Highlife is a popular West African music genre that arose in the early 20th century, primarily in Ghana, and later spread to Nigeria and neighbouring countries. It emerged from combining local rhythms and melodies with Western influences — military brass bands, jazz, and sailors' sea shanties.
Classic highlife is distinguished by interlocking, “rippling” guitar parts, jazzy horn sections, and a lively, danceable rhythm. At first this music was played in expensive clubs for the well-to-do, whence the name — “high life.” Later highlife became music for everyone and laid the foundation for many newer African styles, notably Afrobeat. It is one of the cornerstones of contemporary African popular music.
