West African Highlife Ensemble (2018)

Traditional

Come and Drum

Everybody can drum.

Kpanlogo Dance

The Kpanlogo dance was invented by Otoo Lincoln. He was told the following Ansee folk story by his grandfather. Kpanlogo, Mma Mma and Algodzan were the names of three triplet girls. Their father was the chief and said whoever could guess their names could marry them. A man went to their home pretending to be a mad man asking for water, met the girls, and learned their names and they called to each other. To remember them he kept singing to himself “‘Kp, Mma, Al,” and of course he married the girls.

Soon after Ghana became an independent nation in 1957, Kpanlogo came to symbolize the youth and independence of a young nation and was played at funerals and state occasions, and became an anthem for the ruling party at the time. It remains popular today.

Highlife

Amoulanga

Amoulanga is an uplifting Highlife song from the Ivory Coast. The lyrics sing of the virtues of upholding tradition.

Dreams Come True

I remember when I was young All the wonderful dreams
And now I realize
My dreams are coming true Dreams come true,

Dreams come true, Dreams come true, Agya, dreams come true.

Oblayuko

I was sleeping when a friend came and invited me to Tema for a dance, food and drinks. She was beautiful and outgoing, and she was in a hurry to go to Tema. I ask her why she was in a hurry. She says it is because friends are waiting for her and she wants to go have fun.