HIGH LIFE MUSIC A BRIEF INTRODUCTION

Highlife is music is music of the soul, music of love, music of life, music of the people. Highlife music is a musical style mostly found in West Africa, and it’s indigenous to countries such as Ghana, Nigeria, Sierra Leone and Liberia. Highlife music is a blend between traditional polyrhythmic styles and western guitar and musical influences. Highlife music was distinguished by a heavy base, brass band backing and guitar rhythms and other percussion instruments.



Why the name highlife music? The particular type of music received its name highlife because of the people it catered to at balls, birthday parties etc. The name became synonymous with the European upper classes in the 1920’s trying to keep a sense of home in the colonies.



In Ghanaian musical history, and especially highlife in the 50’s 60’s and 70’se, the trumpeter E.T. Mensah and his Tempo’s band is one of the famous proponents of the sound. Other artists that favour highlife and maintain it since the fifties include Nana Ampadu and his band the African Brothers and A.B. Crentsil, Ramblers International and the Professional Uhuru Dance Band.



In the 80’s however, highlife music was underwent a transformation. As a matter of fact, immigrated musicians to Germany utilized facilities available to them to create highlife which was instrumentally different from the brass band backed music of the old. The new sound used synthesiser and drum machines beats. The music nevertheless was accepted in Ghana and thus became popular. As usual, Ghanaian found a new name for this form of music and called it burgher highlife.

GHANAIAN YOUTH ON THE RISE

GHANA AKWAABA FESTIVAL/GHANAFEST

After much planning, the GCAO and the youth of Ghanaian Canadian Multicultural Community Center (GCMCC) have given us a festival to look forward to every year. The maiden Ghanaian Akwaaba Festival, also identified by others as Ghana Fest Toronto took place on August 18^th 2012 at the Earl Bales Park. The event overall was deemed a success by the organizers considering the difficulties they overcame.  The Ghana Akwaaba Festival started later than the appointed time; however, the event took shape as the day progressed.  Members of the general public were entreated to BBQ, food and drinks at the park, there was a nursing tent set up to address people’s health questions, provide blood pressure monitoring and blood sugar checks.

The amphitheater seating about 500 plus audiences was filled with the sounds and rhythm of Ghanaian drums and music. A colorful parade of chiefs and their entourage added luster to the event. The general public and Nananom were entertained by various acts by highlife musicians, hip life singers, Azonto dancers, Adowa dancers etc., the masters of ceremony were Richmond and Douglas who were backed by the able D.J’s Bunny and D.J Obolo of Sound Masters.  On the musical line up were, Kobena Acquah –Harrison, Prince Young, J.J, Burnz, Cali, and I AM BIC, Poetic Virus, Lizzie (South African Musician), Empress Aisha (poet), Pentecost choir and Bobi Ansah Sisters who entertained and wowed the crowd with their unique sounds.

The key note address was by Togbe Zonyira (Fred Tay); who highlighted the role of chieftaincy within the Ghanaian community and the state. In his address, he acknowledged importance of chiefs and their relevancy in our lives and our roots as Africans and Ghanaians. Thus the different chiefs’ parade in their royal’s regalia added color and shed light on Ghana’s rich cultural heritage. The traditional Adowa dancers and Southern Volta drummers and dancers added luster to the program highlighting Ghana’s cultural musical strength.

The planning committee of the Ghana Akwaaba Festival  which consisted of Richmond Bonsu (Afro Entertainment) , Mark Berko , Wofa Yaw, Aunty Rita, Aisha, Hardness, Mr. Doudu, Larry Kutuadu,  Bernice and Bernadette,  appreciate the general public reception to the maiden festival.  A great many thanks to the police foundation and the Ghana consulate for their support. The committee plans on a bigger and collaborative festival for all Ghanaians and the general public next year at the same place.

 

By Bernadette Poku

The Concept of Rotating Savings

This article is written to help people struggling with the idea of savings with an institution difficult. Savings do not have to be difficult. Rotating savings is a method of informal savings and borrowing that has been used in West Africa, Caribbean and many other parts of the world for a very long time. Rotating savings is also known as Susu in some West African societies. Some Caribbean’s refer this concept of savings as ‘partner’. In this type of savings, a group of well meaning individuals/friends set aside from their budget an amount of money to be collected every week or month. For instance, if there are ten people in this group and the amount set is a $100 bi weekly, that means that every two weeks, one person will collect the pooled money or ‘pot’ of $1,000. This amount of money goes to one person; the collection is rotated until everyone gets their share; hence, the name rotating savings.
Depending on the susu/partner you join, some set up a standard amount (hand) every week, biweekly or monthly. For instance, if one hand is $100, you can decide to go two hands or three in the ‘pot’. Since this type of susu/partner or savings is not a main stream concept, if you are interested, you can start one yourself and tailor it to your group (you don’t have to have ten people to start Susu or partner). Secondly, you can ask friends and family if they know any people engaged in Susu that you may join. On the other hand, be careful of those who may abuse the system.
In participating in rotating savings, you do not have to deal with a bank which may charge you not only for keeping your money safe, but as well invest your money (this is not to say do not use the banks). Secondly, I find it particularly useful when you have a big purchase that you do not have the money for, or when you do not want to rack up further interest on your credit card. Susu or rotating savings can be used towards travel (buying ticket). Once you have budgeted for all expenses and are able to set the hundred aside, when you become the first to receive the money, it’s like a free loan with no interest. Since this is an informal way of saving and borrowing money, there has to be a level of trust and discipline amongst members. You need like minded people to participate in this savings plan. There is also a requisition for one who can keep good records.
Advantages to Rotating Savings
· Money saved does not lose value
· Monies collected can act as interest free loan
· You are more likely to save with people you know (at work, school, church, or area you will)
· You know what to expect

Disadvantages to Rotating Savings
· There is no interest accrued on the monies collected
· It may be abused by some unscrupulous person in the savings scheme

ROAD TO FINACIAL FREEDOM: A ROAD LESS TRAVELLED

This is message of hope to my black women. A road to financial freedom less travelled by many of us. Many black women feel the financial strains in this tough economy. It’s even worse when you are an immigrant; single mother, divorced or widow.
In 2009, I made up my mind that enough is enough; poverty and financial constraints are going to be a thing of the past. I was tired of living from hand to mouth. I also did not want to end up retired, living in metro housing not being able to travel for leisure. What inspired me was where I wanted to be in the long term.
I asked myself what is important to me that may also equally important to others. I began with observing things around me. I became conscious of my surroundings. The high-rise buildings and their developers, the banks and how they operated, franchises such as Tim Horton’s, Macdonald etc., the grocery stores, utility companies. I had a sense of awareness of my environs.
I watched Business News Network. It is not my favorite television channel but a necessary station to watch business news and learn all I can from the experts. I learned to listen, took notes and researched businesses. I looked up a few people’s names, company profiles etc. I made it a quest to understand money, the people who control the money, and the people who earn and spend money. I also wanted my money to work for me. After all, I was tired of working with nothing to show for. I am just like anyone else with student loan debts, credit card debts, car payments, and insurance payments.
The most important thing I discovered was that the knowledge that I needed to start my road to financial freedom was in my local library. The library has all the information I needed to set forth on this path. All I needed was to find the right books. I read on Warren Buffet, Bill Gates, general information on investments, stocks, futures, ETFS, financial planning, wealth management and wealth creation. I searched the bibliography of books and researched names and themes I wanted to know more about. I am not a financial genius, but I sure am not financially ignorant now.
I found out about stock purchases, drips (dividend re-investment purchase) through Google and the library. The first book that I picked up was Derrick Foster, The Lazy Investor. I read the book systematically, and took notes. I essentially followed his suggestions word by word. The knowledge that the book impacted on me, I wished I had the knowledge a few years back. I would have been well on the way to financial freedom.
The message I want each and every black woman to know is that budgeting, savings and investments need not be difficult. There is always a simple way. The first step however, is to take stock of your objectives in life. Then start working and planning. My start up point was to be able to save a certain amount of money at a certain time. For instance, I started with opening a Tax Free Savings Account at my bank and deposited $25 every pay period which I plan to gradually increase this automatic withdraws as my budget will allow. Budgeting has become a daily, weekly and monthly routine. I learned to track my money as much as possible. I cut out waste. Now, if you watch the television Till Debt Do Us Part, you will find a lot of simple advice to use.
This is my suggestion to any black woman who wants financial freedom in the years to come. Do your homework. I suggest for starters you pick up a Derek Foster book from the library, a Gordon Pape, The Wealth Barber. They will help you identify what you need to start off with. I am not a schooled financial advisor but I sure do have my goals set right.
Lack of knowledge is a detriment to each black woman. However much we cry foul, no one is going to hear us. There are resources available but you need to utilize the information that you gather to suit your specific goals. My hope is that whenever you start your road to financial freedom and you stick with it, you will arrive. I am still on the road and I know how incredible difficult it is.
These are a few of the links and resources that I utilized.
www.dripinvesting.org, on this website, you will find various resources to set you on your way to be an independent investor. On the other hand, if you are not a do it yourself like some of us are, then your banks financial advisor can help you with starting a one. You can always start small then gradually build up you investment. Always do your home work, take notes and if unsure about an investment, sleep over it, research and see exactly where you are headed.
www.investopedia.com is another website that can enrich and guide the first time investor. I will suggest the reading the article 3 Simple Steps to Building Wealth. Written by William Artberger, CFA
Then Canadian author, Gordon Pape has a number of books that can be picked up at your local library. Some of the books are Sleep Easy Investing, 6 Steps To $1million, and The Ultimate TFSA Guide. Try the website www.buildingwealth.ca
Derek Foster’s books include: The Lazy Investor, Stop Working Here Is How You Can. In all the books, the one I find most exceptional for the beginner investor is The Lazy Investor.
I plead that all the black women learning about savings, budgeting and investments to have patience and plan well, get a small note book and start writing down you financial goals. Persistence and diligence works.

I was just having random thoughts today about life in general. The fact that as human beings we never appreciate what we have until we do not have it anymore. I have personally learned a lot in life. My life has been a myriad of trials but in all i have emerged . People tend to ask me how i do it, how i survive because left to them alone, they will not be able to cope with so much tragedy. I know for a fact, and i am convinced that the lord is with me and has set people in my path to help me and guide me along the way. I am who i am because the lord made me so. I am a fighter and i never give up, i struggle to find ways around problems. One thing i have learned in life is not to let problems overwhelm me. I simply take it a day at a time, and i do what i can at a particular time and not by societies standards.

VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN

In Canada, violence against women is taken very seriously by the law. Hence, social institutions are put in place to protect women and children. Violence against women and children is an issue that is very dear to members of the feminist movement and many women organizations. With all the social support systems put in place and laws against violence against women in Canada, women and children still suffer. However, the social, political and human rights record of the country attest to the prevention and promotion of women’s right. In the developing world however, violence against women is an everyday occurrence that men get away with. Violence against women comes in many forms such as verbal, psychological, as well as physical abuse. It can be noted that there are some sources that are the cause for violence against women. Foremost is patriarchy, then tradition, ten education and economic, not to say the least tradition and culture also influences the different roles between men and women. In Africa however physical abuse is so rampant between spouses that many people even when they know it is not right do not intervene until there is fatality. Just today, reading Ghana news on line, I came across the story of a young twenty –three year old mother of two being accused of the murder of her abusive husband. Over the years that she has been married, the relationship has been wrought with both verbal and physical abuse and the psychological abuse of sending her away from her matrimonial home when she was pregnant. In a case such as this, no one had the strong sense of purpose of intervening for the woman and promoting her rights as an individual; however, when tragedy struck the woman’s is at fault. As such, some are calling for women’s groups and interested women’s lawyers to represent this young, mother of three less she is further abused by a system that refused to help her.

Not to speak of such issues, I was privy to this experience when I recently visited my village in the Eastern region of Ghana. A married couple was having a fight, and the man was verbally and physically abusing the wife. Out of concern for the health and safety of the woman I had wanted to intervene in this issue. I asked of the background, how long has this been on going and the sanity of both partners. The woman was a drunk, and the husband hated it when the wife drank the hard liquor “akpeteshie” and lay drunk beyond her senses in front of their house. Foremost what came to mind was addiction. The woman was addicted to alcohol and there was no way they tried to understand the issue from a mental health perspective. Hence daily abuse that no one was willing to intervene as whom ever intervene become the subject of the couple’s anger.

One thing that I want to point out is that violence against women is not right. Previously there was the notion that when your boyfriend pounds on you, it mean he loves you so much. Some women seem to enjoy the affection after an abuse. It came to a point that some young women provoked their boyfriends to indicate that they loved them. It is rather unfortunate that violence had to be looked upon as a consequence of love.

The new generation of women and their definition of love and marriage are turning away the old ideology of love and violence that subjugated women and define women as either “punching bag”, sex toys or worthless members of society. Education and economic freedom, travel, among other things are changing the perspectives of the new generation in the cities. In the villages where education is very low and poverty is extreme, such behaviors and violence against women continue. Hence, the question becomes how do we stop this, how do we empower women in the rural areas to stand up for themselves. What is the best way of redefine violence as a negative form of relationship for these women? The multiplicity of Africa makes the work very difficult but doable with a lot of effort.