By Rachel Kakraba
A final funeral and burial rites took place at Obo Kwahu, on Saturday, 8th October 2022, in the Eastern Region for the Legendary Highlife Musician, Nana Kwame Ampadu.
Nana Kwame Ampadu, one of the illustrious icons of Ghana, contributed immensely to the Creative Arts industry. He travelled the world over and through his music projected the country’s name on the global map.
He was admired by many as a Master lyricist for great compositions.
He was born Patrick Kwame Ampadu, in Obo Kwahu, on March 31, 1945, to Opanin Kwame Ampadu, and Madam Mercy Afua Ntiriwaa. He started his early education at the Obo Roman Catholic Primary School and his elementary school at Obo Anglican Middle Boys School where his teachers took delight in his cute figure. Kwame Ampadu’s music career started in 1963 at the Park Cinema in Accra. He later became widely known as Nana Kwame Ampadu. He was the founder of the famous African Brothers Band, and rose to national prominence in 1967 with his song Ebi Te Yie, literally meaning some are living well. It was a song speculated to be politically motivated. An assertion Nana Kwame Ampadu had always dismissed. His music entertained and offered moral advice, which shaped lives and gave more meaning to the cultural identity of Ghanaians.
Nana Kwame Ampadu is credited with numerous hit songs, including Oman Bo Adwo, Kofi Nkrabea, Yaw Berko, Agartha, Akusika, driver adwuma and Obra among others.
Contribution to music industry
You ought not to have been born in the 60s to enjoy his music. The beat, lyrics, soothing tone and showmanship spoke volumes and enjoyed by many regardless of age. His music entertained and offered moral advice, which shaped lives and gave more meaning to the cultural identity of Ghanaians. Nana Kwame Ampadu is credited with numerous hit songs, including Oman Bo Adwo, Kofi Nkrabea, Yaw Berko, Agartha, Akusika, driver adwuma and Obra among others.
Minister of Creative Arts, Mohammed Awal, is much aware of the pillar the highlife industry has lost.
“It’s obvious his life over the earth, Nana Ampadu was a great icon not just to Ghana, but to the rest of the world his song touched on every subject that mattered and the country has lost an illustrious person in terms of creative Arts. The lyrics had a lot of meaning, it had profound advice for young people, even for the elderly.”
Being an event organizer, Deputy Creative Arts Minister, Mark Okraku Mantey, says the music legend was a unifier.
“We grew up on his music, you saw your mother, your father seeing him as a great performer, a great writer, a story teller and so it was a privilege to meet Nana Ampadu. As an event organizer I did a lot of events with him, he was very professional, he would always bring people together when people wanted to disperse.”
Family
Although his career made him a national asset, he had time for his family.
According to his widow Joyce Frimpong, Nana Kwame Ampadu’s death is a great loss.
“It will take a whole day for me to speak about Nana Kwame Ampadu. He is really God sent and unique. I do not remember our fight or anger. One thing that he has left me with is reading of the Bible.”
The son Anthony Amoah Ampadu, is also into music but says he was unable to learn the nitty-gritties of the profession from the father.
“While staying with him and growing up, I developed interest in singing. However, I went to work with a radio station and so there was a gap between us. Although, I stopped doing radio in 2013, and went back to him to learn the craft of singing, he left too early for me to learn all the secret of the job.”
Nana Kwame Ampadu was equally rewarded for his contribution to the music industry. But, like the proverbial Oliver Twist that will ask for more, it will not be out of place to ask that a National Music Museum be built in the name of this legendary and music icon whose immeasurable contribution has seen growth of the Ghanaian music industry.
State burial
At a state burial held for him on Friday, October 7, 2022, at the Forecourt of the State House, President Akufo-Addo paid glowing tribute to the Legendary Highlife Musician, Nana Kwame Ampadu, for his contribution to the Ghanaian music industry. He said his death is not only a blow to Ghana, but the world, as his music transcended boundaries. President Akufo-Addo, described him as an icon who will be missed dearly.
“Talk of the commencement and growth of highlife music, and one of the people whose name would be on the lips of every Ghanaian would be Nana Kwame Ampadu. Indeed, the outpouring of grief by many Ghanaians following the news of his death is an appreciation of the impact his music had on successive generations of Ghanaians.”
“He was one of Ghana’s musical icons and undoubtedly, a legendary highlife artiste whose music transcended our national borders,” president Akufo Addo added.
President Akufo-Addo said Nana Ampadu believed in his vision of transforming Ghana and supported him. He expressed profound condolences to the bereaved family.
“Nana Ampadu believed in my vision for transformation of Ghana and assisted me tremendously on campaign trail in the run-up to the victory of my party, the New Patriotic Party and myself in the elections of 2016, for which we remain eternally grateful.”
In a sermon, the Founder and Leader of Living with Christ Ministry, where Nana Ampadu worshiped, Bishop Samuel Bediako, noted that Nana Ampadu was someone who valued his name. He said as an Evangelist, Nana Ampadu exhibited exceptional leadership qualities and remained truthful regardless of the situation. Bishop Bediako encouraged men of God to desist from spreading untruth.
In their tribute, the Musicians Union of Ghana (MUSIGA) were full of praise to the late Nana Kwame Ampadu for his immense contribution to the growth of the union over the years especially his role in the establishment of the Ageing Musicians Trust Fund.
Some members of the Obra Drama group, including madam Grace Omaboe (Maame Dokon) David Dontoh, Adjoa Smart etc. attended the service.
Obra is a popular TV drama series shown on GTV which adopted one of Nana Ampadu’s songs “Obra” as its theme song.
There was a wreath laid by the Government and People of Ghana, the widow, children, family, church, MUSIGA and traditional authorities.
Other dignitaries present at the state funeral were Chief of Staff, Akosua Frema Osei Opare; former First Lady, Nana Konadu Agyeman-Rawlings; Speaker of Parliament, Alban Bagbin; Ministers of State, Members of Parliament and the Clergy.
