Rex Jim Lawson Highlife Conference kicks off in Port Harcourt, Nigeria.

The 1st Rex Jim Lawson International Conference on Highlife Music kicked off yesterday 21 January 2015, at the University of Port Harcourt, Port Harcourt, Nigeria. The theme of the conference being 'Highlife Music in West Africa- Retrospects and Prospects'. 

A formidable line-up of expert speakers were gathered from across West Africa, notably respected Nigerian veteran Journalist, Broadcaster and Music in Africa contributor, Benson Idonije, who delivered the keynote paper. Others included another friend of Music in Africa, Professor John Collins, of the University of Ghana Legon, as well, Professor Tunji Vidal of the Lagos State University, Nigeria and Professor Mark Levine of the University of California, Irvine, USA,

Sub-theme's of the conference include: Origin(s) and Historical Development of Highlife Music; Highlife Music, Cultural Identity and Nationalism. Styles and Performance Practices in Highlife Music. Linguistic and Philosophical Frameworks in Highlife Music; Socio-Political Influences on/of Highlife Music; Gender Imperatives in Highlife Music; Highlife Music. Peace building and Conflict Resolution; Technological Impacts on Contemporary Highlife Music, amongst many others.

Highlife Music for those unaware is a uniquely West African musical genre, with its origins, in the Traditional Palmwine Guitar style, which evolved over time, with the Infusion of Big Band and Combo elements. A more detailed study of Highlife Music is provided by Music in Africa's overview article written by renowned Music Historian, Uchenna Ikonne, titled 'Highlife in West Africa'. Additionally, the late Cardinal Rex Jim Lawson, a Trumpeter,  was one of Nigeria's foremost Highlife composers and Bandleaders. Lawson was unquely faithful to the pan-West African origins of Highlife, by performing and recording in diverse languages from across the sub-continent. His songs, 'Oko' and 'Mama dey for Kumba' being of Cameroonian origins, whilst his classic 'Jolly Papa' being in the Akan language of Ghana..

The conference shall conclude on Friday 23 January 2015.