Welcome to the Highlifeturntable. The purpose of this blog is to provide a way for people to listen to rare highlife music from Ghana and Nigeria. I plan to post tracks from my private collection along with a little commentary on what I know about the artist and what I like about the LP.

Saturday, August 24, 2013

Okukuseku International Band of Ghana - Ode Ama Ne Mma





















For the next selection on the highlife turntable, I have selected the track Ode Ama ne Mma by the Ghanaian band Okukseku off a 1981 RAS release.

Ronnie Graham has an excellent history of the band in his Da Capo Guide to African Music.  Formed in Accra in 1969 by Kofi Sammy and Water Proof.  Kofi Sammy is the singer and composer.  He started his career with the Kakaiku Guitar Band before moving onto to the K. Gyasi and his noble Kings Band.  Water Proof was an actor, who started with the E.K. Nyame No. 1 Band.  They moved to Kumasi in 1970 and began recording with the Ambassador Studios.  The remained popular during the 70's, but economic pressures and limited recording facilities prompted them to move to Lagos.  The band recorded 2 LP's, but their rootsy brand of Highlife was more popular in the East so they moved to Onitsha, in 1981,  to record with the Rogers All Stars.  They continued to play Asante highlife, singing in Twi, but also added songs sung in Pidgen and Ibo to appeal to their Nigerian audience.  In 1985 conditions in Ghana improved and they moved back.  They have not recorded any new LP's since then, but they remained popular.

The song is laid back and has several excellent guitar and vocal segments.  There is also a nice drum solo that starts at the 3.22 mark.  All together a solid piece.  I hope you like it

Ubulujaja





There are several CD's available for download on Amazon, including this song.  Here is the link

http://www.amazon.com/s?ie=UTF8&page=1&rh=n%3A163856011%2Ck%3AOkukuseku%20International%20Band%20Of%20Ghana%20Led%20By%20Chief%20Sammy%20Kofi
Posted by at
Labels:

7 comments:

  1. ken_yattaAugust 25, 2013 at 8:11 AM

    Also, several Anthologies of Chief Kofi Sammy's music were released on CD by Tropic Vibes Productions.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. UnknownApril 7, 2014 at 10:12 AM

      This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.

      Delete
    2. ken_yattaJuly 9, 2014 at 8:01 AM

      This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.

      Delete
  2. UnknownAugust 29, 2013 at 3:37 AM

    I find many useful things herewith. It is really amazing for us. Where ever we are, just click on the website and Take advantages .Your article impressed me very heartily. From a last decade I was searching such type of web site. Thanks for giving me a space in your blog. I refer this to my close friends who are already seeking for the same .thanks again guys…overseas movers

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. ubulujajaAugust 29, 2013 at 9:50 PM

      Jim

      Thank you for your kind words. I never know who is out there listening, so I appreciate your message and am glad you like the music and find value in what I am doing.

      Michael Scott (ubulujaja)

      Delete
  3. UnknownSeptember 9, 2013 at 5:22 AM

    WONDERFUL Post.thanks for share..more wait
    international movers

    ReplyDelete
  4. UnknownOctober 14, 2013 at 8:13 PM

    Just a quick thanks for this song. I've been playing this song from here for several weeks now, it's kind of haunting me. Loving it to pieces. Some aspect to it almost seems disembodied for me, it's just floating in space. This is forward moving music. Love that percussion solo that just comes in from nowhere and leaves just as abruptly, brilliant. Been dabbling in highlife for several years and still learning the ropes, this is a revelation. Cheers

    ReplyDelete

Subscribe to: Post Comments (Atom)