Amakye Dede - Museke African artistes
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Dan Amakye Dede is one of Ghana's premier highlife artistes and is affectionately called 'Iron Boy' and is also known as the highlife maestro. He is also affectionately called 'Abrantie' (Gentleman).
Amakye Dede began his career in 1973 when he joined the Kumapim Royals as a composer and vocalist. This band was led by the legendary highlife singer, Akwasi Ampofo Agyei (AAA) of blessed memory. With them, they had hits like Abebi Bewua Eso, Wanware Me A, Odo Mani Agyina and the seminal Ohohoo Batani. He moved to Nigeria where he had his hit 'Jealousy go shame'. He then formed his own band, the Apollo High Kings, in 1980. He dominated the highlife scene in the 80's, 90's and continues to have hit songs in the 21st century.
He has almost 20 albums to his credit. In his later career, he experimented with different genres; soca, Cclypso, lovers rock and pop music.
He owns a very popular bar in Accra called Abrantee Spot, where he helps celebrate live-band music.
Some of his popular songs include Handkerchief, Seniwa, Brebrebe yi, Mensuro, Mabre, Broken Promises, Nsuo Amuna, Sokoo na mmaa pe, Kose kose, Dabi dabi, Mefre wo, Okyena sesei, Odo nfonii, Nka akyi, M'ani agyina, To be a man na war, etc
Song lyrics
Iron boy (1997)
Iron boy
Adukuro mu nsuo (1999)
Adukuro mu nsuo
Krokro me (2004)
Odo ho akyere no a
HEY MY BRODA OR SISTA THIS CD KROKRO ME BY AMAKYE DEDE WAS NOT MADE 2005 IT WAS MADE IN 2004 DEDICATED TO HIS BIG BROTHER AKWASI AMPOFO AGYEI WHO DIED THE SAME YEAR THE CD KROKRO ME CAME OUT SO PLEASE FIX THE DATE FOR 2004. PEACE AND MAY JAH BLESS.
Mr. Abrantie, was this album in 2004 or 2006? stop confusing us. Amakye Dede's music is great, he is a true highlife king and it was nice of him to dedicate the album to Akwasi Ampofo Agyei who was another highlife legend
I KNOW WHAT I AM TALKING AND I NOT TRYING TO CONFUSE YOU OR ANYBODY ELSE. A FRIEND OF MINE WHO OWNS A CD STORE IN NEW YORK GOT THIS CD IN 2004. SO THE CD WAS TRULY MADE IN THE LATE PART OF 2004 THE SAME TIME AMAKYE'S BIG BROTHER AKWASI AMPOFO AGYEI DIED. SO I NO TELL U LIE. ME NO CONFUSE U OR ANYBODY ELSE.
Mr. Abrantie, I hear you. I guess the webmaster would make the correction
thanks for the correction Mr. Abrantie. I know Amakye Dede is popularly called Abrantie too. It was great of him to dedicate the album to Mr. AAA (Akwasi Ampofo Adjei). I really love Odo ho akyere no a and other songs like Sokoo, Bebrebe yi, and Okyena Sesee. I've also been to his Abrantie spot and it indeed celebrates highlife and even is a club/spot for the more young crowds. Iron Boy is also a savvy businessman :-)
I was recently introduced to a High Life music and keep hearing the term "KroKro". What does it mean(English translation)?
Ian
Krɔkrɔ means pamper (as is used in many highlife - love- songs)
Amakye Dede's album Krɔkrɔ me means pamper me. (spoil, indulge, etc)
Who are your favorite highlife singers, Ian?
Thank you Chale. I can now impress my Sierra Leone friend who is educating me on West African music.
The ones I enjoyed the most are Daddy Lumba, and Emmerson, even though Emmerson may not be true Highlife.
From the comments on this site I imagine Amakye Dede is an artist worth searching out. If there are others - highlife and classical African instrumental - you can point me in the right direction.
Nice, impress upon him and let's know who are the other big musicians from Sierra Leone other than Emmerson who we have here.
You can check other highlife heavyweights like Kojo Antwi, Paapa Yankson and Nana Tuffour.
Thanks for the links. I'll surely check them all.
If you like Caribbean music I can recommend www.panonthenet.com for pan music from around the world. When there look on the left for "Click here to start pan radio" for approx 90 minutes of on-demand music.
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