Today, March 6th, marks the 55th anniversary of Ghana's independence from British colonial rule. Let us celebrate with this classic highlife album by B.B. Collins, featuring master guitarist Sammy Cropper and the beautiful lead vocals of Baffour Kyei.
Here we have a short religious themed album by the great Sunsum Band entitled Disco Spiritual, released in 1981 on Gapophone records. The heart of the Sunsum Band consisted of guitarist, composer & singer Smart Nkansah (pictured on left) and treble singer Agyaaku (on right), who met while both were members of Yamoah's band in the 1960s. You can read more about Sunsum at this earlier post.
Sunsum Band - Ahoboa
I've also included a Youtube video featuring a "sermon" of sorts by none other than Smart Nkansah at the Pentecostal Baptist Church in London. Here, Smart discusses some of his religious themed compositions with the Sweet Talks (Spiritual Ghana), as well as the song "Ahoboa" off the Disco Spiritual Album. This song states: "In case you are called, or you die today, what preparation have you made for yourself? How was your judgement?" Nkansah describes "Ahoboa" as the "number one track" of his career, a song that "speaks to you direct anytime you play it."
On a side note, I'm frustrated by the preacher who introduces Smart Nkansah at the beginning of this video. He states: "You [Smart] were populating the kingdom of hell with your music. Now thank God you've met the Lord on the way to Damascus and you've changed." I like PREKESEMedia's reaction to this type of attitude on the Youtube page:
"I dont agree with the Pastor's assertion that U were leading people to Hell. No, your music was more than about what he is saying. You educated and promoted social virtues and NEVER promoted vices. Ghanaians need to change their mentality where they stereotype every secular musician as someone who is a SINNER. Who is perfect in this world? Ask the pastor to listen to some of your music to know whether u were promoting SIN as he said." DownloadDisco Spiritual
This video has been around for a while, but I'm still blown away each time I listen to this incredibly talented all-children gospel/highlife group. The video is well made, the song itself is beautiful, and these kids have some serious skills! The group also has a rather unique sound, emphasizing traditional Ghanaian instruments like the Seprewa harp, Gome drum, Atenteben flutes, and Gyile (xylophones) over electronic instruments.
Sweet gospel music with "Spiritual Ghana (1976)" from the ever-popular Sweet Talks. The brainchild of singer A.B. Crentsil and leader/guitarist Smart Nkansah (who would later split to form the fantastic Sunsum Band), the Sweet Talks were always at the top of their game in the '70s.
On side one we have a medley of Ghanaian hymns and church songs, while side two is described as "Osode" music. This traditional Fanti genre was made famous by C.K. Mann, who brought a highlife twist to this "modern Osode."
Get out your white handkerchiefs for this one! Download
Anyone who thinks highlife music is dead and gone need only listen to the latest gospel music coming out of Ghana. It seems to me more and more that these gospel musicians have created a style that is at once fresh and contemporary, while rooted in the tradition of classic highlife. Chord progressions, structures, and melodic/vocal elements of the latest gospel song may very well appear in anything by the African Brothers, City Boys, C.K. Mann, etc. Some might disagree with me, but I really believe in this close connection.
"Wala Aboloo" by the Soul Winners comes from a few years back. This "traditional gospel" group (as they describe themselves) is somewhat unique, as they depart from the usual synthesizer driver sound, combing atenteben flutes, trumpets and guitar with clapping and a more traditional set of percussion instruments (rather than a kit drum). The song is sung in Ga, and several specifically Ga instruments appear, including Kpanlogo drums, Gome (a box-like frame drum played while sat upon), and Osrama (a long, high pitched type of talking drum that is played with sticks).
