Music
Landmark
Gyedu-Blay Ambolley
born 1947
Invented simigwa, and rapped over highlife before rap had a name
Landmark is level 2 of 5 in the Ghana Hall of Fame: a first, or the pre-eminent figure of their generation in this country. See how the levels work.
Why they are here
The first musician in Ghana — arguably anywhere — to put rap forms over local rhythms, and the creator of the simigwa genre.
Gyedu-Blay Ambolley is a Ghanaian highlife musician, songwriter, producer and composer.
He was the first musician from Ghana to formally incorporate rap forms into local highlife rhythms, and created the genre he named simigwa.
He was the first musician from Ghana to formally incorporate rap forms into local highlife rhythms, and created the genre he named simigwa.
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