Awurama Badu (Ewurama Badu) was a Ghanaian highlife musician born in 1945 and from Banko in the Sekyere Kumawu District of the Ashanti Region.[1] Popularly known for her stage performance and hit songs, she was a gifted and talented Highlife musician who had a breakthrough when the music industry was largely dominated by males with few females to fight for a place in the industry, according to "Bessa Simons" (Highlife musician).[2] Awurama has four children—two sons and two daughters.[3]
Awurama Badu | |
|---|---|
| Born | 1945 Banko,Sekyere-East District,Ashanti Region. |
| Died | October 26, 2017. Effiduase Government Hospital,Sekyere-East District,Ashanti Region |
| Occupation | Musician |
Music career
editBadu was formerly with the Ghana Police Band(known for their live band performances) before she established herself in the highlife music industry.[4] Her music career started at the time when women played little role in highlife music. Her hard work paid off with scoring hit songs like "Medofo Adaada Me", "Komkom", "Emelia", "Odo Tie Me Nni Obiara" and "Obaatan Refre Ne Mma".[5][6][7]
On December 5, 2015, Action Senior High & Technical School as part of their 15 years of academic excellence honoured Badu in a special citation, the school extolled her astute qualities as a role model, musician and how her songs had helped shape society as well as educated people on some social vices.[5]
Her continuous hard work and commitment to the music industry was rewarded by a non-governmental organization, Values for Life, founded by the former deputy Minister for Tourism, Arts and Culture, Dzifa Gomashie in 2016 for her contribution to arts and music in Ghana.[6][7]
Health issues and death
editHer last public performance was at the 2013 edition of Citi FM‘s night of Music of Ghanaian Origin, held at the National Theatre of Ghana.[7]
In July 2017, Badu made her last public appearance when she attended the 2nd Annual General Meeting of GHAMRO[8] at the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science.[4]
Badu died at the Effiduase Government Hospital in the Ashanti Region on Thursday, 26 October 2017. The cause of her death is not yet known but sources say the singer had been ill for some time. She was 72.[2][7][6][4]
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ Tornyi, Emmanuel. "Veteran Musician: My mother deserves State burial - Awurama Badu's son pleads". Retrieved 2017-11-02.
- ^ a b Online, Peace FM. "Awurama Badu's Family Devastated By Her Death". Retrieved 2017-11-02.
- ^ Larbi-Amoah, Lawrencia. "Awurama Badu Deserves State Burial – Son". Ghafla! Ghana. Retrieved 2017-11-02.
- ^ a b c Donkoh, Ebenezer. "Legendary Artist Awurama Badu Reported DEAD - NYDJ Live". www.nydjlive.com. Retrieved 2017-11-02.
- ^ a b Arku, Jasmine. "Ewurama Badu, others honoured - Graphic Online". Graphic Online. Retrieved 2017-11-02.
- ^ a b c "Veteran musician Awurama Badu has died". 2017-10-27. Archived from the original on 2019-05-01. Retrieved 2017-11-02.
- ^ a b c d Nyabor, Jonas (2017-10-27). "Veteran musician Awurama Badu passes on". Ghana News. Retrieved 2017-11-02.
- ^ "Home". www.ghamro.org. Archived from the original on 2019-05-01. Retrieved 2017-11-02.