Kofi Kinaata Is Next to Take The Highlife Baton – Gyedu-Blay Ambolley

While debates continue over whether highlife music is fading or evolving, legendary musician Gyedu-Blay Ambolley believes the genre’s future is secure in the hands of Kofi Kinaata.

Speaking on Joy Prime’s PrimeTime with George Quaye, Ambolley said Kinaata’s dedication to the indigenous sound sets him apart from his peers.

“With the direction he wants to go, he is stepping out of the yo-yos. He is sticking to his highlife identity and even adding something to it. So it makes me know that he is musically inclined to be able to do that. We have to pass on the baton, and he is the only one I know who can do it,” Ambolley noted.

He explained that his endorsement of Kinaata stems from consistent observation of his works and craft, which reflect originality and respect for highlife’s roots.

The discussion comes against the backdrop of industry debates on the survival of highlife. At the 20th Vodafone Ghana Music Awards (VGMA), held at the Grand Arena in Accra, highlife artiste Kuami Eugene was crowned “Future King of Highlife” by veteran musician Amakye Dede, after winning Highlife Artiste of the Year.

However, years later, Amakye Dede revealed that the symbolic coronation was not his personal decision but one influenced by the award organisers.

Unlike many of his contemporaries who lean heavily into Afrobeats or fusion sounds, Kofi Kinaata has remained largely rooted in highlife. Though he began his career as a rapper, his transition into the genre has produced some of the most celebrated songs in recent Ghanaian music, resonating with audiences across generations.

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