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Finding the truth is not enough.
What we also have to find is justice.
                               ~Rigoberta Menchu
Ephraim Kwaku Amu
Saturday, 27 October 2007

Amu, Ephraim Kwaku, 1899-1995[1]

He was born the youngest of six children in Peki-Avetile in the Trans-Volta region of Ghana.  His mother was Sarah Akoram Amma.  His father, Stephen Amuyao, on converting to Christianity, abandoned his work as a drummer.  Amu studied in his hometown, in Blengo, and at the Basel Mission Seminary (Abetifi), a four-year teacher training institution,[2] before enrolling at the Royal College of Music in London, where he graduated in 1940. He then taught at the Bremen Mission in his hometown, at the Presbyterian Training College (Akropong),[3] at Achimota College (1934-1937, 1942-1948), and the Achimota Teacher Training College (Kumasi) for a few years starting in 1948 into the 1960s.  He also served on the faculties of the Peki Blengo Middle School, the Achimota School, and the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST).  One of his students was Guy Warren.  In later years, he was appointed Senior Research Fellow at the University of Ghana.  He was admired by the children of his hometown, who coined nicknames for him, such as Xolovinyegba (My neighbor first) and Nukaemawo (What must I do?), acknowledging his philosophy.  He was also known as “Tata.”  He is buried in the vicinity of the Evangelical Presbyterian Church in Peki-Avetile, on his estate. 

General Ignatius Kutu Acheampong, chair of the former Supreme Miltary Council, presented him with a gold medal in 1973.  He was given an honorary doctorate in 1976 by KNUST, as well as one from the University of Ghana.  In 1997, he won the IMC prize from UNESCO as a performer (in 1979 UNESCO had awarded him the International Council on Music prize).  His portrait appears on Ghana’s ¢20,000 bank note, introduced in 2002.

He was married in 1942 to Beatrice Yao, from Peki Tsiame, who bore him five children. One of their three daughters, Misonu Amu, was active as a choral conductor.

He is credited with improvements on the atenteben, a seven-hole bamboo flute.

WORKS[4]

Songs  ==: Sheldon Press, 1933.  Here is source of Sowande’s African suite.

Abibirima; a call to all, for men’s chorus.  Duration: 1:25.
LP: University of Ghana Chorus; Ephraim Amu, conductor.  Afro Request  SALP-5027 (Ghanian students sing).

Adawura bo me; the gong says beat me, for SATB, ed. by William L. Dawson.  Text: Ephraim Amu.  New York: Remick, 1955.  9p.  Library: British Library; Library of Congress.

Afe ato yen

25 African songs in the Twi language, for TTBB (1953).  London: Sheldon Press, 1932.  91p.  Text: Ephraim Amu. Library: British Library; Schomburg.

Agyinamoawuoa; alas, that I, for men’s chorus.  Duration: 1:37.
LP: University of Ghana Chorus; flutes; Ephraim Amu, conductor.  Afro Request  SALP-5027 (Ghanian students sing).

Agoanya odomma; men who have met, for men’s chorus.  Duration: 2:47.
LP: University of Ghana Chorus; flutes; Ephraim Amu, conductor.  Afro Request  SALP-5027 (Ghanian students sing).

Akwaaba ndwom; Welcome song.

Animia.

Aresamaka; we are fighting, for men’s chorus.  Duration: 3:12.
LP: University of Ghana Chorus; Ephraim Amu, conductor.  Afro Request  SALP-5027 (Ghanian students sing).

Biakoye

Bonwire kentewene.

Dzodoenyen doa duko de dzi; righteousness exalts a nation.

Enne ye anigye da; This is a joyful day, for men’s chorus.  Duration: 2:46.
LP: University of Ghana Chorus; Ephraim Amu, conductor.  Afro Request  SALP-5027 (Ghanian students sing).

Ennye yen nyama; not unto us, for men’s chorus.  Duration: 2:33.
LP: University of Ghana Chorus; Ephraim Amu, conductor.  Afro Request  SALP-5027 (Ghanian students sing).

Esrom miele be miadi Yesu; we are learning to be like Jesus, for men’s chorus.  Duration: 2:57.
LP: University of Ghana Chorus; Ephraim Amu, conductor.  Afro Request  SALP-5027 (Ghanian students sing).

Ghana flutes, for flutes.  Duration: 1:36.
LP: Unidentied flutes.  Afro Request  SRLP 5027 (Ghanian students sing).

Hyiawu

Kotoka; it is in the field, for men’s chorus.  Duration: 1:25.
LP: University of Ghana Chorus; flutes; Ephraim Amu, conductor.  Afro Request  SALP-5027 (Ghanian students sing).

Legon flutes.  Duration: 1:23.
LP: Unidentified flutes.  Afro Request  SALP-5027 (Ghanian students sing).

Mahu de; I  am astonished, for men’s chorus.  Duration: 2:47.
LP: University of Ghana Chorus; Ephraim Amu, conductor.  Afro Request  SALP-5027 (Ghanian students sing).

Metom’ani mehwe Nnipa asetram.

Miato agbema; our father, the great farmer is dead, for men’s chorus.  Duration: 1:24.

Mom ma yenko somforo.

Nenyo de wo dede; aim at perfection.

Nkradi; the chameleon, for men’s chorus.  Duration: 1:44.
LP: University of Ghana Chorus; Ephraim Amu, conductor.  Afro Request  SALP-5027 (Ghanian students sing).

Nnonan ne fa

Odo ye wu

Onipa da woho so; men, we watchful, for men’s chorus.  Duration: 2:42.
LP: University of Ghana Chorus; Ephraim Amu, conductor.  Afro Request  SALP-5027 (Ghanian students sing).

Onyame ne Sahene, for men’s chorus.  Duration: 2:37.
LP: University of Ghana Choir; Ephraim Amu, conductor.  RCA LSC-1969.? ==
LP: University of Ghana Chorus; Ephraim Amu, conductor.  Afro Request  SALP-5027 (Ghanian students sing).

2 Pieces,  bamboo flute and piano.

20 Piped pieces.

Prelude, for flute.  Duration: 0:30.
LP: Unidentied flute.  Afro Request  SRLP 5027 (Ghanian students sing).

San befa; O man, for men’s chorus.  Duration: 3:24.
LP: University of Ghana Chorus; Ephraim Amu, conductor.  Afro Request  SALP-5027 (Ghanian students sing).

3 Solo songs, voice & piano.  Accra: Presbyterian Book Depot, 1961.  15p.   1. Bonwere kentenwenwene; 2. Akwaabadwom; 3. Mawue naa me, mawue te a me. Library: Spingarn.

Tete wo bi di ka, tete wo bi kyere; the past has something to teach and exhibit.

Traditional Atentenbanj prelude, for 2 wind instruments.

Wo nsam mewo; I commit myself to thy gentle hands, for men's chorus..  Duration: 2:41.
LP: University of Ghana Choir; Ephraim Amu, conductor.  RCA LSC-1969.
LP: University of Ghana Chorus; Ephraim Amu, conductor.  Afro Request  SALP-5027 (Ghanian students sing).

Yaa’nom abibiriman.

Yen ara asase ni; this is our homeland.  The national anthem of Ghana until 1957.==

[1] He was born as Kwaku Amu, named for his grandfather.  His baptismal name was Ephraim.

[2] Here, in exchange for harmonium lessons, he worked on the farm of his teacher,Theodore Karl Ntem.

[3] He was dismissed from the Presbyterian Training College because he arrived in traditional African clothing to preach, and taught drumming and dancing to his students.  This may be were, among his students, was Rev. Robert Yaw Danso, later to be professor ofJ. H. Kwabena Nketia, although Amu also taught agriculture.  Unlike his fellow teachers, he had no domestic servants.

[4] Sixty percent of his more than 200 choral works are in Akan, although he was an Ewe.

 
 
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