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The early brass-dominated highlife music popular in West African countries, especially Ghana, was at the peak of its popularity in the 1950s and early 1960s among the more privileged classes. Bandleader E. T. Mensah, heard in this example, was significant in the development of the sound in the late 1940s when he began incorporating West African melodies and rhythms into the music. Under his influence, music sung in the local language, rather than in English, came to replace the European ballroom-style music that had been imported into West Africa.
"Ghana Freedom" from E.T. Mensah: Day By Day (Cat.# RetroAfric RETRO3CD) (c)1991 RetroAfric. All Rights Reserved.