“Asem to me a ka bi ma me oh, me ho kyere me, eye boa me oh.”
Anytime these powerful lyrics drop, accompanied by unmistakable highlife instrumentals, every music lover knows that the legendary Amakye Dede is in the building.
Daniel Amakye Dede, popularly known by his stage name Amakye Dede, is a renowned Ghanaian highlife composer and singer. Over the course of his illustrious career, he has also earned nicknames such as Iron Boy, Abrantie, and more.
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Amakye Dede began his music journey in the 1970s when he joined the Kumapim Royals Band, led at the time by the legendary Akwasi Ampofo Agyei, serving as both a composer and vocalist.
Following his success with the band, Amakye Dede launched a solo career and released his hit track “Jealousy Go Shame”. In 1980, he formed his own band called the Apollo High Kings.
In an era where social media and online streaming platforms were nonexistent, eand artists relied heavily on cassette tapes and CD players, Amakye Dede rose to fame, with his songs echoing across every corner of West Africa.
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There was hardly a major concert in the 1980s and 1990s without Amakye Dede headlining.
With over 50 years of delivering meaningful, timeless highlife music and nearly 20 albums to his name, his rich discography includes classics such as:
Kose Kose
Bebrebe Yi
Paradise
Okyena Sese
Krokro Me
To Be a Man Na Wah
Iron Boy
Abrantie
Adukuro Mu Nsuo
In recognition of his immense contribution to Ghanaian music, Amakye Dede was honoured with a Lifetime Achievement Award at the 25th Telecel Ghana Music Awards (TGMA).
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