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| Paapa |
Ghanaian high life legend Paapa Yankson is expected to
make a comeback on the performing stage, several years after he appeared to
have been missing in action.
He will be performing at a programme dubbed, Hilife
Parade, scheduled for Saturday August 10, at the plush Marjorie Y Hotel in
Tema. Paapa Yankson will share stage with youngsters Kwabena Kwabena and Kwesi
Pee.
Paapa Kofi Yankson is one of Ghana’s
celebrated high life musicians. Coming Saturday will be his birthday, as he was
born on June 22, 1944, at Winneba.
His latent
music flair was discovered at the funeral of a neighbour. He landed his first
music contract during his mother's funeral. And for more than 30 years, Paapa
Yankson has produced music that has brought life to many dead souls.
Even though
both of his parents were musicians, they didn’t want him to take up singing.
Instead they wanted him to have a white collar job.
After he
left the Takoradi Methodist School he enrolled in the Ahantaman Secondary
Commercial School where he studied and obtained a Certificate In Stenography.
He got a job at the Kingsway Chemists Limited where he worked as a stenographer
for five years. He later landed a job at the African Timber and Plywood Company,
a subsidiary of the United African Company (UAC), at Samreboi. The company, UAC
had a band, the Big Sound Band, so he played as the lead singer while he worked
as a stenographer for the company for four years. There, his musical journey
started.
He has composed many hit songs some of which have attracted national
awards and nomination for awards. In 1997 his composition, ‘Yaaba’ won an award for Best Composition during the Komkomba
Awards. His works, ‘Wiase Mu Nsem’, ‘Show
Your Love’, ‘Wo Yere Anaa Wo Maame’, and ‘Tena Menkyen’ are among his hit songs.
Paapa Yankson has more than 15 albums to his credit and it is not
surprising that some young hiplife artistes keep knocking at his door to
feature him on their albums. He has taught and performed in many countries
around the world including the US, Canada, Belgium, Britain, Germany, Holland,
Nigeria, Benin and Cote D’Ivoire.
Credit: NEWS-ONE
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