Barima Sidney is confident that Highlife will always remain a cornerstone of Ghana’s music scene, insisting that the genre cannot be erased by time.
Speaking at the State House during the final funeral rites of veteran singer Dada KD, he told GhanaWeb’s Isaac Dadzie that even if Highlife no longer dominates radio or streaming charts, its cultural presence is unshakable.
“Well, I think as they say Highlife never dies. Probably we’re not having more Highlife like we used to have, but then trust me, even the young ones coming up, they all know Highlife is a pillar,” Sidney explained.
He pointed to the silence of some of the very musicians who once carried the sound, saying their lack of activity has fueled the perception that Highlife has lost relevance.
The “Africa Money” hitmaker urged veteran artistes to move with the times by embracing social media as a tool to showcase the genre and connect with new listeners.
“I think it depends on how we are also doing because most of us, we laid back. We’re in an era of social media and all that, but then most of us laid back, not forgetting that you can’t just stay behind and be up there. I think the Highlife artistes, it’s time for them to come out, be on social media, I mean let people know this still exists. I think we’ll go for it,” he advised.
Apart from the music discussion, Sidney shared fond memories of Dada KD, praising his character and firm principles.
“He’s very deep on issues, you always have his own line of thought and all that, and I really respect him for that. And he is the type who wouldn’t stand for you to be cheated. He always fights, even if not for himself, for somebody,” Barima Sidney stated.
