*Jide Ogbola and Harmony Blenders
In its pure, classical form, Highlife music is traditionally more concert-oriented than outright party-driven. While its layered polyrhythms and melodic richness naturally invite movement, it has often been appreciated more for listening than for sustained dance-floor frenzy.
Enter Jide Ogbola—a bold innovator who has delightfully upended this convention.
With his ensemble, Harmony Blenders, Ogbola has re-engineered Highlife into a fully immersive celebratory experience. Their performances are so complete that one scarcely misses the familiar attractions of a Jùjú band—its praise-singing and celebrant eulogies—or the relentless percussive propulsion of Fuji music. Ogbola’s brilliance lies in a refined act of musical synthesis: he absorbs these popular elements into a Highlife framework without diluting its harmonic sophistication or melodic identity. The result is what I describe as “Tungba Highlife”—a vibrant, dance-forward subgenre that remains unmistakably rooted in classic Highlife tradition.
One of Harmony Blenders’ most impressive technical strengths is their command of seamless musical transitions. Songs flow effortlessly into one another, even when drawn from different composers and regions. There are no jarring pauses or awkward breaks—only a continuous, evolving soundscape that keeps the audience engaged from start to finish.
Equally compelling is the band’s use of “Efe”, a Yoruba performance aesthetic characterized by playful banter, light teasing, call-and-response, and spontaneous humor woven directly into the music. This interactive layer transforms the performance into a shared social experience, reinforcing music’s timeless role as a tool for relaxation, bonding, and communal joy.
Ogbola’s confident stage presence, combined with Harmony Blenders’ expansive repertoire—spanning Lagos, Ondo, Ibadan, Port Harcourt, Calabar, and Ghana—marks them as both custodians and innovators of the Highlife tradition. This geographic and stylistic breadth ensures that Highlife not only survives but thrives, remaining firmly on the front burner of contemporary Nigerian music for generations to come.
For these reasons, I wholeheartedly recommend Harmony Blenders for both social and corporate engagements. On a personal note, their music possesses a rare duality: it is at once energizing and soothing. During my morning walks, their recordings serve as rhythmic companions—warding off fatigue and enriching the entire experience.
Kudos, Jide Ogbola. You have not merely preserved Highlife; you have given it fresh legs for the dance floor.
*Osezua Stephen-Imobhio is a
Singer & Music Critic
