CK Mann : Ghanaian highlife legend, dies at 83

Ghanaian Highlife legend Charles Kofi Mann alias CK Mann is reported dead at age 83, after a long battle with ill health.

The late musician's son, Ato Mann confirmed the death in a radio interview with Accra based Citi FM Tuesday morning.

He explained CK Mann had been ill for some time and died at the GHAPOHA hospital in Takoradi at about 7am on Tuesday.

The family, he said was yet to make burial arrangement.

CK Mann, 83, is the producer of great highlife songs such as ‘Adwoa Yankey,’ ‘Mber Papa,’ ‘Medo Wo,’ ‘Araba Lucy,’ and ‘Wode a Ne Me.

History

Charles Kofi Amankwaa Mann (1936 – March 20, 2018), known as C. K. Mann, was a Ghanaian Highlife musician and producer.

His music career spanned over four decades; he won multiple awards for his songs.

He was awarded the Grand Medal of Ghana by John Agyekum Kufour in 2006.

C. K. Mann was born in 1936 in Cape Coast in the Central Region of Ghana.

He worked briefly as a seaman before joining Moses Kweku Oppong's Kakaiku band.

After familiarizing himself with the Ghanaian music scene, he joined Ocean Strings and led the band until 1965.

When the band was disbanded, he joined a newly formed band in Takoradi, The Carousel 7.

He came to prominence in 1969 when he released his single "Edina Benya".

It was he who impressed on the band's owner, Anis Mubarak, to sign Paapa Yankson to the group.

Mann added Western musical instruments to Osode, the traditional music of Ghanaian fishermen rhythms

Mann had several hit songs, including "Asafo beesuon", "Obaa yaa aye me bone", "Kolomashie", "Dofo bi akyerew me", "Ankwasema dede", "Okwan tsentsen awar", "Aboa akonkoran", "Beebi a odo wo", "Tsie m'afotusem", "Ebusua ape adze aye me", "Yebeyi wo aye", and "Do me ma mondo wo bi".

His latest album, Wope Nyeho was produced by West Gold Music Studio in Takoradi and released in 2013.

In 2006, Mann was awarded the Grand Medal of Ghana during the 2006 National Honours and Awards Ceremony by President John Agyekum Kufour in recognition of his contribution to Ghanaian music.

He was among the first recipients of this award after the ceremony was revamped in 2006.

With old age and ill health, by 2015 Mann had not performed publicly in several years.

He lives at Anaji, a suburb of Takoradi.

The street on which his house is located has been renamed C. K. Mann Avenue.