If you ask anyone in Ghana to name a city or town that has produced more musicians or celebrities, Asante Akyem might not cross their mind.
For those of you who do not know where Asante-Akyem is, it is in the Ashanti Region and it is about 53 kilometres from Kumasi. Some of the popular towns in the area are Konongo, Juaso, Juansa, Agogo and Odumase.
The area is well known for the mining at Konongo, however, it has given Ghana some of the best Hip Life and High Life musicians.
The Italian striker, Mario Bawuah Balotelli’s biological parents are also from the area. Ghanaian football star, Sulley Ali Muntari also grew up in the area, as well as, other well-known people in Ghana.
If you are wondering who these celebrities are, then check out our list.
Amakye Dede – Agogo
The High Life legend was born at Agogo in 1958. In his song, Ohohuo Batani he talked about how poverty made him moved from the town to Kumasi and then relocating to Accra to seek greener pastures. He is currently the Okyeredomhene of the Agogo Traditional Area.
The singer is well known for hit songs such as Dabi dabi ebeye yie, Akoda wesoa, Iron boy, Su fre wo nyame, Ka nea m’aye, Odo da baabi, Akoma retwen wo, Handkerchief and others.
Ofori Amponsah – Agogo
Ofori Amponsah also burst onto the music scene when he and Daddy Lumba were recording songs together. The two legends in the early 2000s released Anti Atta and Wo ho kyere and made headlines with it before Amponsah went solo to become one of the most successful high life singers in Ghana. Samuel Ofori Amponsah was born at Agogo in 1974 and had his senior high school education at Konongo Odumase Senior High School. His hit tracks include Sardine, Obi boy, Otoolege, Emmanuella, Odwo, Damabi, Puduo, Lady, among others.
Sarkodie – Juaso
Sarkodie needs no introduction when it comes to music in Ghana and Africa. He is one of the successful and best rappers in Ghana. Born Michael Owusu Addo in Tema, the rapper comes from Juaso in Asante Akyem.
Although he mentions his birthplace most of the time in his songs, he also talks about his tribe, Asante. He has a song called Asanteni which is about his tribe.
In 2018, he was involved in an accident while heading to Agogo to perform. According to the report, he was with Amakye Dede when the incident happened.
Bullet (Ruff n Smooth) – Juaso
Bullet started his music career as part of the music duo, Ruff and Smooth with Ahkan. The duo’s Sex Machine, Azingele and Dance for me enjoyed much airplay before they both went their separate ways.
Bullet since then has become one of the best songwriters in the country. He first signed Ebony and wrote almost all the songs on her Bonified album. The album won the 2018 Vodafone Ghana Music Award Album of the year, the track Sponsor won Afro Pop song of the year and Ebony won Artiste of the Year. Sadly, Ebony died at the age of 20 on February 8, 2018. A week before her 21st birthday.
Kofi B – Agogo
Kofi Boakye Yiadom, popularly called Kofi B was a High Life singer who also hailed from Agogo. The singer was known for songs such as Mmobrowa, Bantama Kofi Boakye, Koforidua Flowers, Belinda, among others. The singer died on February 2 after suffering a heart attack.
Obour – Juaso
Former Musiga President, Obour is also another popular Ghanaian musician who hails from Asante Akyem. Born Bice Osei Kuffour in 1981, the rapper hails from Juaso and he is currently a New Patriotic Party Parliamentary aspirant for Asante-Akyem South constituency.
Before becoming the MUSIGA president, Obour was one of the top rappers in the country. His hit tracks include Atentenben, Konkontiba, Me so daye, and among others. He won five awards at the 2005 Ghana Music Awards.
Rebop Kwaku Baah – Konongo
Rebop Kwaku Baah was a Ghanaian percussionist who died at the age of 38 in Sweden in 1983. Baah was born in 1944 in Konongo.
Although he is not well known in his homeland, he worked with Randy Weston, Nick Drake and also performed in the all-star Eric Clapton’s Rainbow Concert. He was part of the English band Traffic and later joined the German band Can. Baah died of a cerebral haemorrhage during a performance in Stockholm where he was on tour with Jimmy Cliff. His last album, Melodies in a Jungle Man’s Head, was out in its unfinished state.
-The Post
