Do Highlife if you want hits —Kwabena Kwabena to young acts

FOR the up-and-coming artistes who will have nothing to do with Highlife music because they believe it is outmoded, musician Kwabena Kwabena has a piece of advice for them—they are making a mistake. Huge!

The Highlife icon who has been doing music for close to 20 years believes the genre is the key to creating hit songs; evergreen ones as such. 

Kwabena Kwabena is certain they cannot go wrong with Highlife, which is still the foundation of Ghana music, even though some see it as old-school. 

In a recent chat with Graphic Showbiz, Kwabena Kwabena explained that it is unfortunate most young artistes prefer other music styles to Highlife when many of today’s smash hits are deeply rooted in Highlife, showcasing its timelessness and relevance.

According to the Aso hit maker, sticking to Highlife is the key to unlocking the door to remain relevant and bag bangers. 

“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.