Basic 4 · Creative Arts · Thinking and Exploring Ideas
Ghanaian Musicians and Their Music
In this topic you will study the work of some famous Ghanaian musicians and the music styles they created or made popular.
By the end of these notes you should be able to:
- Name some famous Ghanaian musicians
- Describe Ghanaian music styles such as highlife and hiplife
- Explain what their music teaches about Ghanaian culture
What you already know
- Music and dance from other communities (Basic 2–3)
Copy everything that has a blue line on its left into your notebook. The other parts are for reading.
- Strand
- Performing Arts
- Sub-strand
- Thinking and Exploring Ideas
- Indicator
- B4.2.1.1.1 – Study the performing artworks created by some Ghanaian performing artists
Introduction
Highlife music is played at weddings, funerals and parties across Ghana. Who created this music, and why is it so loved? Let us study some Ghanaian musicians.
1. Ghanaian Music Styles
| Style | Description |
|---|---|
| highlife | dance music mixing Ghanaian rhythms with guitars and brass instruments |
| hiplife | a mix of highlife and hip-hop, with rap in Ghanaian languages |
| gospel | Christian music of praise |
| traditional music | drumming and singing from Ghanaian communities |
2. Some Ghanaian Musicians
| Musician | Known for |
|---|---|
| E. T. Mensah | called the "King of Highlife"; led the Tempos band |
| Nana Ampadu | leader of the African Brothers band; highlife storytelling songs |
| Kojo Antwi | soft highlife and love songs; called the "Music Man" |
| Daddy Lumba | popular highlife singer and songwriter |
| Reggie Rockstone | often called the "Grandpapa of Hiplife" |
3. What Music Teaches
- Many highlife songs tell stories about love, money, family and good behaviour.
- Songs use proverbs and Ghanaian languages.
- Music keeps our culture alive and is known around the world.
New words
- highlife
- A Ghanaian dance music with guitars and brass.
- hiplife
- A mix of highlife and hip-hop.
- musician
- A person who plays or sings music.
- band
- A group of musicians who play together.
- lyrics
- The words of a song.
- genre
- A type or style of music.
Summary
- Highlife and hiplife are Ghanaian music styles.
- E. T. Mensah is known as the "King of Highlife".
- Reggie Rockstone is often called the "Grandpapa of Hiplife".
- Ghanaian songs teach values and keep our culture alive.
Class activity: Listen and Discuss
- Listen to a highlife song chosen by your teacher.
- Name the instruments you hear.
- Discuss the message of the lyrics.
You need: Locally made drum, Gourd shaker, Printed photographs of Ghanaian, African performances
Exercises
Answer in your exercise book first, then check your answers.
1. Who is called the "King of Highlife"?
- A. E. T. Mensah
- B. Reggie Rockstone
- C. Kofi Annan
- D. Yaa Asantewaa
Show answer
Answer: E. T. MensahHe led the Tempos band.2. Hiplife is a mix of highlife and…
- A. Hip-hop
- B. Classical
- C. Reggae only
- D. Opera
Show answer
Answer: Hip-hopIt mixes rap with highlife.3. The words of a song are its…
- A. Lyrics
- B. Beats
- C. Instruments
- D. Notes
Show answer
Answer: LyricsThat is lyrics.4. Highlife is played at Ghanaian weddings and funerals.
- A. True
- B. False
Show answer
Answer: TrueIt is very popular.5. Nana Ampadu led the Tempos band.
- A. True
- B. False
Show answer
Answer: FalseHe led the African Brothers band.6. A group of musicians who play together is a ______.
Show answer
Answer: bandThat is a band.7. Name two Ghanaian musicians and their style of music.
Show answer
Answer: E.g. E. T. Mensah – highlife; Reggie Rockstone – hiplife.Any correct pair.8. How does Ghanaian music help preserve culture?
Show answer
Answer: It uses Ghanaian languages, proverbs and rhythms and tells our stories.Music carries culture.
Homework
- Ask an adult to name their favourite Ghanaian musician and song.