In a recent interview with Foster Aggor on Starrdrive, Ghanaian highlife musician Bisa Kdei delved into the evolution of Ghanaian music genres, particularly Azonto and Highlife. Contrary to popular belief that Azonto, a dance and music style that gained global recognition in the early 2010s, disappeared prematurely, Bisa Kdei argued that the genre merely evolved and was rebranded under different names.
“Azonto didn’t exit prematurely, rather we had a name change. Like, we tagged it with other genres. It’s just like what happened to Highlife,” Bisa Kdei explained. He drew a parallel between Azonto and Highlife, noting that many young artists today are still making Highlife music, albeit under the label of Afrobeat.
Bisa Kdei emphasized that the shifts in genre naming and trends are largely driven by perception and the need to stay relevant in an ever-changing music industry. “It’s the perception, it’s trend perception and everybody’s trying to follow what is trending right now,” he noted, suggesting that some artists may choose to wait for trends to fade before reintroducing older styles like Highlife.
He also pointed out that genres like Amapiano and Drill had their moment in the spotlight but have since receded, while Highlife has remained a timeless staple in Ghanaian music. “But you go back to Highlife, whatever you do, you go back to the good old days,” Bisa Kdei said.
The artist called for a greater focus on promoting and preserving indigenous Ghanaian genres, urging listeners and creators alike to resist the temptation to copy foreign styles. “We’re trying to copy other people’s genres, which is wrong. We can’t sell it back to them like they sell it to us, but we can sell our Highlife, Hiplife, and Azonto to them properly because we are the originators,” he concluded.
Bisa Kdei’s comments highlight the ongoing debate about the place of traditional Ghanaian music in a globalized industry, where trends often overshadow the rich cultural heritage of genres like Highlife and Azonto. His interview serves as a reminder of the importance of cultural authenticity and the need to support homegrown music for future generations.
Source: Ghana/Starrfm.com.gh/103.5FM/Emmanuel Mensah
