I would like to direct you to the blog "Bentleyfunk," which recently posted a copy of the African Brothers' album Tribute to D.K last week. This album has been on my mind recently, and I figured many readers might not be aware of its availability online. Founder of such Ghanaian record labels as Obobua, Aduana, and Happy Bird, D.K. Nyarko served as the producer of the African Brothers Band starting in 1967. This album was recorded after Mr. Nyarko's death, and features four subdued & emotional songs dedicated to him. Of particular note is the deep "Kyeremirekuku" and an unusual rendition of a traditional flute dirge played on the organ at the beginning of the third tack. Please enjoy this absolutely wonderful album.
African Brothers Band - Ma Me Nsu Ma Wo
D.K. Nyarko
Update: As Moos has kindly pointed out, the blog Bentleyfunk seems to no longer exist. I've uploaded the original download from this now defunct blog. Download Tribute to D.K. HERE.
According to several online sources, highlife musician Alex Konadu passed away some weeks ago on the eighteenth of this month. Below is an obituary written by George Ernest Asare, which may be found here.
Alex Kwabena Konadu, the man who hit the limelight in the late 1970’s with his brand of highlife songs such as Asaase Asa, Agya Ata Wuo, Aweie and Asem Bi Adi Bone has died. He died in Kumasi on January 18, 2011 at the age of 63.
Popularly known as One Man Thousand, Alex Konadu died at a time he and his bosom friend, Professor Kofi Abraham, had accepted an invitation to rock the Sunyani municipality with a highlife and gospel music concert at the end of January. Barely two weeks before the ‘D’ day, Konadu was taken ill, and with support from Kofi Abraham, he sought medical care at various health care institutions in Kumasi. Just as he was gradually recovering, he suddenly relapsed and was taken to Bomso Clinic in Kumasi by Kofi Abraham but as if to say that enough was enough, he gave up the ghost a few hours later.
“His death is a great loss to me. This is because he was more than a friend, and we have totally become inseparable over the years. We were a great pair at this stage of our lives, and did almost every thing together," a wet-eyed Prof Abraham told Showbiz. When asked to describe Kwabena Konadu, Professor Abraham said, “ he was in a class of his own in terms of highlife music. This is because he did not only use his music to comfort mourners at funeral grounds, but also succeeded in encouraging the downtrodden to appreciate their values in society. He also used highlife music to entertain all classes of people at drinking spots, festivals and marriage ceremonies among other programmes to make life more meaningful to them”.
Stressing, Professor Abraham noted, “What endeared him most to music lovers was his desire to entertain his fans by honouring all manner of programmes. He was down to earth, and easily socialized with all classes of people, so his death is a huge loss, not only to me, but many lovers of highlife music, especially our generation, who were completely consumed in highlife music” he said.
According to family sources, the ace highlife musician left behind a wife, Adwoa Fordjour, and 12 children.
Kakraba Lobi was one of Ghana's truly great gyil (xylophone) players, introducing musical innovations while working within traditional, "highlife," and "art music" styles. Recently I've enjoyed watching a short 10-minute film entitled "A Great Man Has Gone Out" by ethnomusicologist Brian Hogan, which documents Kakraba's 2007 funeral. Here we see some fantastic xylophone performances by such artists as Aaron Bebe, Hewale Sounds, SK (Kakraba's son), and others, while learning about the cultural context surrounding Ghanaian funerals and the complex gyil music of Northern Ghana. If you have ten minutes to spare, take a moment to watch this nice film all the way through. Watch it HERE
Kakraba Lobi - Funeral for an Old Man (aka Gandayina)
"A Great Man Has Gone Out: The Funeral of Kakraba Lobi" by Brian Hogan
