Amakye Dede

Abrantie Amakye Dede (Iron Boy)

Dan Amakye Dede is a Ghanaian musician. He is one of Ghana's premier highlife artists and is called "Iron Boy", "the highlife maestro" and "Abrantie" (English: Gentleman). Amakye Dede was born in Agogo, Ashanti Akim.^[1] He attended Agogo Roman School. On 2 January 2016, he was involved in a fatal accident that killed his manager and seriously injured his bodyguard.

Career

Dede began his career in 1973 when he joined the Kumapim Royals as a composer and vocalist.^[2] 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 highlife scene in the 1980s and 1990s and has continued to have hit songs in the 21st century.

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

He owned a very popular bar in Accra called Abrantee Spot, where he celebrated live-band music.

Some of 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".

References