KOFI GHANABA, THE DIVINE DRUMMER

Kofi Ghanaba (May 4, 1923 – December 22, 2008) was a pioneering Ghanaian musician, percussionist, broadcaster, journalist, and author.

PHOTO CAPTION: Kofi Ghanaba. SOURCE: EA Library

Born Warren Gamaliel Harding Akwei in Accra, Ghana, to Richard Mabuo Akwei, an educationist, and Susana Awula Abla Moore, he changed his name to Kofi Ghanaba on July 1, 1974, later informally dropping “Kofi” to be known simply as Ghanaba. He was educated at Government Boys’ School, Accra (1928-1939), where he led the school band. He later attended Odorgonno Secondary School in 1940 as a founding student and won a government scholarship to Achimota College in 1941 with aspirations of teaching at his father’s school. While at Achimota, he excelled in sports, winning colors in football and volleyball and leading the college teams to victories in inter-college matches. However, he dropped out in 1943, disillusioned with the academic system.

In 1943, Ghanaba enlisted in the Office of Strategic Services (OSS), a specialized U.S. Army department handling covert operations during World War II. He briefly traveled to the United States before returning to Ghana, where he worked as a journalist for The Spectator Daily under Robert Wuta-Ofei. In 1944, he pioneered disc-jockeying in the Gold Coast, introducing jazz programs on the Gold Coast Broadcasting Service.

Ghanaba defines drumming as purposeful expression of emotions for entertainment, spiritualism and communication. SOURCE: EA Library

Ghanaba joined the Accra Rhythmic Orchestra in 1940 as a drummer and later played with The Tempos, one of Africa’s greatest jazz bands. He moved to London in 1950, where he was a percussionist for Kenny Graham’s Afro-Cubists and contributed to jazz programs on the BBC. In 1953, he formed his own band, The Afro-Cubists, and performed at the inauguration of Liberian President William Tubman before taking up a role as Assistant Director and Resident Disc-Jockey at Liberia’s National Broadcasting Service.

In 1955, he moved to Chicago, where he joined the Gene Esposito Band as co-leader, percussionist, and arranger. His breakthrough came in 1956 with the release of Africa Speaks, America Answers, which featured That Happy Feeling, a global hit. In 1957, he was elected to the American Society of Composers, Authors, and Publishers (ASCAP) and moved to New York, where he led his band, Zoundz, at the African Room nightclub. His unique African jazz style distinguished him from the Afro-Cuban influences of the time. Throughout his career, he worked with jazz legends including Thelonious Monk, Max Roach, Art Blakey, Billie Holiday, and Lester Young. He recorded for major labels like Decca, RCA-Victor, Columbia, and his own Safari label.

Renowned for his role in introducing African rhythms into jazz music, he profoundly influenced global music, collaborating with jazz greats such as Duke Ellington, Charlie Parker, and Louis Armstrong. His groundbreaking album, Africa Speaks, America Answers (1956), and the world-famous composition That Happy Feeling solidified his place in music history. His powerful drumming, which induced spiritual trances in audiences, earned him the revered title Odomankoma Kyirema (the Divine Drummer).

In 1966, Ghanaba published I Have a Story to Tell, a mini-autobiography recounting his experiences in the American jazz scene. His most significant musical work was an African Talking Drums interpretation of Handel’s Hallelujah Chorus, which earned him the title Odomankoma Kyirema in 1981 from the African Heritage Village in England.

Beyond music, Ghanaba was a trusted political advisor. He was one of three intellectuals handpicked by Kwame Nkrumah to advise on political, spiritual, and personal matters. He later served in a similar capacity for Jerry John Rawlings. A deeply spiritual individual, he practiced Buddhism and believed that drumming was a divine act of worship. His performances often induced spiritual trances in audiences, further cementing his legendary status.

Ghanaba died on December 22, 2008, leaving behind a rich legacy as a pioneer of African jazz, a spiritual leader, and a cultural icon.

EA EDITORS