highlife

[ hahy-lahyf ]

noun

1. an expensive, glamorous, or elegant style of living.

highlife

/ ˈhaɪˌlaɪf /

noun

1. 1. a style of music combining West African elements with US jazz forms, found esp in the cities of West Africa
   2. ( as modifier )

      a highlife band

Word History and Origins

Origin of highlife¹

First recorded in 1755–65; high + life

Example Sentences

She features in his recently released remix of Joromi, a classic tune by the late Nigerian highlife artist Sir Victor Uwaifo.

From BBC

In the earlier hours, when people bring babies or stop in after work, it’s Ghanaian highlife — “oldies … like from my childhood,” Fahnbulleh said — and as the night goes on, the music segues into Afrobeats.

From Seattle Times

My mum's from Ghana and I grew up on highlife music and Afrobeats.

From BBC

Her songs are mostly in Bambara, which she sings over tightly riveted rhythms drawn from the Wassoulou region of Mali or the highlife tradition of Ghana.

From New York Times

Fela and his drummer Tony Allen formed a movement when they fused funk and jazz with Ghanaian highlife, traditional Yoruba music and conscious lyrics.

From BBC