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Eno Abena tell a story of an
unfaithful wife who decides with the boyfriend to get get rid
of the husband so that they could marry. |
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Daniel Amponsah (alias Koo Nimo) was born on 3rd October, 1934,
at Foase, Atwima District in Ashanti Region. His father, Opanin
Kwame Amponsah, was a trumpeter and guitarist, and his mother,
Akua Forkuo was singer in the local Methodist Church in the village.Daniel
Amponsah attended Adisadel College at Cape Coast from 1947-1952
and obtained the Cambridge School Certificate. He took a Technicians
course at the Medical Research Institute, Korle Bu for one year
and worked at Okomfo Anokye Hospital for five years from 1955-1960
as a technician.
He left the Ministry of Health and joined the Chemistry
Department of the University of Science and Technology, Kumasi,
in 1960. He was sponsored by the University of Science and technology
to do a Technician's course in Chemistry and Biochemistry at Paddington
Technical College as he also was attached to the Chemistry Laboratories
of Imperial College in London. Whilst in London, he took part-time
course in Len William's Classic Guitar Centre in London for three
years.
He returned to Ghana, and was promoted to Senior Technician in
the department of Biochemistry, University of Science and Technology in
1968. He was again awarded study leave by the University to do further
course in Laboratory Instrumentation and Management at Salford University
in Manchester. He took part-time course in Harmony and Classic guitar
playing for a year at Manchester School of Music. He returned to his post
at U.S.T. in 1970 and was promoted to the post of Chief technician in
1975. He holds a Technician's Certificate of the Institute of Science
and Technology (A.I.S.T.).
In 1957, Daniel Amponsah formed the "Koo Nimo" Entertainment
Cultural Group and performed on the local and national radio. In 1966
he formed the "Adadam Agofomma Cultural Group" with a membership
of seven. Daniel Amponsah taught brass band music in his village in conjunction
with the Social Welfare department (Mass Education) from 1953-1954. Some
of his popular compositions include Odonson (Let love prevail), Akuafo
monno mfuo (Farmers cultivate the land), Aburokyire abrabo (Life overseas),
Mewu na agoro agu (My death would spell the doom of my group), Ohia ne
yare ye ya (How painful it is to be poor and sickly) and Adampa/wo wu
a na wadane saman (The dead becomes a ghost).
He published his first major work "Ashanti Ballads" with Dr.
J.L. Latham, a Physical Chemist at the U.S.T. in 1968. The name "Koo
Nimo" is a stage name.
Daniel Amponsah, whose musical works have had a tremendous impact on Ghana's
art and culture was honoured by the Entertainment Reviewers Association
of Ghana in 1977. Such is the two widely different personalities of Daniel
Amponsah, the man whose voice is heard practically every day on the radio
net-work behind the name "Koo Nimo".
Daniel Amponsah's fame was prestige in music and entertainment has in
no way been influenced by his high professional status as a technician.
The fact that his music is daily played on the radio, and also the fact
that he was among the outstanding artists who were chosen to represent
Ghana at the 1976 Smithsonian Music Festival in the U.S.A. should be seen
entirely from the standpoint of artistic excellence.
"Koo Nimo's" music stands out as a good example of contemporary
Ghanaian folk music. He has been able to keep up his music to modern taste
without being influenced by Western musical idioms. This could be found
in his instrumentation, syncopation and voice production.
Koo Nimo's presence on the stage is always hailed at any performance especially
at the National Cultural Centre in Kumasi where he performs regularly
at Anokyekrom. This is because of his musical skill, wit, and sense of
humour. He is married with nine children.
Koo Nimo has cirrently retired from the University and is currently a
guitar instructor and performer.
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