AGOO!

Dear Live Bandstand fan, 

Thanks for visiting our blog which has been inspired by the good works of a Ghana based Specialized Video Production Organization known as LAUD TV.

The GHANA FRESH AIR-LIVE BANDSTAND is a fresh perspective through research into Ghana's popular live band performing arts in action and an effort to document our history.

Thanks to LAUD TV and others who have inspired this project, we will share links to the original videos so that by clicking on them, it will take you to Youtube.  Please Subscribe, Like them and write comments when you visit the original space.

In documenting the live bands, the TV stations not only showcase the bands but gives us a deeper look into Ghana's life cycle as well as other contexts in which music is an integral part of it.   Music making is a communal affair in Ghana where the musicians and the audience are equally important. Music is used in recreation, therapy, healing and deliverance, education, community festivals, political events as well as sorrow occasions.  

Of all the contexts for live bandstand music, the most well participated and opened to everybody without gate fee is the one associated with death.   Music at such events highlight  death ceremonies, rituals and  sympathy entertainment.  It also throws light into the communities celebrating the good lives of the departed one, avenues for stress relieve, family reunion, classmates reunion, meeting of cultural expectations, and a model for future obituary celebrations.

It also shows the cultural stories of our people and the inspirations for creating and making music. The videos are also an introduction to Ghana's rich culture in funeral celebrations, awareness creation of existence of those live bands for future engagements and a source of employment for the bandsmen.  

The master artists showcased in most of the time, is also an indirect learning experience for the new crop of highlife and hiplife singers on how to create timeless tunes/music that mirrors the good/bad of the society.  Though most of the music performed are Yaako tunes ( Funeral related songs), it sheds light into our cultural beliefs, expectations,obligations and the motivation for good lives.

These videos are what we called HIGHLIFE ALIVE, archiving and preserving Ghana's rich highlife music with a focus on Yaako genre.

Congratulations to all the original Video producers. Please support their works.

GHANA FRESH AIR- LIVE BANDSTAND RESEARCH TEAM

SUNYANI MILITARY BAND

KOFI B X ACKAH BLAY AND ABANKORO

NANA TABIRI @ DORMAA AHENKRO