Top late Musicians from Ghana

Alex Konadu (1948 – 18 January 2011) was a Ghanaian singer-songwriter and guitarist who was known for his contribution to the Highlife tradition. Konadu sang in the Asante language Twi. He was nicknamed “One Man Thousand” for his ability to draw crowds wherever he appeared, and it is rumored that he performed in every single town …

Alhaji Kwabena Frimpong (died 18 October 2005) was a Ghanaian highlife singer. He is known for his hit song “Kyenkyen Bi Adi M’awu”, performed by K. Frimpong And His Cubano Fiestas. In the 1970s, he recorded with two different bands, with overlapping personnel. One was the Vis-A-Vis band, based in Kumasi and led by Isaac Yeboah. Their …

Priscilla Opoku-Kwarteng (16 February 1997 – 8 February 2018), known by her stage name Ebony Reigns, was a Ghanaian dancehall/Afrobeats artist known for her hit songs “Poison” and “Kupe”. She was discovered by Bullet from Ruff n Smooth. Early life and education Ebony Reigns was born Priscilla Opoku-Kwarteng, affably known as Nana Heemaa (Oheema) by her close relatives, in Dansoman, a suburb …

Guy Warren of Ghana, also known as Kofi Ghanaba (4 May 1923 – 22 December 2008), was a Ghanaian musician, most notable as the inventor of Afro-jazz — “the reuniting of African-American jazz with its African roots” — and as a member of The Tempos, alongside E. T. Mensah. He also inspired musicians such as Fela Kuti. …

Nana Tuffour (né James Kwaku Tuffour, 14 February 1954 – 15 June 2020), also known as 9-9-2-4, was a Ghanaian Highlife singer and songwriter. He is known for popular highlife songs such as Aketekyiwa, Abeiku and Owuo sei fie and had 15 albums to his credit. Life and career Nana Tuffour is a native of Kumasi. He started his musical career with …

Benjamin Paapa Kofi Yankson, known as Paapa Yankson (22 June 1944 – 21 July 2017) was a Ghanaian highlife singer, songwriter, and producer. He recorded two dozen albums during his career; his hit songs included “Wiase Mu Nsem”, “Show Your Love”, “Wo Yere Anaa Wo Maame”, and “Tena Menkyen”. He won multiple awards, including Best Composition …

Emmanuel Kofi Nyame, best known as E.K. Nyame (24 December 1927 – 19 January 1977), was regarded as one of the “godfathers” of modern Ghanaian highlife music. He was a Ghanaian composer, guitarist, founder of E.K. band and the Akan Trio. He is noted as the pioneer of highlife songs in Akan language on concert stages. Life E.K. Nyame …

Kwame Gyasi (1929–2012) was a Ghanaian highlife musician. He originated the Sikyi highlife sub-genre which combined electric organ with the known highlife genres. Early life and career Gyasi was born in 1929 at Ankaase in the Ashanti Region. His uncle taught him to play palmwine guitar highlife and the imported calypso music. He made his first recording …

Alfred Benjamin Crentsil (1943 – 13 July 2022) was a Ghanaian musician. He was one of the “big three” of contemporary Ghanaian vocalists. Crentsil won the Fontomfrom Evergreen Award, an honor bestowed upon a musician with 15–20 years of continuous music experience. He died on 13 July 2022. Family life Crentsil had eight children …

Kofi Boakye Yiadom (died February 2, 2020), known by his stage name Kofi B, was a Ghanaian highlife musician. He was known for songs such as “Mmobrowa”, “Bantama Kofi Boakye” and “Koforidua Flowers”, among others. He was inspired by the likes of Amakye Dede, Kojo Antwi and Ofori Amponsah. Education Kofi B attended Agogo State College in the Ashanti Region, but dropped …