Amakye Dede Explained

Amakye Dede
Birth Name:Daniel Amakye Dede
Alias:Iron Boy
Birth Date:1958 1, df=yes
Birth Place:Agogo, Ashanti Region, Ghana
Genre:High-life
Occupation:Singer, songwriter
Instrument:vocal
Years Active:1973–present
Associated Acts:Kumapim Royals, Akwasi Ampofo Adjei

Dan Amakye Dede[1] [2] (born 5 January 1958)[3] [4] is a Ghanaian musician. He is one of Ghana's premier high-life artists popularly referred to as "Iron Boy", "the high-life maestro" and "Abrantie" . Amakye Dede was born in Agogo, Asante Akim.[5] He attended Agogo Roman School. He is best known for classic songs such as: "Jealousy go shame", "Dabi Dabi Ebeye Yie", "Akwadaa Wesoa", and "Iron Boy."

On 2 January 2016, he was involved in an accident that killed his manager and seriously injured his bodyguard.[6]

Amakye Dede was installed as a sub-Chief at Agogo in the Asante Akim traditional area.[7]

Career

Dede began his career in 1973 when he joined the Kumapim Royals as a composer and a vocalist.[8] This band, led by Akwasi Ampofo Agyei (AAA), had hits such as "Abebi Bewua Eso", "Wanware Me A", "Odo Mani Agyina", and the seminal "Ohohoo Batani". Dede moved to Nigeria, where he had his hit "Jealousy go shame".He then formed his own band, the Apollo High Kings, in 1980. He dominated the high-life scene in the 1980s and 1990s and has continued to have hit songs in the 21st century.[9] He has headlined so many concerts locally and internationally.[10]

He made almost 20 albums. In his later career, he experimented with different genres: soca, calypso, lovers rock and pop music.

He owns a popular bar in Accra called Abrantee Spot, where he and other high-life musicians regularly play live-band music.

His popular songs include "Handkerchief", "Seniwa", "Brebrebe yi", "Mensuro", "Mabre", "Broken Promises", "Nsuo Amuna", "Sokoo na mmaa pe", "Kose kose", "Dabi dabi", "Mefre wo", "Okyena sesei", "Odo nfonii", "Nka akyi", "M'ani agyina", "To be a man na war", and "Iron Boy".[11]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Biography of Abrantie Amakye Dede Ghana Music Abrantie Amakye Dede of Ghana. info@ghanabase.com. GhanaBase Music. ghanabase.com. 2017-01-08.
  2. News: Amakye Dede. BiGx.Com.Gh. 2017-01-08. https://web.archive.org/web/20170109022610/http://bigx.com.gh/amakye-dede/. 9 January 2017. dead.
  3. Web site: Do You Know: Today's Feature is Abrantie Daniel Amakye Dede. Eric. Eve. 2013-05-24. Do You Know. 2017-09-05.
  4. News: Meet Abrantee Amakye Dede: The Highlife King. ModernGhana.com. 2017-09-05. en-GB.
  5. Web site: Biography of Ofori Amponsah Ghana Music Ofori Amponsah of Ghana. info@ghanabase.com. GhanaBase Music. ghanabase.com. 2018-04-23. 22 December 2015. https://web.archive.org/web/20151222170720/http://www.ghanabase.com/oforiamponsah/biography.asp. dead.
  6. News: Amakye Dede Involved in Gory Accident. Effah. K.. Yen.com.gh – Ghana news.. en-US. 2017-01-08.
  7. News: Amakye Dede enstooled as chief at Agogo. GhanaWeb. en. 2018-01-03. 2019-01-02.
  8. Web site: [{{AllMusic|class=artist|id=p173989/biography|pure_url=yes}} Biography: Amakye Dede and the Apollo Kings International Band]. Huey. Steve. AllMusic. 2010-04-13.
  9. Web site: Amakye Dede. Myspace. 2017-01-08.
  10. News: Stonebwoy, Amakye Dede, EL, for Ghana Music Week at Indigo O2. Myjoyonline.com. 2016-08-29. en-US. 2017-01-08.
  11. Web site: Amakye Dede And His Apollo Kings. Discogs. 2017-01-08.