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From: med@astrovax.UUCP (Mark Dickinson)
Newsgroups: net.nlang.africa,net.music
Subject: Re: Ghana Hilife music
Message-ID: <611@astrovax.UUCP>
Date: Wed, 5-Jun-85 14:56:03 EDT
Article-I.D.: astrovax.611
Posted: Wed Jun  5 14:56:03 1985
Date-Received: Thu, 6-Jun-85 08:23:51 EDT
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Organization: Princeton Univ. Astrophysics
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Xref: watmath net.nlang.africa:45 net.music:7791

> > Recently I was in a store in Toronto, and
> > was introduced by the owner to a recording
> > of music that she said was 'Ghana Hilife'
> > music.
> > 
> > She couldn't describe what exactly that was.
> > Anybody know?
> > -- 
> > 'Big J' Alexander
> 
> "High-Life" or "Hi-Life" or however you want to spell it
> is an uptempo, bouncy, fun type of music played in many
> West African countries and perhaps extending into Central Africa.
>                           ...
> Recommended practitioners whose records should
> be available in the US and perhaps Canada include Rochereau and Franco, 
> both of whom have releases on Shanachie Records. Also, the Sound d'Afrique
> compilations on Mango (I think) feature a lot of excellent High-Life
> -- a good introductory sampler.
> 
> 					Mark Dickinson

Actually, now that I think about it, Rochereau's and Franco's music
is really what one would call "Congolese", not High-Life. Both musicians
are from Zaire. Although I don't have the records around to check, I think
that most of the music on the Sound d'Afrique compilations may also be 
Congolese as well. This style is somewhat similar to High-Life, but not 
identical.

Also, I have heard the term High-Life applied to other recordings of West 
African music that did not have guitar or horns or other "modern" instruments.
Perhaps there is some better definition of the style. Anybody know?

					-- Mark Dickinson