While some contend that highlife is diminishing, seasoned musician Gyedu-Blay Ambolley asserts that there are younger artists who are preserving the genre.
Ambolley identifies Kofi Kinaata as a musician he believes will uphold the highlife tradition.
“With the path he intends to pursue, he is breaking free from the constraints. He is maintaining his highlife identity while also incorporating new elements. This indicates to me that he possesses the musical aptitude to achieve this. We must pass on the baton, and he is the only individual I am aware of who can accomplish it,” Ambolley stated.
In a conversation with host George Quaye, he elaborated that his support for Kofi Kinaata stems from a thorough evaluation of the artist’s skills and consistent body of work.
In a related event, during the 20th Vodafone Ghana Music Awards at the Grand Arena in Accra, highlife artist Kuami Eugene, who received the Highlife Artiste of the Year award, was honored as the “Future King of Highlife” by veteran musician Amakye Dede. Amakye Dede later clarified that this recognition was orchestrated by the event organizers, rather than being his personal choice.
Kofi Kinaata, who initially embarked on his career as a rapper, has progressively shifted his focus to highlife, creating music that resonates with audiences of all ages while remaining dedicated to Ghana’s rich musical heritage.
