Nana Kwame Ampadu; The True King of Highlife Wasn't Celebrated Enough - Majority Leader
NPP Member of Parliament for Suame Constituency and majority leader, Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu, has said that the country has lost a very illustrious son who through his music took the country to the international market.
The Minister for Parliamentary Affairs said Nana Kwame Ampadu deserves commendation for his immense contribution to development of Mother Ghana.
But speaking on Okay FM's 'Ade Akye Abia' programme, he explained that he was not celebrated enough by the country.
His entry onto the Ghanaian highlife scene marked a watershed, he rejuvenated, repositioned, elevated and illuminated highlife music with the quality of the instrumentation that the African Brothers Band which he formed and led, and which included accomplished stars such as Eddie Donkor, Teacher Boateng, Joe Dee, Kwabena Osae, Ancient Awuah and Baba Tunde.
The composition, compactness and the lyrics of the masterpieces the group churned was simply incomparable.
According to him, the traditional wisdom and education contained sought to provide guidance and inspiration to both the young and old as in the pieces woven around various species in the animal kingdom:"Okwaduo", "Otwe Agyanka", "Apan Dankwa", "Article 104";
"Yaw Asante", "Aku Sika", "Okun pa ho yĕ na", "So mu gye w'adoa", Emilia", "Sĕ me hunu wo ntĕm a," "Agartha", "Sika Anibre", "Obiba Broke", "Yaw Berko", preached forthrightness and resilience in familial as well as other lifestyles.
"Gyama wosuro", "Yerewe nsa a," "Sensam", "Sakatumbe", express the versatility and contemporariness of the Odwontofuohene.
"Mother", Obre twa Owuo", "Mensu bio, Amoako", "DK Nyarko" was Ampadu and African Brothers in mournful mood.
Eulogizing the king of hilife, he maintained that though that voice has been silenced by death, Nana Ampadu's music, his penetrating voice, his tongue and extraordinary persona would live after him.
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