The West African Highlife Ensemble, the only academic group in the country to specialize in Ghana's unique musical genre, will perform this month in its annual concert at the University of Colorado at Boulder.
The seventh annual African Highlife Concert will take place at 7:30 p.m. Saturday, April 21, at Macky Auditorium.
Ghana's West African Percussion Trio will appear as special guests during the concert. Members of the trio have been performing and working with CU-Boulder music students since late February, said Kwasi Ampene, an associate professor of musicology and director of the West African Highlife Ensemble.
Ampene said his ensemble, which includes some 30 students of all majors and walks of life, is the only one of its kind in the United States. The high-energy dance music features group singing, dancing and performances on traditional West African drums, gourds and other instruments.
"It's such a joy that, through our performances, we are able to create goodwill between Colorado and the African continent," Ampene said. "For the past six years we have built a huge following in Colorado."
In addition to teaching students about African and African-American music, Ampene directs the CU Summer Program in Ghana, which enables students to take summer classes at the International Center for African Music and Dance at the University of Ghana in Legon, a suburb near the capital city of Accra. The program focuses on West African music, culture and history.
For more information about the CU Summer Program in Ghana visit spot.colorado.edu/%7Eampene/.
Ticket prices for the African Highlife Concert range from $10 to $30. CU-Boulder students with BuffOne cards will be able to buy tickets for $5, and faculty and staff with the cards will get a 30 percent discount. Discounts also will be available for seniors, youths and groups.
Tickets are on sale now and can be ordered by calling the CU Concerts Box Office at (303) 492-8008 or by clicking on the "events" link at the College of Music Web site at www.colorado.edu/music/.
