K. Frimpong and the Rhythm of Ghanaian Highlife
by Daniel Finn
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I am a little afraid of losing music, and I think we need to keep it circulating.
Because this is a voice that helped shape Ghana’s highlife in the 1970s:
Luckily there are labels like Soundway and Hot Casa bringing almost lost music back to life.
Alhaji Kwabena Frimpong was a Ghanaian highlife and afro funk legend. His voice and his band sit at a special intersection between tradition and bold soul funk exploration.
In the 1970s he recorded with his Cubano Fiestas and the Vis A Vis band. His breakthrough track Kyenkyen Bi Adi M’awu is pure funky highlife goodness.
There is a strong consistency in K. Frimpong’s music. The rhythm keeps moving the whole time. It could drift into repetition, but bright guitars, lively horns, and tight percussion keep every section engaging. The synths drop in with sharp colour when needed.
If you have any of his records and want to unload them, I would love to see them listed on Rotate.