African Music and Dance

African Music and Dance

Eugene Nanakyere Afranie-- 72492017

African Music and Dance

Eugene Nanakyere Afranie-- 72492017

12/15/2014

12/15/2014

Eugene Afranie

[company name]

Eugene Afranie

[company name]

An Analysis of Ghanaian Highlife Songs and Its Relation to Politics

An Analysis of Ghanaian Highlife Songs and Its Relation to Politics

Contents

Abstract 2

Methodology 3

Background Information about Highlife in Ghana 4

Political Meaning of Highlife Songs 6

Conclusion 12

Appendix 13

References 15

Abstract

This paper explores the political meaning of Ghanaian highlife songs, which are generally regarded as purely entertainment. Nearly all Ghanaian songs examined in this paper are in the Twi (or Akan) language. (The Akan are a collection of culturally related societies with mutually intelligible languages. They number about 6 million people and live in the southern part of Ghana.) It should be made clear, however, that Highlife is also performed in other languages, within and outside of Ghana.

This brief paper does not discuss the methodological problems involved in the use of artistic expressions for anthropological purposes. This has been done elsewhere (Fabian, 1978; Asante-Darko and Van der Geest, 1981). Instead, it analyses the meaning of songs and people's reactions to them. The first section of the paper provides background information about highlife in Ghana. The second section deals with the hidden meaning of art in general and, in particular, with the hidden political meaning of Ghanaian highlife songs. Also in the second section I will consider the reactions of the politicians and parties to these songs.

Methodology

This paper was a heavily based on library researches from the Balme library at the University of Ghana and Ashesi University College Library. Also I gather the songs and their meanings used from my grandfather, Mr Abraham Pardie. Finally there were also a few internet researches on the climate of Highlife in the 20th century....