Ghana Music

Highlife

The most well-known form of Ghanaian music is highlife. It become popular all across Africa and much of the rest of the world. Highlife arose among the coastal regions of Ghana and, to a lesser extent Sierra Leone, Liberia, Nigeria and other English-speaking West African colonies. In the 1920s, the word was used to describe the dancing of the English colonials to the regimented music of native bands. Eventually, the music, originally used only for military functions, began using native songs and kpanlogo rhythms.

Musical instruments of Ghana

Gangkogui: adouble iron bell. The Gangkogui is one of the most important instruments of the ensemble, anchoring tempo and timing.

Atsimewu: lead drum, four and a half to feet tall, open at the bottom which is smaller than the top head in diameter, struck on the head as well as the rim and sides. The lead drum is a powerful speaker of song in rhythm, often reciting syllables of prose with drum strokes.

Atsimewu

Axatse: gourd rattle with beads woven around it. The Axatse is typically shaken and struck with the hand and thigh.

Sogo/Kidi: a pair of closed bottom barrel drums. The Sogo is larger and lower in pitch than the Kidi. Each is played by one person, using a combination of open and closed stick strokes and hand muting.

Kaganu: narrow barrel drum similar in proportion to the Atsimewu but built to the height of the Kidi. The Kaganu plays a polyrhythmic subdivision with small light sticks.

Atoke: small single boat shaped bell. It is laid in the open palm and played with a metal striker.

Agboba: large barrel drum, 3 feet tall, closed bottom. The thunderous bass drum of the ensemble.

Kloboto/Totodzi: short open bottom barrel drums. The Totodzi is smaller than the Kloboto.