S-E-R-I-O-U-S Business: Abrantie Amakye Dede zooms into action with his chief violinist

Amakye Dede

….the ‘Iron Boy’ is the next legend for celebration

By James Harry Obeng

So admits Shakespeare, the celebrated playwright and poet: “Some are born great, some achieve greatness, and some have greatness thrust upon them!”

Indeed, the story of veteran Highlife musician ‘Abrantie’ Amakye Dede remains a sensational account of determination, talent and industry crowned with greatness. He may not have been born great, but he is today one of the greatest, if not the finest, in the country’s entertainment history.

With an accomplished career that spans over three decades, Amakye Dede’s artistry has been decorated with multiple enviable awards and honours from across the globe. This, to a large extent, accounts for why his name needs no introduction anytime it is mentioned.

Fact is that, among the young and old generations of Highlife music enthusiasts, home and abroad, Amakye Dede is one artiste who courts fame, attention, goodwill and patronage without much compare.

His terrific live-band showmanship and the bravura to deliver unadulterated Highlife music are what even fascinate the more, for which reason he wears the singular accolade S-E-R-I-O-U-S on the local music scene.

Undeniably, he is a serious music-man who never messes about; a legend who needs celebration by home, country and peers! No wonder he is the next Ghanaian musician slated for celebration this year.

With about 22 albums to his credit, Amakye Dede has been identified by the Accra-based Imajin Advertising as the Ghanaian music legend for this year’s prestigious LEGENDS AND LEGACY BALL (LLB). The first to be celebrated at the maiden event held on November 12, last year, was Charles Kwadwo Fosu, popularly known as Daddy Lumba.

Now, the attention is on Amakye Dede who will take to the stage at the main auditorium of the Accra International Conference Centre (AICC) on Saturday, September 15, and perform most of his lifetime repertoire of songs.

There will, as usual, be additional performances by other musicians who will all, one after the other, pour onto the stage to deliver songs originally done by Amakye Dede.

Already, the organizers have named artistes such as Rebecca Akosua Acheampong (Becca), Kwame Nsiah Apau (Okyeame Kwame), Daasebre Dwamena, Nacy, Samini, Kwabena Kwabena, Eazzy, Steve Bedie and several other performers for the night.

Also, Ivorian superstar, Freddie Meiway – who happens to be a personal friend of Amakye Dede – will also be at the AICC to celebrate Amakye Dede.

A major highlight that made last year’s event a memorable one was the surprise attendance of the country’s two ex-presidents, John Agyekum Kufuor and Jerry John Rawlings. One of the high point of the event – which is quite a departure from the normal musical concerts – was when President Kufuor took to the dance-floor with Nana Konadu Agyemang Rawlings, a former First Lady and spouse of ex-President Rawlings.

This development captured the frontpages of major newspaper across the country, all because of the mere fact that many Ghanaians had, before the event, seen the two ex-presidents as not seeing eye-to-eye.

But with the power of music, the supposed wedge was broken, paving a way for a renewed cohesion between supporters of the two political powerhouses! This year too, the organizers – Imajin Advertising – are promising other surprise guests dignitaries who will make the night a memorable one.

In an interview with Kojo Rana, the Events Manager of Imajin Advertising, Amakye Dede has been selected as the legend for celebration this year because, “he meets all the requirements and objectives for which the LAL Ball has been instituted.”

He expantiated on the objectives: “The Legends and Legacy Ball is an event which seeks to celebrate the achievement and legacies of our living music legends. This concept is to stir up the passion of the young and upcoming musicians to work hard to attain the success that the legends have attained.

“We also use it to afford the younger generation of artistes the opportunity to showcase their unique talents and thereby vend themselves to many other inherent opportunities,” he explained.

As the legend being celebrated, Amakye Dede will be presented with a gold medal, plaque and other awards in recognition of his hard work, success and contribution to the entertainment industry.

Who is Amakye Dede?

Show-master: Daniel Amakye Dede

One of the country’s celebrated Highlife artistes, Abrantie Amakye Dede was born in 1958 at Asante Akyem Agogo in the Ashanti Region. He  began his musical career in 1975 when he joined the Kumapim Royals Band led by the late Akwasi Ampofo Agyei (Mr AAA), as a composer, vocalist and guitarist.

He left the band in 1979 and formed his own – the Apollo High Kings International Band – a year after, and has since released over 20 albums. Some of his popular songs include: Sokoo Na Mmaa Pe, Kose Kose, Dabi Dabi, Mefre Wo, Okyena Sesei, Odo Mfonii, Nka akyi, M’ani Agyina, Jealously Go shame, Su fre wo Nyame, Enkaakyi,  Krokro Me, Ohohoo Batani, Seniwa, Brebrebe yi, Mensuro, M’abre, Broken Promises and Nsuo Amuna.

Meanwhile, Amakye Dede is often called by many as Iron Boy after the title of a song he released in 1998, and which riveted lovers of Highlife music across the globe.

Abrantie owns the popular Abrantie Spot bar at Abeka Lapaz in Accra, where he also performs with live-band music on particular days.  He also takes interest in soccer and as such, has owns a second division football club in Accra called the High Kings FC, to help unearth and nurture football talents in the country. 

He is also a farmer of a 20-acreage orange and pineapple farm at Kubease in the Ejisu-Juaben District of the Ashanti Region, which won him the district’s Best Farmer Award in 1999.

Amakye Dede is married to Madam Adwoa Mary with four children. He picks Nana Kwame Ampadu (the ‘Nnwomtofo-Hene’ – King of Musicians) as the all-time music legend the country has produced, because “he is simply the one to learn from, in terms of achievements, experience, composition and voice.”