Burger-Highlife is one of the few highlights of German history that has nothing to do with food. »Highlife« is the name of a genre that originated in Ghana in the 19th century and combines West African traditions with jazz. After the Second World War, many people from non-aligned Ghana emigrated to the Federal Republic of Germany and the German Democratic Republic, bringing highlife with them. To show that their music was created by migrants, they added the prefix »Burger«. Some say it comes from »Bürger«, which can mean »citizen« in German, while others say it comes from »Hamburg«, the centre of the diaspora. Either way, the music is cosmopolitan and »Burger« quickly became the banner of a global subculture. It combined highlife with electronica, boogie, funk, afrobeat and new wave. Now, with »Ghana Special 2«, Soundway Records has erected a monument to this scene. It’s bursting with ambition: There are 18 tracks by 18 Ghanaian artists who have been blown to all corners of the global north. It’s a fascinating compilation full of highlights, such as the songs by George Darko or Nan Mayen. Unfortunately, it’s not consistent in terms of mood. Some listings are crisp pop songs, while others resemble meandering, late-night dance tracks. This makes it difficult to name a situation in which »Ghana Special 2« would be perfect. But it’s worth a listen. If Krautrock or New German Wave are familiar to all Germans, then Burger-Highlife should be too.
Gnonnas Pedro
The Man Who Sings All African Languages
Nanga Boko