Nana Yaw Ampem Darko, popularly known as George Darko, began his musical journey as an instrumentalist. Having mastered the art of playing the guitar, he was a perfect fit for any band. A royal native from Akropong, Akuapem in the Eastern Region of Ghana, his musical exploits began at a tender age, when he started making his own guitar from materials such as gallons, wood, threads, wires amongst others. He eventually learned how to play the guitar and his passion drove him to an unimaginable feat.
In an interview, when asked about some of the challenges he faced when he chose a career as a musician, he said, “Wow! In the early days, it was taboo for somebody whom the family expected to be a lawyer, and you picked up the guitar, I was sacked from the palace. It was sacrilegious… the son of a paramount chief…”
He continued, “It is fast-changing, maybe that’s the way God planned it to be, that I’ll be one of the people who will come and change the music scene”. Indeed, he did change the music scene with his style and poise.
He sought refuge at the residence of one of the sub-chiefs in Akropong until he was enrolled in the Ghana Armed Forces. There, he and other soldiers formed the Fourth Dimension Band, and that’s when his professional career took off.
During peacekeeping missions in the Middle East, he performed with his band to entertain his comrades. Additionally, he honed his craft as a songwriter and vocalist, building on the foundation of the cultural experience acquired from his father’s palace. Some of the renowned guitarists who inspired him were Jimi Hendrix and Carlos Santana.
After his service in the army, he formed the Golden Stool Band in the 1970s. The Band relocated to Germany, where George Darko went solo and eventually, in 1982, he formed the Bus Stop Band. Due to his stint in Germany whilst working, he became known as the ‘King of Burger Highlife’ as his instrumentation and delivery fused the western tempo. ‘Burger’ pronounced /bͻga/ is a term coined for Ghanaians who lived in the diaspora in the 1960s and 1970s and remains widely used.
In 1991, he was enstooled as the Tufuhene (chief of the gunners) of Akropong, Akuapem. He released his maiden album titled ‘Friends’ in 1983, followed by ‘Highlife Time’ in the same year, which had records like the title album, a groovy record. The album featured the timeless hit record, ‘Akoo Te Brͻfo’.
In 1986, under A&B Records, he released, ‘Moni Palava’ which was a hit record and harbours the record ‘Obi Abayewa’. Others include ‘Soronko’ in 1988, ‘Highlife in the Air’ in 1994 under Boulevard Records, ‘Ɛbɛtͻda’ in 1998 under One World Records, ‘Odo Colour’ in 2004 which was a banger and also had the song, ‘Prempremsiwa’ on the same album. ‘Come to Africa’ and ‘No Weapon’ in 2006 and 2019 respectively with Okoman Records. George Darko was honoured with the Lifetime Award for Outstanding Contribution to Highlife in 2020 at the Vodafone Ghana Music Awards in Accra.
Born on 12th January, 1951, George Darko attended a Presbyterian school in Akropong. He admired the legal profession and had wanted to become a lawyer. His son is German rapper and singer, Manuellsen. He was in palliative care at the Tetteh Quarshie Memorial Hospital in Akropong and transitioned on the 20th of March, 2024. He will be remembered for his impeccable skills on the guitar and his influence of Ghanaian music, and for taking it to the global stage. George Darko was one of Ghana’s revered musical talents and his legacy will shine onward.
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