Ghana on Music Theory Print

Ephraim Amu

Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000

Ephraim Kɔku Amu (13 September 1899 – 2 January 1995) was a Ghanaian composer, musicologist and teacher. He was a mentor to the musicologist J. H. Kwabena Nketia. Biography Early life and education He was born on 13 September 1899 at Peki-Avetile (also called Abenase) in the Peki Traditional Area of the Volta Region and as a male child born on a Wednesday was called Kɔku. His father was Stephen Amuyaa, a wood carver who was popularly called Papa Stefano. His mother was Sarah Akoram Ama. Ephraim Kɔku Amu was baptised by the Rev. Rudolf Mallet on 22 October 1899. Amu first went to school in May 1906 and at about age 12 he entered the Peki-Blengo E.P. Boarding Middle School, where he showed much interest and love for music and agriculture. According to him, he enjoyed the music played during church collections when the music teacher, Mr Karl Theodore Ntem, played soul-moving renditions on the organ. Amu and his music teacher struck a mutual agreement whereby Amu requested to be taught the skills of organ playing and in return Mr Ntem asked him to work on his farm on Saturdays. In 1915, Amu passed the standard 7 School Leaving Certificate examination and also passed the Abetifi Teacher

Gafacci

Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000

Michael Dela Gafatchi, better known by the stage name Gafacci, is a Ghanaian music producer, disc jockey, and songwriter. Early life Gafacci attended Accra Academy for his senior high school education. He developed his interest for music in High School. In September 2009, Gafacci got introduced to beatmaking by a friend. He has production credits for Sarkodie, D-Black, Ice Prince and others. Production career He produced BET Cypher Ghana 2010 featuring artists like Tinny, Sarkodie, Edem, Kweku T, Reggie Rockstone, and Baby G. He has worked with so many artists in and outside Ghana. He produced/composed and co-wrote Dee-Moneey’s hit single “Kpokpo O Body”. Gafacci started JOWAA project with French-American Dj Bbrave. Since then he has graced stages as jowaa at ABC Festival (Burkina Faso), Chale Wote Street Art Festival (Ghana), Sabolai Festival (Ghana), Asabaako Festival (Ghana), Nyege Nyege Festival (Uganda), Oslo World Music Festival (Norway) and toured Europe in 2017. Production Discography References

Ivan Beatz

Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000

Ivan Beatz is a Ghanaian record producer, DJ, and composer from the Central part of Ghana. Afro-pop, Hip hop, Afrobeats, R&B, Rock, Hiplife, Fuji, and Highlife are some of his specialties. Ivan has produced songs for a diverse range of artists, including Kwame Eugene, Bisa Kdei, Medikal, Amerado, Flowking Stone, Kwaw Kese, Sista Afia, Kelvyn Boy, Strongman, Fameye, MzVee, LAX, Feli nuna, Deon Boakye, Ayesem, Eye Judah, Opanka, Kurl Songz, Kingskid, Ras Kuku, French kiss DJ, and Eazzy. In 2021, he was nominated for the Global Music Awards Africa in the “Producer of the Year” together with Mr Jassiq (South Africa), KillBeatz (Ghana), Scarfboy (Nigeria), MOG Beatz (Ghana), Dave Da Music Box (Ghana), Spon Key (Ghana) and Vinny Kay (Ghana). Early life and career He started deejaying when he was a youngster and had some success. His interest in music began when he was a child, and his excitement has grown since then. He taught himself to play the keyboard, drums, and mastered Fruity Loops and other music production software applications at an early age. In 2014, he began professional music production and rose to prominence after creating “Cassanova” by French kiss DJ, which featured MzVe

Jay Q

Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000

Jeff Tennyson Quaye (born on December 24 in Osu), professionally known by his stage name Jay Q, is a Ghanaian musician, record producer, record executive, sound engineer, songwriter and keyboardist. He is the founder and current CEO of Q-Lex Entertainment and Jay-Qlex Recording Studio. He has produced albums for and overseen the careers of many musicians, including Buk Bak, VIP, Castro, Mzbel, Obrafour, Daddy Lumba, Nana Acheampong, Ofori Amponsah, Akosua Agyapong, Obuoba J. A. Adofo, Wulomei, and others. As a producer, Jay Q is credited as a key figure in the popularization of Hiplife, Highlife and Gospel. He introduced Jama (kpanlogo) into Hiplife, which became laudable and was accepted in Ghana, Africa and the rest of the world. In 2003, Jay Q won an award for Best Sound Engineer in Ghana. Early life Jay Q was born and raised in Accra, Ghana, by Jeff Tennyson Quaye (snr) and Miss Comfort Adjin-Tettey. His church, Emmanuel Assemblies Of God, sponsored his keyboard studies at the Oriental School Of Music (Adabraka, Accra). He later joined Resurrection Power and Living Bread Ministries and met Fred Kyei Mensah (Fredyma Studio), who taught him music programming and introduced him to

Kenneth Kafui

Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000

Kenneth Kwaku Avotri Kafui (July 25, 1951 – March 18, 2020) was a Ghanaian composer. He was a lecturer in music theory and composition at the music department of the University of Ghana, Legon. He was also the Director of Abibigromma Theatre Group of the University of Ghana. Born into a musical family, he was considered one of the leading composers of his generation in Ghana, in African art music. He composed choral works, works for choir and orchestra, symphonic works, piano and organ works, and works for traditional African instruments. He created new concepts and genres in African art music such as the Pentanata, the HD-3 form and Drumnata. Career He taught at Achimota school and was popular with the students. Following graduation, Kafui joined the university faculty as a teaching assistant in the department of music. The following year, he became a senior research assistant. See also *N. Z. Nayo

Laxio Beats

Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000

Bernard Antwi-Darko, better known as Laxio Beats, is a Ghanaian record producer and composer. He is best known for the production of Ghanaian rapper Guru’s hit single akayida in 2013. Early life, music career Laxio Beats, the youngest of seven siblings, was born February 28, 1987, at Kumasi. He started his music career as the entertainment prefect for his high school. In 2013 he produce “akayida”, which won the 2014 Ghana music awards for hiplife song of the year. Production credits * Geesus – “Kisses for Breakfast” ft Stonebwoy *Phootprintz – “Forgetti” ft Laxio Beats *TicTac – “Don’t Let Go” *Revy – “Prepaid” *Guru – “Akayida” *Criss Waddle – “Girls Abr3” *Just-Ice – “Hold It” *Echo – “Akuaba” *Rebbel Ashes and Ajoejoe – “Mene Woa” *Akoo Nana – “Nahna Nahna” *Preachers – “Meyi W’aye” *Keche – “Body Lotion” *Bisa Kdeix Sarkodiex phootprintz – “Jackie Appiah” *Iyanya – “Don’t Fear” *Jeff Spain – “Higher” References

M3NSA

Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000

Mensa Ansah, better known as M3NSA is a British Ghanaian producer, composer, rapper, singer and filmmaker. Early life M3NSA was born in 1981 at Accra, Ghana. He is the third son of Tumi Ebo Ansah, formerly a member of the Afro pop group, Osibisa. Musical career M3NSA began as a member of The Lifeline Family. A group he founded and worked with as a rapper. After the group was disbanded, he ventured music production and begun producing music for Reggie Rockstone. *2011 - Coz Ov Moni - The Kweku Ananse Remix EP - EP *2011 - Coz Ov Moni - The DJ Juls Dw3t3i Remixes - EP *2011 - FOKN Dunaquest in Budapest - EP *2012 - FOKN Dunaquest in Budapest Remixes - EP *2012 - FOKN Wit Ewe - Album *2013 - Coz Ov Moni 2 (FOKN Revenge) OS - Movie Soundtrack *2016 - FOKN Ode to Ghana *2019 - Afrobeats LOL Personal life M3NSA is a nephew to Kwaw Ansah, a film director, and Kofi Ansah, a fashion designer. He is also a cousin to the actor Joey Ansah. References

Magnom

Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000

Joseph Bulley, known professionally as Magnom, is a Ghanaian record producer and recording artist, who produces music ranging from Hiphop, dancehall, and Afrobeats. He gained the attention of Ghanaians after he produced the song “illuminati” with Ghanaian BET award winner Sarkodie. Early life Magnom grew up around a dad who listened to all genres of music, which helped him in his love for music. He started out as a rapper in a group with fellow rapper Asem, but he quit rap for record production. During that period he came across a Digital Audio Workstation and realised he could actually create music with it. Magnom attended Christ The King for his junior high school education. He had his secondary education at St. Peters Senior High School and later obtained his Bachelor of Arts (BA) degree from the University of Ghana, Legon where he studied psychology, linguistics and religion. Career Magnom started working professionally while he was in the university and through working with Asem he later got introduced to other mainstream artistes in Ghana. Since then he has worked with several top artistes such as Sarkodie, VVIP, Samini, Edem, Raquel, Guru, 2face Idibia, Shaker, Flowking Ston

Philip Gbeho

Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000

Philip Comi Gbeho (14 January 1904 – 24 September 1976) was a Ghanaian musician, composer and teacher. He was instrumental in the establishment of the Arts Council of Ghana and was a director of music and conductor of the National Symphony Orchestra in Ghana. However, he is probably best known as the composer of the musical arrangement for Ghana’s National Anthem. Gbeho grew up in the southeastern town of Keta where he learned to play the organ at school and was a pupil organist. He furthered his musical education at teacher training college. In addition to teaching, he became an organist at the local cathedral where he founded a leading choir and started a small school of music to prepare students for external music exams. He received scholarships to study at the Trinity College of Music in London, where he held lectures, led a dance troupe, and became a regular broadcaster on the BBC overseas radio programmes. On his return to the Gold Coast, he embarked on a campaign to popularise indigenous music. He was a strong advocate for the establishment of an Arts Council and the building of a National Theatre. He was also the leading force behind the creation of a National Symphony Orch

Zapp Mallet

Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000

Emmanuel Mallet popularly known as Zapp Mallet is a veteran Ghanaian recording engineer and a record producer. He is recognized as one of the pioneers of the hiplife genre that started in the early 1990s in Ghana. He is also recognized as the only recording engineer to have won the Ghana Music Awards on three consecutive occasions; 1999, 2000, 2001. Early life and education Zapp was born in Accra, Ghana. He had his secondary education at the Accra Academy from 1975 to 1982. He continued to the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi where he studied publishing skills for his bachelor’s degree. Some of Zapp’s earliest experiences in music were during his secondary school days when he played drums for the Accra Academy school band. At university level, he was able to add playing of the guitar and bass guitar to his art. He subsequently featured for various Christian groups with his art in Accra and Kumasi. Career Zapp begun recording in various studios before establishing his own studio and company; Title Track Productions Limited. He first started recording at the ARC Studios in Tema, he moved to the C.H.M Studio in Accra and later moved to Kampsite. Prior to owni