The death of the President Mills of Ghana on July 24th 2012 gave birth to a level of creativity that I am yet to see a good enough competition for.
That same day was when the Musicians Union of Ghana was launching their website at the African Regent Hotel. Mid way into the launch, the news broke of the President's death. As part of his closing remarks, the emcee, Kwame Sayiamah announced that the President had passed.
I was then working as the Head of Communications for the Union. Just when the news broke, the Musicians had already started calling their colleagues.and arranging to meet at a studio to produce and record a tribute song for the late President Mills. In less than 24 hours, a tribute song had been released to the public. The song, Y'edi Awrehuo, which translates to We are mourning went viral. Radio stations were calling to have it, individuals were asking for download links, people wanted to have the song so badly.
What has always stroked me has been the time frame within which the music was produced, the lyrics, the various artists who somewhat made time at that particular moment and the emotion expressed by each artist. The song featured Amakye Dede, Rex Omar, Okyeame Kwame, Obour, Samini, Cecilia Marfo, Nacy, DSP Kofi Sarpong and a host of others, most of whom gave backing vocals.
Arguably, this song became the unofficial official mourning song for the entire nation.
And now, today, a day after the one year date of the passing of President John Evans Fiifi Atta Mills, Ghana is still in morning. And this song feels alive now as it did a year back.
To the Musicians who displayed such emotions, lyrics and character in the song, kudos! . . . I can hear Rex Omar's voice starting the song. . . Nti )kunini paaa na )da h)yi a )ntimi nkika ni hi ye. . . . Asomdwe hene paaa na )da h) a )di ninsa agu nehu ye?. . . . Y'edi awhrehuo ooo . . .
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