King Ayisoba – Modern Ghanaians
https://amf.didiermary.fr/modern-ghanaians-king-ayisoba/
“Modern Ghanaians” by King Ayisoba is the fastest selling cassette by an artist from the Northern part of Ghana. The albums popularity started in Bolgatanga where the artist is from, but has spread through the other regions like harmattan bushfire. Singing in English, Twi, Frafra, King Ayisoba struck a chord with the Ghanaian audience and […]
Pat Thomas & Kwashibu Area Band – Gyae Su
https://amf.didiermary.fr/pat-thomas-kwashibu-area-band-gyae-su/
‘Gyae Su’ is a rearrangement of an older song, with a bass concept typical of the classic Kwa or Kumasi guitar bands. Ebo Taylor’s horn arrangements evoke the classic Afrofunk vibe that he originally made famous.The lyrics are as catchy as they are plaintive, with Thomas comforting the listener, “Don’t cry! Life has its ups […]
Saka Acquaye
https://amf.didiermary.fr/saka-acquaye/
Saka Acquaye (1923 – 2007) was a Ghanaian painter, sculptor, textile designer, teacher, arts administrator, dramatist, composer and multi-instrumentalist.
He founded the African Ensemble while in the US and, as its leader, recorded an album under the ELEKTRA label. This group was made up of American musicians. He also put together a group known as […]
Buari - Ku Ka Maria (1975)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XYOUNFFMPf0
Former athlete (silver & bronze medalist) who studied music in USA mid-60s.
https://www.discogs.com/artist/157218-Buari
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sidiku_Buari
K. Frimpong backed by Vis-A-Vis
https://amf.didiermary.fr/k-frimpong-backed-vis-a-vis/
The legendary K. Frimpong on this reissue of a fantastic rare album, recorded in 1978 at Ghana Films Studio in Accra. Here he’s backed by the famous Vis-A-Vis band. […]
K. Frimpong and his Cubanos Fiesta – Me Da A Ɔnnda
https://amf.didiermary.fr/frimpong-cubanos-fiesta/
Me Da A Ɔnnda is a classic and essential Hi-Life & Afro Funk album from one of the greatest Ghanaian singer and composer, recorded in 1980 by the legendary K. Frimpong and his Cubanos Fiesta band.
K . Frimpong was born on July 22nd, 1939 at Ofoase in the Ashanti – Akim district and entered right […]
#80smusic #AfroFunk #FullAlbum #Ghana #Highlife #OldAfricanMusic
King Ayisoba – Wicked Leaders
https://amf.didiermary.fr/king-ayisoba-wicked-leaders/
Wicked Leaders… African politicians beware! King Ayisoba is out there…
Kologo music from Ghana, North East Region, mainly in Frafra and in English, highly catchy that moves your soul as well as your feet.
Dr. K. Gyasi’s Noble Kings – The Highlife Boss
https://amf.didiermary.fr/dr-gyasi-noble-kings-highlife-boss/
Highlife album released in 1975 on the Essiebons label, by Dr. K. Gyasi & his Noble Kings. Probably one of the best recorded Highlife there is from this period of time in Ghana. With Lead Vocals by Thomas Frimpong.
Thomas Frimpong (sometimes Frempong) was one of the most respected Highlife musicians Ghana has ever […]
Burger Highlife
https://amf.didiermary.fr/burger-highlife/
The first ever compilations focussing on the phenomenon of “Burger Highlife”, a crossover of West African melodies with synthesizers, disco and boogie that took over Ghanaian airwaves during the 1980’s and beyond.
The 1970s had witnessed an increased Western airtime and physical presence in Ghana introducing funk, soul and disco sounds [...]
#80smusic #90smusic #AfroFunk #Compilation #Disco #Ghana #Highlife #OldAfricanMusic
Essiebons Special 73-84
https://amf.didiermary.fr/essiebons-special-73-84/
In Ghana, few labels are as influential as Essiebons, the “Ghana Music Power House.” Founded by the producer and businessman Dick Essilfie-Bondzie, its catalog features sterling work from number of modern highlife legends.
For most of the 1970s Essilfie-Bondzie’s Dix and Essiebons labels were synonymous with the best in modern highlife, and his [...]
#70smusic #80smusic #Compilation #Ghana #Highlife #OldAfricanMusic
Obo Addy (Oboade)
https://amf.didiermary.fr/obo-addy-oboade/
Obo Addy (January 15, 1936 – September 13, 2012) was a Ghanaian drummer and dancer. He learned drumming at a very early age. He and his brothers drummed while his mother and sisters sang as his father, a priest and medicine man of the Ga people of southern Ghana, performed rituals.
When Addy was six, he […]
African Brothers International Band
https://amf.didiermary.fr/african-brothers-international-band/
The debut album by Nana Kwame Ampadu’s legendary African Brothers International Band, originally released in Ghana in 1970. The band is an evolution of “African Brothers Dance Band (International)” that was famous in the ’60s.
Nana Ampadu of Ghana formed his African Brothers Band in 1963. During the ’70s, they became one of the more […]
Marijata – No Condition Is Permanent
https://amf.didiermary.fr/marijata-no-condition-permanent/
Marijata was a group made up of three members – Kofi ‘Electric’ Addison on drums, Bob Fischian on organ and Nat Osmansu on guitar, hailing from Ghana. ‘This Is Marijata’ is the groups first LP; released originally on the Gapophone label – it is pure, rootsy, raw, driving African funk music of the highest order, […]
Thomas Frempong
https://amf.didiermary.fr/thomas-frempong/
Thomas Frempong has been a fixture in the Highlife scene for decades, playing with all the biggest bands in the country, including the famous Noble Kings of Dr. Gyasi, pioneers of Sikyi Highlife, which is the most common form of Highlife today, with the interplay between brass, organs and electric guitars. When this illustrious musician, […]
Mick Fleetwood in Ghana
https://amf.didiermary.fr/documentary-mick-fleetwood-ghana/
An extract from a documentary Mick Fleetwood (drummer with Fleetwood Mac) filmed in Ghana while recording his album “The Visitor” in Accra in 1981.
Gyedu-Blay Ambolley – Simigwa-Do
https://amf.didiermary.fr/gyedu-blay-ambolley-simigwa-do/
Gyedu-Blay Ambolley, the versatile, irrepressible singer, songwriter, producer and Ghanean “musical- life-force” exploded on the music scene in 1973, with a jazzy Highlife sound he called “Simigwa-Do”.
Ambolley taught himself to play the flute as a first instrument in his early years of musical interest dating back to the age of eight, when he began […]
Ambolley – Simigwa
https://amf.didiermary.fr/ambolley-simigwa/
Simigwa is a legendary Ghanian album – with one of the most iconic covers ever! – that fuses Highlife, Afrobeat, Folk and Funk. Ambolley’s debut solo album originally released in 1975, written and produced with Ebo Taylor.
Gyedu-Blay Ambolley grew up during the peak of Highlife in Ghana and was a key figure in […]
M.anifest – Simple Love
https://amf.didiermary.fr/manifest-simple-love/
Follow a ballet dancer as she navigates her way through crowded streets and a market in slow-motion in “Simple Love,” a short film by M.anifest in 2018, with dancer Angelica Kankam.
RIP Nana Ampadu
https://amf.didiermary.fr/rip-nana-ampadu/
Renowned Ghanaian highlife musician, Nana Kwame Ampadu died on September 28, 2021.
In an interview from 2007, historian Jennifer Hart talks with him about the music that made him famous: "God was everywhere in the street."
Highlife Time
https://amf.didiermary.fr/highlife-time/
“Highlife Time – Nigerian and Ghanaian Sound from the 60s and Early 70s” a 2xCD or 2xLP compilation by Vampi Soul.
Highlife, dance music played mostly in Ghana and Nigeria, represents one of the century’s first fusions of African roots and western music, and before 1970 it ruled dancefloors across much of West Africa. […]
#60smusic #70smusic #FullAlbum #Ghana #Highlife #Nigeria #OldAfricanMusic
Sai Galaxy – Get It In The Sun
https://amf.didiermary.fr/sai-galaxy-get-it/
Australian producer Sai Galaxy (Simon Durrington) brings a fusion of classic Afro Funk, Disco & Jazz House.
As the name suggests, Sai Galaxy represents a star-studded cluster of artists from around the world – their varied styles colliding to form a refreshing fusion of classic Afrobeat, Disco and West African funk. Drawing from the influence […]
GuiltyBeatz – Pilolo feat. Mr Eazi & Kwesi Arthur
https://amf.didiermary.fr/guiltybeatz-mreazi-kwesi-arthur-pilolo/
The word “Pilolo” is relatable to many Ghanaians. It’s mainly a game of hide and seek which involves intelligence, fun and wit.
emPawa Africa was launched in 2018 as a talent incubation initiative to nurture and support up-and-coming artists in Africa.
So far, artistes who have released music through emPawa include Lady Donli, Namenj [...]
Gyedu-Blay Ambolley & His Sekondi Band live
https://amf.didiermary.fr/gyedu-blay-ambolley-sekondi-band-live/
Gyedu-Blay Ambolley & His Sekondi Band, live.
Gyedu-Blay Ambolley, born in 1947, veteran sax player, still on stage! He is sometimes referred to as the “James Brown of Ghana”. Not without reason…
Born in the city of Sekondi-Takoradi in the Western Region of Ghana, West Africa, now legendary Gyedu-Blay Ambolley exploded on the music scene […]
Osei Korankye – Seperewa Highlife
https://amf.didiermary.fr/osei-korankye-seperewa-highlife/
The seperewa, also known as seprewa or sanku, is a Ghanaian (specifically Akan) harp-lute and belongs to a class of harp-lute chordophones typical in West Africa. They are recognisable by their square wooden box resonator, which differ from the calabash ones used for Manding harp-lutes like the kora or kamele n’goni. […]
Modern Africa (1984)
https://amf.didiermary.fr/modern-africa-1984/
From “Modern Africa” (BRR20) “Contemporary Brass, Woodwind, Rhythm and Percussion” by Teddy Osei, Mac Tontoh, Aaron Harry & Martin Luther Owusu in 1984, musicians forming the core of Osibisa. This is pure music/soundtrack design.
