10 things you need to know about the Highlife legend

The death of Daasebre Gyamenah in Accra has shocked Ghana’s music fraternity.

According to family sources, the highlife music legend passed away in the early hours of Friday, July 29.

This comes exactly two weeks after the death of gospel singer Danny Netty.

Here are 10 things about the music legend.

1. Born Kojo Gyamenah, the singer, who is from a royal family, is said to have added ‘Daasebre’ to his name to distinguish him from others with the same name.

2. His mother died when he was just five years old.

3. Daasebre Gyamenah is a Muslim and is also known Abubakar Siddiq.

4. He first shot to fame in 1990 and has won numerous awards.

5. His fans sometimes called him ‘Ahoofe’; after one of his most popular songs of the same name.

6. The singer was arrested at Heathrow Airport in the United Kingdom for possession of drugs.

7. In May 2007, he was acquitted of the charges and received a rapturous welcome on his return to Ghana.

8. In 2002, he won four awards at the Ghana Music Awards; including Best Male Vocal Performance and Album of the Year. At the time, he had won more awards than any other musician in the country.

9. His last album was Yenfii Ta, which was released in 2015. After his acquittal, he struggled to return to the music heights he had previously achieved.

10. Daasebre produced numerous hit songs that became the must have soundtrack to weddings in the country. They include ‘Kokoko’, ‘Still I love You’, ‘Calling’ and ‘Wo da enda’

Social media has been awash with expressions of shock and sadness. He is trending on Twitter and Facebook.