Highlife's Origins and Colonialism

In 1874 Ghana became a British colony known as The Gold Coast Crown Colony. During the early days of colonialism traditional West African musical styles uch as gombe, ashiko, dagomba, and fanteosibisabam could be heard throughout the region.  Colonialism brought a sudden influx of western goods, ideas and music.  Colonists brought with them the sounds of European brass bands, sea shanties, ragtime and christian music.  Not only did the early colonists introduce new musical forms to the region but they also brought instruments such as trumpets, saxaphones, harmonicas and especially guitars.  All of these new elements would eventually combine to form highlife music.  In upcoming posts I will discuss in detail the development of the different stlyes of highlife and the social and geographic factors that resulted in the different branches of highlife music.  In the meantime enjoy some great highlife from The City Boys Band!