For aspiring artists who dismiss Highlife music as outdated, musician Kwabena Kwabena has some valuable advice – they are missing out on a huge opportunity.
As a Highlife icon with nearly two decades of experience in the industry, Kwabena Kwabena believes that Highlife is the secret to creating timeless hit songs. Despite its reputation as old-fashioned, Highlife remains the foundation of Ghanaian music.
In a recent interview with Graphic Showbiz, Kwabena Kwabena emphasized that many of today’s biggest hits are rooted in Highlife, demonstrating its enduring popularity and relevance. He urged young artists to embrace Highlife, as it is the key to staying current and producing chart-topping tracks.
According to the talented artist, sticking to Highlife is the surefire way to maintain relevance and consistently produce hit songs.
“Highlife is thriving, and if you want hits, stick to the genre. Some people may think it is old-school, but many of Ghana’s top hits, such as Fameye’s Very Soon, King Paluta’s Makoma, KiDi’s Lomo Lomo and even Stonebwoy’s Jejereje are all rooted in Highlife,” he explained.
Reflecting on his 20-year-old music career, Kwabena Kwabena acknowledged how humbling the experience has been and emphasised the importance of his fans’ unwavering support throughout the years.
“I am humbled, honestly. I owe a debt of gratitude to the Almighty God and to my fans all over the world for their support over the years,” he noted.
He added that staying relevant all this time is his biggest reward. For him, maintaining a lasting presence and impact is his greatest achievement.
“Being in the industry for close to two decades is my biggest reward. Next year marks 20 years and staying relevant all this time is the greatest gift God has given me,” he said.