
Stonebwoy
Tekno
Tfemi
The Alagaa Beat Band
The Cavemen.
The Great Eddy
Tml Vibez
Tony Allen
Tosin Martins
Umu Obiligbo
Vag Lavi
Yemi Alade
babas tutsipop
emPawa Africa
Omah Lay
Tml Vibez
Geenaro & Ghana Beats
Sarkodie
BhadBoi OML
Lasmid
Shatta Wale
Flavour
The Cavemen.
Renard Barakissa
Yemi Alade
Stonebwoy
Rybeena
Kuami Eugene
Bantu
EMPIRE
Duncan Mighty
King Paluta
Bidemi Olaoba
Ebo Taylor
Beeztrap KOTM
Tony Allen
Orchestra Baobab
Adeleye Omotayo
Fameye
Joey B
Sound Collabo
Reggie Dartey
Umu Obiligbo
Pat Thomas
King Sunny Ade
Ejyk Nwamba
Chief Stephen Osita Osadebe
Kwabena Kwabena
Femi Kuti
Nsikak David
Chuksie
Chief Commander Ebenezer Obey
Kaleta
Delroy Shewe
Castro
Gyedu-Blay Ambolley
Prince Mich C. Philips
Mory Kanté
Oke
EL
Dr. Orlando Owoh
Jaydee bombshell
Adewale Ayuba
The Funkees
Sunny Bobo
Rev. Patty Obassey
African China
Prince Gozie Okeke
Oriental Brothers International Band
Sir Victor Uwaifo
Boma Nime
Osibisa
babas tutsipop
2Face
emPawa Africa
Sis. Chinyere Udoma
The Hygrades
Blessed Samuel Chinyeremaka
Star Baba Jay
Danfo Drivers
Gimba
AminMan
Rev. Fr. Ejike Mbaka C.
Pammy Udu Bonch
Hallelujah Chicken Run Band
Ajofia Nnewi
Influence Akaba
T. P. Orchestre Poly-Rythmo
Otentik Groove
Evang. Nnamdi
Black Teacher
Marijata
Odumeje
Mr Raw
Chief Adjuah
Sunny Neji
Baba Tundey
Chief Dr. Oliver De Coque & His Expo '76 Ogene Sound Super of Africa
IDEMI
Jimmygid
MEDIKAL
Fabomo
Tony Tetuila
Bola Johnson
Edobenin Music Band
Femi Tahiru
K. Frimpong
Oliver De Coque
Florence Adooni
Sir Shina Peters
Osayomore Joseph
S.E. Rogie
Palmer Omoruyi
Cardinal Rex Jim Lawson