Awurama Badu

Last updated
Awurama Badu
Born1945
Banko,Sekyere-East District,Ashanti Region.
DiedOctober 26, 2017.
Effiduase Government Hospital,Sekyere-East District,Ashanti Region
OccupationMusician

Awurama Badu (Ewurama Badu) was a Ghanaian highlife musician born in 1945 and from Banko in the Sekyere Kumawu District of the Ashanti Region. [1] Popularly known for her stage performance and hit songs, she was a gifted and talented Highlife musician who had a breakthrough when the music industry was largely dominated by males with few females to fight for a place in the industry, according to "Bessa Simons" (Highlife musician). [2] Awurama has four children—two sons and two daughters. [3]

Contents

Music career

Badu was formerly with the Ghana Police Band(known for their live band performances) before she established herself in the highlife music industry. [4] Her music career started at the time when women played little role in highlife music. Her hard work paid off with scoring hit songs like "Medofo Adaada Me", "Komkom", "Emelia", "Odo Tie Me Nni Obiara" and "Obaatan Refre Ne Mma". [5] [6] [7]

On December 5, 2015, Action Senior High & Technical School as part of their 15 years of academic excellence honoured Badu in a special citation, the school extolled her astute qualities as a role model, musician and how her songs had helped shape society as well as educated people on some social vices. [5]

Her continuous hard work and commitment to the music industry was rewarded by a non-governmental organization, Values for Life, founded by the former deputy Minister for Tourism, Arts and Culture, Dzifa Gomashie in 2016 for her contribution to arts and music in Ghana. [6] [7]

Health issues and death

Her last public performance was at the 2013 edition of Citi FM‘s night of Music of Ghanaian Origin, held at the National Theatre of Ghana. [7]

In July 2017, Badu made her last public appearance when she attended the 2nd Annual General Meeting of GHAMRO [8] at the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science. [4]

Badu died at the Effiduase Government Hospital in the Ashanti Region on Thursday, 26 October 2017. The cause of her death is not yet known but sources say the singer had been ill for some time. She was 72. [2] [7] [6] [4]

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Marian Ewurama Addy</span> Ghanaian biochemist (1942 – 2014)

Marian Ewurama Addy was a Ghanaian biochemist and the first Host of the National Science and Maths Quiz. The first Ghanaian woman to attain the rank of full professor of natural science, Addy became a role model for school girls and budding female scientists on the limitless opportunities in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) disciplines. Marian Addy was also a Fellow of the Ghana Academy of Arts and Sciences, elected in 1999. In the same year, she was awarded the UNESCO Kalinga Prize for the Popularization of Science.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kojo Antwi</span> Ghanaian hiplife and reggae artist

Kojo Antwi, also known as "Mr. Music Man", is a Ghanaian Afro pop, highlife, reggae musical artist and a former Ghamro chairman. Born Julius Kojo Antwi into a family of 13 siblings, he grew up in Darkuman a suburb of Accra. He has 22 albums to his name, with "Tom & Jerry" became one of his most popular songs in West Africa Ghana.

Ernest "Owoahene" Nana Acheampong, popularly known as Nana Acheampong, is a Ghanaian Highlife musician. He is also the other half of the famous Lumba brothers who popularized Burger-highlife in Ghana.

Akosua Agyapong, is a Ghanaian female highlife singer and television personality. She was honored by the organizers of 3Music Awards for her achievement in the entertainment industry in Ghana.

Samuel Ofori Amponsah, also known by the name Mr. All 4 Real, is a Ghanaian singer-songwriter from Agogo, Ashanti Region, Ghana. Throughout his career, he has released fourteen solo albums, the most recent being "Million Dollar," which was released in 2020. He is regarded as one of Ghana's best 21st-century highlife musicians.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Diana Hopeson</span> Musical artist

Diana Hopeson is Ghanaian gospel singer and a former president of the Musicians Union of Ghana. Her contributions to the Ghanaian Art industry won her a National Honors Award, which was presented to her by former president John Agyekum Kufuor in 2007. In March 2021, she was among the Top 30 Most Influential Women in Music by the 3Music Awards Women's Brunch. She was also a GHAMRO board member and also the Chairperson of the Interim Management Board of the Copyright Society of Ghana.

Daasebre Gyamenah, was a Ghanaian highlife musician who became very popular for his hit album Kokooko (1999) which featured Lord Kenya. Kokooko was the first major fusion of hiplife and highlife in Ghana. Many successful albums followed thus earning him one of his many nicknames "Hitman"."Wo da enda","Ahoofe", and "Still I love you" are a few of his popular songs.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Yaa Yaa</span> Ghanaian singer

Bertha Bridget Kankam, better known by her stage name Yaa Yaa, is a Ghanaian singer-songwriter and recording artist. Prior to her current stage name, she performed under her first name, Bertha.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Paapa Yankson</span> Ghanaian highlife musician

Benjamin Paapa Kofi Yankson, known as Paapa Yankson was a Ghanaian highlife singer, songwriter, and producer. He recorded two dozen albums during his career; his hit songs included "Wiase Mu Nsem", "Show Your Love", "Wo Yere Anaa Wo Maame", and "Tena Menkyen". He won multiple awards, including Best Composition for his song "Yaaba" at the 1997 Konkomba Awards. He was a recipient of the Grand Medal of Ghana for his contribution to Ghanaian music.

Michael Takyi-Frimpong known by the stage name Lord Paper is a Ghanaian soul, afrobeats and hip hop musician. He is best known for his 2016 single "Awurama".

Jewel Ackah was a Ghanaian highlife and gospel musician. He composed the lyrics of "Arise Arise," the party anthem of the centre-left Ghanaian political party, the National Democratic Congress (NDC), popularly sung to the tune of the Christian hymn, "Stand Up, Stand Up for Jesus". He was dubbed by media pundits as the "Prince of Highlife".

Rex Omar is a Ghanaian highlife artist. He first rose to prominence in 1989 with the Aware Pa album which also included the track, Wodofo Ne Hwan? Following this, in 1992 he formed the Highlife Supergroup Nakorex together with fellow Highlife artists Nat Brew and Akosua Agyapong, the group's name being an acronym made up of the first letters of each member's name. He then pursued a solo career. He performed together with Sony Achiba. In 2004 Omar was nominated for a Kora award, and in 2005 he was nominated as Artiste of the Year in the Ghana Music Awards.

Joyce Akosua Twene also known as Joyce Blessing is a Ghanaian and African gospel musician.

Celestine Donkor is a Ghanaian gospel musician and songwriter. In March 2021, she was among the Top 30 Most Influential Women in Music by the 3Music Awards Women's Brunch. She founded the Celestial Praise, an annual Gospel music concert.

Kwaku Agyapong Danemah popularly known as Dr. Paa Bobo was a Ghanaian highlife musician, known as highlife music legend. He is also known for the popular and nationwide hit song Osobro kyee. In January 2020, Stonebwoy with his Bhim Band remixed Osobro kyee titled Sobolo.

Mercy Asiedu is a Ghanaian veteran actress who has contributed to the growth of the movie industry. She is known for the role she played in Concert Party and Asoreba. She is also known as being one of the popular Kumawood actresses starring in several roles in the 2000s.

Terry Asare Boamah, known by the stage name Dada Hafco, is a Ghanaian high-life musician. His song Yebewu Nti was nominated in the 2018 Vodafone Ghana Music Awards as the Highlife Song of the Year. He was also nominated for the Highlife Artiste of the Year in the VGMA for two years in a row.

Asabea Cropper is a Ghanaian female high-life singer and saxophonist. She is known for her 'love and passion' for headgear styles like the Kilimanjaro style. She claimed her grandmother and mother taught her in 1975. During the URTNA Awards, she was honored as the ’Queen of Highlife Music’.

Dick Essilfie Bondzie was a Ghanaian musician, producer and founder of Essiebons label.

Kwame Gyasi (1929–2012) was a Ghanaian highlife musician. He originated the Sikyi highlife sub-genre which combined electric organ with the known highlife genres.

References

  1. Tornyi, Emmanuel. "Veteran Musician: My mother deserves State burial - Awurama Badu's son pleads" . Retrieved 2017-11-02.
  2. 1 2 Online, Peace FM. "Awurama Badu's Family Devastated By Her Death" . Retrieved 2017-11-02.
  3. Larbi-Amoah, Lawrencia. "Awurama Badu Deserves State Burial – Son". Ghafla! Ghana. Retrieved 2017-11-02.
  4. 1 2 3 Donkoh, Ebenezer. "Legendary Artist Awurama Badu Reported DEAD - NYDJ Live". www.nydjlive.com. Retrieved 2017-11-02.
  5. 1 2 Arku, Jasmine. "Ewurama Badu, others honoured - Graphic Online". Graphic Online. Retrieved 2017-11-02.
  6. 1 2 3 "Veteran musician Awurama Badu has died". 2017-10-27. Archived from the original on 2019-05-01. Retrieved 2017-11-02.
  7. 1 2 3 4 Nyabor, Jonas (2017-10-27). "Veteran musician Awurama Badu passes on". Ghana News. Retrieved 2017-11-02.
  8. "Home". www.ghamro.org. Archived from the original on 2019-05-01. Retrieved 2017-11-02.