Entertainment
Dwomtofohene Nana Kwame Ampadu bows out
Ghanaian music lovers were on Tuesday morning hit with sad news of the passing of one of the iconic highlife powerhouses, Nana Kwame Ampadu, affectionately called Dwomtofohene, to wit King of Musicians.
This unfortunate demise of this legend after some weeks of sickness shocked the nation as many poured out their tributes to celebrate his amazing contribution to the music industry.
Nana Ampadu was born on March 31, 1945, and passed away at age 76.
Ampadu hails from Obo, in the Kwahu area of the Eastern Region but he spent a part of his childhood a village called Adiembra.
MUSIGA
The umbrella body of musicians in the country, Musicians Union of Ghana(MUSIGA) in a release sent to The Spectator stated, “The Musicians Union of Ghana (MUSIGA) has learnt with regret of the passing of the legendary Nana Kwame Ampadu 1.This is huge national loss.
“As a trail blazing musician, you spawned a whole generation of musicians.
Your music was a source of inspiration, education and entertainment to many. The stories you told in your songs were veritable nuggets of wisdom and will continue to give solace to many.
“You always had a story for every occasion and every interaction with you was like an adventure into the land of wisdom.
As the current chairman of the Ageing Musicians Welfare Fund (AMWeF), you were committed to the welfare of your fellow musicians and even when your health was failing, you never missed the call to duty.
Dwomtofohene, nante yie. Damirifa due.”
Music journey
Nana Kwame Ampadu was a Ghanaian musician credited with numerous popular highlife tracks. Nana Ampadu’s “African Brothers Band” was formed in 1963. he has about 800 songs to his credit.
In 1964, young Ampadu met Mr. Jerry Hansen, leader and founder of the Ramblers Dance band and cultivated his acquaintance where Ampadu gave Jerry eight songs in all for free which the Ramblers Band recorded.
Some of the songs are Ntoboase, Afutusem, Scholarship, Me Nsoromma Bepue. All these songs became hit tracks. One good turn deserves another. Mr. Jerry Hansen seeing the musical competence in Ampadu, introduced him to Phillips West Africa Ltd., a recording publishers and Ampadu was given the chance to record two single tracks for a 45 R.P.M release.
The maiden recording was done at the Ghana Film Industries Corporation (G.F.I.C) onNovember 14, 1966.
The first track recorded that day was Agyanka Dabere with Suminaso Ntonko as the flip side. This single was released on December 21, 1966.
The single album became an instant hit and served as a beginning of a new era in the guitar band sector. The thought provoking nature of the lyrics in those two title tracks, made many people feel it was some old or veteran musicians who sang these songs.
A book of condolence has been opened at the residence of Nana Ampadu.
By Edem Mensah-Tsotorme
Twelve years after it first swept across Ghana’s airwaves, Edem’s classic hit Over Again has staged an extraordinary comeback, re-emerging as one of the most dominant songs in the country and capturing the attention of a new generation of listeners.
Originally released over a decade ago, the record has returned to national prominence, not on the strength of nostalgia alone, but through renewed relevance in today’s digital music ecosystem.
Over Again is currently charting in the Top 100 on Spotify, while also recording strong performances across other major streaming platforms.
The resurgence has been driven largely by social media, where the song has gone viral on TikTok, Instagram, and other platforms. Gen-Z creators and millennials are using the track to soundtrack emotionally driven content—ranging from short skits to deeply personal storytelling videos.
As a result, the song has become a cultural reference point for themes of love, betrayal, heartbreak, and emotional resilience.
The trend has grown so significant that top-tier influencers and several high-profile digital creators have joined in, using Over Again as background music for their videos and further amplifying its reach across the country.
Speaking on the song’s resurgence, Edem expressed excitement about its renewed impact.
“When I created Over Again, I knew the impact it had. I knew how strong the song was back then,” he said. “Seeing it connect again after all these years, especially with a new generation, is very exciting.”
The rapper encouraged his fan base, popularly known as the Go-Getters, to continue engaging with the song and sharing their personal stories through it.
At the core of Over Again is a storyline that remains strikingly relatable. The song explores betrayal among friends, romantic relationships disrupted by close acquaintances, and the emotional aftermath of loving and losing.
These themes have resonated strongly with audiences, many of whom say the narrative still mirrors real-life experiences today.
Consequently, the song is now widely used to tell stories such as losing a partner to a friend, navigating heartbreak after deep emotional investment, and reclaiming personal strength after betrayal.
Interestingly, the trend also includes users who position themselves as the “other person” in such scenarios, reframing the song around accountability, growth, or redemption.
The renewed success of Over Again underscores how music consumption has evolved. In the digital era, a song’s lifespan is no longer confined to its release period.
Social media and streaming platforms have created a level playing field where timeless music can resurface, cross generational boundaries, and regain commercial and cultural relevance.
With Over Again re-entering the charts, ranking among Spotify’s Top 100, and dominating social media trends, Edem’s classic stands as proof that great music does not expire.
Twelve years on, Over Again has not only returned—it is once again at the center of Ghana’s musical conversation.
Listen to the song below
https://youtu.be/od4a2BXoJ4g?si=JNhikrbAV56KuUeO
Veteran Ghanaian musician Ebenezer Asare, popularly known as Slim Buster has cautioned emerging artistes not to accept financial assistance from women.
This he said may lead to emotional and personal obligations that could affect an artiste’s freedom and career decisions.
Speaking in an interview in Accra on Monday, the highlife artiste mentioned that many young musicians without financial backing tend to rely on women for support, a situation he believes could cause future complications.
According to him, accepting financial assistance from women may lead to emotional and personal obligations that could affect an artiste’s freedom and career decisions.
“Most upcoming artistes don’t have money. They depend on some women. When a woman helps you, remember that they will come back for their money,” he said.
Slim Buster advised young talents to be cautious and mindful of the commitments that come with such support.
The musician further warned that abandoning or neglecting these women after achieving success could lead to serious repercussions.
“The very moment you decide to move away from them or neglect them because you’ve made it, they will come for you,” Slim Buster added.
By Spectator Reporter
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