SCA-UEW, Prof. Fish Commemorate 100 Years of Highlife with Spectacular Five-Day Concert
The School of Creative Arts (SCA) at the University of Education, Winneba (UEW), in collaboration with celebrated musician and scholar, Prof. Mark-Millas Fish hosted a Highlife Centenary Concert from Tuesday, 5th to Saturday, 9th August, 2025, at the SCA Theatre.
The five-day celebration, held under the theme “Celebrating a Century of Highlife: A Living Legacy,” brought together some of Ghana’s most talented musicians, comedians, media personalities and distinguished guests in an electrifying tribute to the nation’s most iconic musical genre.
The event featured powerful performances from the host band, Bigshots GH, alongside celebrated guest artistes including ‘seperewa’ virtuoso Osei Korankye, ‘atenteben’ maestro Dela Botri, palm wine lollipop, innovators Kwan Pa and Local Dimension, rising Highlife star Khojo Pinodo, the SCA-UEW Pop Band and the Clogsag Band. Each act showcased the rich diversity of Highlife’s styles, from palm wine and Afro-funk to big band arrangements, blending traditional rhythms with contemporary flair to the delight of packed audience.
Adding humour and energy to the evenings were popular comedians and MCs Clemento Suarez, Foster Romanus, Jeneral Ntatia and media personality Kobby Kyei whose banter kept the audience engaged between sets.
In attendance were UEW’s top leadership including Justice Jacob Amomoo-Monney (Chairman of the Governing Council), Prof. Stephen Jobson Mitchual (Vice-Chancellor), Prof. Andy Ofori-Birikorang (former Pro-Vice-Chancellor) as well as faculty members, students, alumni and music lovers from across the country.
Addressing the audience, Prof. Emmanuel Obed Acquah, Dean of SCA-UEW, described the centenary as “far more than a historical retrospective,” calling it “a vibrant dialogue between our past and future, mediated through the universal language of music.” He emphasised Highlife’s enduring place in Ghana’s cultural identity: “Globally, mention Highlife and Ghana comes to mind. It tells our struggles and, of course, the unbreakable spirit of Ghana.”
Prof. Fish, a multi-instrumentalist, composer and internationally recognised scholar of Highlife music, expressed gratitude for the opportunity to lead the commemoration, noting that the event was only the beginning of a larger mission to project Highlife to both national and global audience.
From the hypnotic guitar riffs of classic Highlife to reimagined contemporary fusions, the concert succeeded in both preserving and innovating, offering younger generations a renewed appreciation for the genre. As the curtains fell on Saturday night, one message rang clear from the performers and organisers alike: the next 100 years of Highlife begins now.
