E.T. Mensah was a renowned Ghanaian musician and band leader, but in the 50s and early 60s, he was better known as the undisputed “King of Highlife” throughout “British” West Africa, that is, Nigeria, Western Cameroon, Ghana, Sierra Leone and Gambia.

Highlife dance music was one of the earliest popular fusions of West African music and western sounds. In this case the influences were strongly from the English and Spanish Caribbean in the form of the Merengue, Charanga, Cha-cha, Rumba, Calypso and so on (which interestingly have roots in West African music), but also saw heavy influence from American swing music of the post-war era.

Mensah and the Tempos pioneered Highlife in the early 40s through the 50s and 60s, solidifying the sound and paving the way for others, including other early acts like Rex Lawson & The Ramblers, A.B. Crentsil, African Brothers Band, etc.

If you were out dancing in Lagos or Accra in the 1950s and early 60s, highlife music is what the band was most likely playing. It was a music of the times - it reflected the optimism and hope individuals had in a the early days of self rule. You can hear this in the light-hearted themes and uplifting sounds.

Check out E.T. Mensah and the Tempos Band in one of their biggest hits, “All For You.”

E.T. Mensah & The Tempos - All For You

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Say the phrase “Sweet Mother” in Nigeria, and people instantly think Prince Nico Mbarga and:

Sweet Mother
I no go forget you
For the suffer wey you suffer for me…

The song is of course, the 1976 classic, “Sweet Mother,” by the Abakaliki-born Prince Nico Mbarga and Rocafil Jazz International. Reported as the biggest African hit of all time (within Africa), the album sold over 13 million copies.

Combining Congolese guitar rifs, highlife motifs and catchy, accessible (pidgin) lyrics, Mbarga’s sound saw incredible popularity both locally and internationally. Eventually relocating abroad, Mbarga spent a short stint in England before returning home and eventually moving away from the music industry by the early 90s.

Mbarga’s death in 1997 from a motorcycle accident spawned a revived interest in his music. Previously more challenging to acquire (because the age, format (LP/Tape) and limited distribution,) his work is as close as Amazon.com or Stern’s Music… or if you’re lucky, the African/Nigerian section of your local record store.

Prince Nico Mbarga - Sweet Mother

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Check out Prince Nico Mbarga in the Gallery

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Borrowing elements of traditional Ibgo highlife and Congolese guitar stylings, Prince Nico Mbarga and Rocafil Jazz International created a unique, accessible sound marked by silky vocals, congolese guitar riffs and highlife rhythms. His sound saw wide appeal throughout africa and abroad during the 70s and beyond. Fast forward twenty years and we have the Congolese super-group Soukous stars (who were probably dancing to Mbarga in their youth,) reworking Mbarga’s hits in their unique soukous sound.

On the Stern’s Africa release: Lokassa et Soukous Stars - Megamix Vol. 1 [1993 - Stern's Africa], Lokasa et Soukous Stars play brilliant renditions of Mbarga’s hits in the nonstop mix titled “Lagos Night.” The mix includes the widely popular Sweet Mother (which sold over 13 million copies), Christiana, Aki Special, Stella, Wellenga, Oh Death and finishes up with Lagos Night by Lokassa. Not only is this track great, but the entire album… I highly recommend it.

Lokassa et Soukous Stars - Lagos Night

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The “Oriental Brothers” highlife band spawned in eastern Nigeria the years of reconstruction following the Biafran War. The name “Oriental Brothers” does not refers to a single band (and therein lies the confusion,) but rather is the name (or part of the names) of several highlife bands that fragmented from the original “Oriental Brothers International Band” led by Godwin Kabaka Okpara… all sharing musical styling, musicians and names. You may be familiar with Dr. Sir Warrior and the Oriental Brothers International Band, Oriental Brothers, Kabaka International Guitar Band, Prince Ichita & The Great Oriental Brothers International Band, etc. For more on the various bands, check out the full breakdown

Combining Igbo vocals with deft guitar work and a solid rhythm section, the Oriental Brothers created a unique style of Nigerian highlife that for many people is the definitive sound of Nigerian highlife music.

Highlife music has been described as “up-tempo and sophisticated with an easygoing rhythm…” - music created from the merger of traditional dance rhythms, acoustic guitar music and the dance bands/orchestras of the day. Flowing from Ghana as early as the 1940s, Highlife spread throughout much of western and central Africa. In Nigeria, popular early acts were ET Mensah, CK Maan and Rex Lawson & the Ramblers. The Post-Biafran period produced artists including Osita Osadebe, IK Dairo and the Oriental Brothers.

It’s ironic that after so much destruction and pain, the most popular music from the war-ravaged area is “Highlife.” I imagine these themes are covered in their work, but I don’t speak Igbo so I’m at a loss. Any help would be appreciated with a translation.

One of my favorite tunes of the original Oriental Brothers is:
Oriental Brothers International Band - Nwayi Di Ya Bu Eze on the 1975 album Nwa Ada Di Nma [Afrodesia]

Oriental Brothers International Band - Nwayi Di Ya Bu Eze

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