highlife
what it is
Highlife is a musical genre that originated in Ghana in the 1900s and spread to Sierra Leone, Nigeria and other West African countries by 1920. It is very popular in Liberia and all of English-speaking West Africa, although little has been produced in other countries due to economic challenges brought on by war and instability. Highlife is characterized by jazzy horns and multiple guitars which lead the band.
✦ start here: albums
✦ who's making it, level by level
level 4 · further
art pop, hyperpop, and the underground
level 5 · all the way
deep experimental
✦ make highlife a playlist
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✦ nearby genres
questions
What is highlife?
Highlife is a musical genre that originated in Ghana in the 1900s and spread to Sierra Leone, Nigeria and other West African countries by 1920. It is very popular in Liberia and all of English-speaking West Africa, although little has been produced in other countries due to economic challenges brought on by war and instability. Highlife is characterized by jazzy horns and multiple guitars which lead the band.
What are good highlife albums to start with?
Try Love & Death by Ebo Taylor, Highlife Safari by Eric Agyeman, Akofa Akoussah by Akofa Akoussah, and Smahila & the S.B's by Smahila & The S.B.'s.
Who are some women making highlife?
musicisforgirls.com/genres/highlife/girls lists women, non-binary artists, and bands with women making highlife, from mainstream to underground.
genre notes from last.fm listeners · artists and albums from last.fm, updated 2026-10-20