Our efforts must not be in vain —NCC charges musicians to promote Highlife

GHANA is on the brink of a historic milestone as Highlife music is set to be officially recognised by UNESCO as part of the nation’s intangible cultural heritage by the end of the year.

This development announced recently at the TGMA Industry Mixer by the Secretary General of the Ghana Commission for UNESCO, Ama Serwah Nerquaye-Tetteh, would affirm Highlife music is uniquely Ghanaian and bans any other country from claiming its origins.

Meanwhile, to ensure all the hard work to get to this stage comes to fruition, Deputy Executive Director of the National Commission for Culture (NCC), Fio Richardson Commey, has called on musicians and industry players to uphold the authenticity of Highlife music and deliberately promote it on the global stage.

This recognition, a culmination of numerous discussions and initiatives spearheaded by the Ghana Folklore Board and the Ghana Cultural Forum, aims at securing Highlife’s place on UNESCO’s list of Intangible Cultural Heritage.

Speaking to Graphic Showbiz, Mr Commey emphasised that the global endorsement of Highlife as a distinct Ghanaian art form necessitates musicians to preserve its original elements without compromise.

He warned that Ghana's reputation as the cradle of Highlife music would be jeopardised if artistes prioritise short-term gains over the genre's authenticity, and urged musicians to remain loyal to the tradition and essence of Highlife and resist any attempts to misrepresent its unique sound.

According to him, Highlife is a distinct genre that should be respected and preserved in its pure form, rather than being compromised by the infusion of other styles that distort its true nature.

“This designation will be the global official endorsement of Highlife as a unique artistic product from Ghana and it will automatically put the nation in a state of consciousness in taking critical steps to safeguard this enviable heritage for generations yet unborn.

“We must safeguard and ensure its vitality and viability and make it attractive to the young people and also ensure education and transfer of the knowledge about the music to the youth and young people.”

He further urged musicians and industry players to take active roles in initiatives led by state agencies, as their involvement is crucial in leveraging global recognition.

“Musicians and industry players should be seen at the forefront of all initiatives that will be outlined by state agencies and they stand to be the direct and higher beneficiaries of the global recognition.

“This is because this global recognition considers the artiste as the greatest and most valuable asset towards the continuous practice of the music type. If we do not appreciate our music, no one will. Artistic expressions are part of identity formation and for that matter, music is a part of the Ghanaian identity. So we need to be proud of the genre and promote it to the rest of the world.”

The NCC plans to support this effort through various programmes aimed at educating and engaging the younger generation.

“There are going to be training programmes targeting young people in schools, with Highlife music competitions, symposia, master classes and annual lecture series.

“There will also be a festival to honour veterans (dead and alive) and young musicians who are doing Highlife to keep the genre alive,” he added.