Culture

Legendary Ghanaian highlife musician George Darko passes on

Published

8 months ago

March 20, 2024

Legendary Ghanaian highlife musician, George Darko, has reportedly passed on at a private hospital in Accra, the capital of the West African country.

Darko who was one of the pioneers of highlife music in Ghana and was credited with creating the “Burger Highlife”, reportedly died “peacefully” on Wednesday morning, according to a family member.

Darko who was also a renowned guitarist, vocalist, composer and songwriter, was a popular music icon in the 1970s, 1980s and 1990s, while his songs were some of the most timeless and enduring highlife tracks in Ghana’s music circles.

“Often referred to as the King of Burger Highlife, Darko was an amazing guitarist and vocalist who brought a contemporary sensitivity to highlife music since the early1980s,” a Ghanaian media platform wrote as part of a citation on the late icon.

“As a youngster, he learned traditional dancing and drumming. King Darko was an enigma who, despite continuing to be exposed to traditional music, was enchanted by the music of The Beatles, The Rolling Stones and Jimi Hendrix.

“He recorded and released his first solo cassette, ‘The Reborn Avengers’ which was renowned for his unique guitar beats.

“He settled in Germany, where he helped to form the Bus Stop Band. By their third album, he became the group’s lead vocalist. When the band disbanded in 1988, he continued to perform as a soloist.

“His ‘Akoo te Brofo’ single remains a masterpiece and he is currently featured on the ‘Kings of Highlife’ compilation album.

“In his private life, Darko was the Tufuhene of Akropong with the stool name, Nana Apem Darko I.”

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Culture

South African DJ Black Coffee bags World’s Best DJ 2024

Published

17 hours ago

November 23, 2024

Isaac Dachen

South African disc jockey, DJ Black Coffee, has been named the World’s Best DJ 2024 at the Golden Moon Awards.

Reporting on the award, prominent South African tabloid, IOL, wrote:

“All hail Black Coffee from South Africa, winner of the Golden Moon award for the World’s Best DJ 2024! Black Coffee has taken the global stage by storm, blending his unique Afro-house sound with deep, soulful grooves that resonate with audiences worldwide.

“A pioneer, a visionary, and a cultural ambassador, Black Coffee continues to inspire millions, pushing boundaries and connecting the world through his music. A truly deserving icon of this prestigious honour!”

DJ Black Coffee whose real name is Nkosinathi Maphumulo, was not the only local South African entertainer who was recognised at the awards as rising star, Palesa Desiree Shilabje, popularly known as DESIREE, was also named the World’s Breakthrough Artist 2024.

On DESIREE, the tabloid said:

“DESIREE’s rise to prominence comes from her ability to craft electrifying DJ sets that seamlessly blend genres—African-inspired house, deep house, techno, and soulful rhythms.

“Her passion for diverse sounds has landed her on some of the world’s most respected stages, like DC-10, fabric, and Hï Ibiza, bringing her deep African influences to a global audience.

“Beyond her music, DESIREE proudly represents the intersex community, using her platform to inspire and educate about her experience. A truly groundbreaking artist, DESIREE is already leaving an unforgettable legacy.”

The Golden Moon Awards are held every year to select the best 100 clubs in the world and to award prizes in different categories to the major players in nightlife, individuals, clubs and associations.

Culture

DRC authorities arrest six over break-in at Lumumba’s Mausoleum

Published

2 days ago

November 21, 2024

Isaac Dachen

Police in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) say six people have been arrested over a break-in and vandalism at the mausoleum of the country’s assassinated independence leader, Patrice Lumumba, in Kinshasa, the country’s capital.

The police had announced the six arrests late Wednesday and said they were still looking for two more suspects.

Interior Minister, Jacquemin Shabani, said in a statement that during the break-in which occurred on Monday, a case containing a single gold-capped tooth, the only part of the former leader that remained after his assassination, was broken by the vandals.

“We assure that the relic is secure and it is protected,” the minister said, without offering more information.

The return of Lumumba’s tooth from former colonizer Belgium in 2022 had been celebrated around Congo, with the tooth taken around the vast country so people could pay their respects.

Lumumba is widely hailed as the nationalist activist who helped end colonial rule in the DRC and went on to become the country’s first prime minister and was seen as one of Africa’s most promising new leaders, but he was assassinated within a year in 1961.

His body was dismembered and dissolved with acid in an apparent effort to keep any grave from becoming a pilgrimage site.

For many in Congo, Lumumba is a symbol of the positive developments the country could have achieved after its independence but instead, it became mired in decades of dictatorship that drained its vast mineral riches.

A military coup toppled Lumumba, who was arrested, jailed and later killed. His assassination, blamed on separatists, cleared the way for the rise of Mobutu Sese Seko, who ruled the country he later renamed Zaire for decades with support from Western powers until his death in 1997.

His one remaining tooth was kept by the Belgian police commissioner who oversaw the destruction of his body.

The tooth was returned to Congo after the visit of Belgium’s King Philippe, who expressed regrets for his nation’s abuses in Congo when it was a Belgian colony.