By:Kenneth Appiah Bani
Veteran Ghanaian highlife musician Gyedu-Blay Ambolley has once again sparked global debate over the origins of rap, insisting that he pioneered the genre years before it gained international recognition.
Appearing on Joy Prime’s Prime Time with George Quaye, the music icon revealed that by the time Guinness World Records officially documented rap’s emergence, he had already recorded and released a track that incorporated rap elements.
“By the time Guinness World Records says rap was introduced, I had already dropped a song with rap in it,” Ambolley said.
Ambolley, whose groundbreaking 1973 release Simigwa blended spoken word and rhythm into Ghana’s highlife tradition, is often credited as a musical innovator who introduced a rap-like delivery decades ahead of its global mainstream breakthrough. His style combined African storytelling with percussive vocal patterns, laying a foundation that, he argues, deserves recognition as the true genesis of rap music.
Over the years, Ambolley has consistently defended his role in shaping the global music scene, stressing that Ghana’s contributions extend beyond highlife to the early development of rap. His claim challenges conventional narratives that place rap’s origin solely in the Bronx, New York, during the late 1970s.
As conversations about the roots of rap continue, Ambolley’s assertion underscores Africa’s profound influence on contemporary music. By situating Ghana at the heart of rap’s history, he reinforces the argument that African creativity has long been central to shaping some of the world’s most celebrated genres.
With this latest revelation, Ambolley strengthens his call for greater acknowledgment of African pioneers whose innovations transformed global music culture.
📹 video credit: joyprime
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