Bice Osei Kuffour

Bice Osei Kuffour (born 7 November 1981) is a Ghanaian hiplife musician,[1] known popularly by the name Obour, which means "stone" in the Akan language. He is the current president of the Musicians Union of Ghana (MUSIGA),[1][2] an umbrella group that unites all musicians in Ghana irrespective of genre.[3] Obour is an alumnus of the University of Ghana, the US International Visitor Leadership Programme, Aspen Global Leadership Network, and African Leadership Initiative of West Africa.

Life and career

Obour was born at "Braha Bebu Me" (Dekyemenso) in the Ashanti Region on 7 November 1981, to Christiana Addo and Reverend B. O. Kuffour. At the age of six, Obour played most of the drums, especially the Atumpan, in the Juaso-Ashanti Akyem chief's palace where his father used to preside. Obour was educated at the State Experimental School (Kumasi), the Soul Clinic School (Accra), Garrisson Junior Secondary School (Burma Camp) and Mfantsipim School (Cape Coast).

After finishing secondary school, Obour solicited help from his London-based cousin, J. Amano, who hooked him up to his personal Soul Records label. Atentenben won three awards for Soul Records at the Ghana Music Awards in 2002, including Video of the year, which contributed to Soul Records winning the Record Label of the Year. The same video won the Best at Our Music Awards (OMA) in 2002.

He was already a celebrity by the time he entered the University of Ghana in 2002 to read Sociology and Music, as a member of Commonwealth Hall (Vandal City).[4][5] His second album, entitled Dondo, was led by the track "Nana Obour", which had earlier featured on Soul Records′ Adakamo compilation album. Dondo also featured such classic tunes as "Mesoodae" and "Palm Wine". "Nana Obour" won the Best Video at both Ghana Music Awards and Ghana Music Awards UK in 2003.

He owns a pub in Osu and a music production company.

Obour has been used for some national campaigns because of his positive and educative lyrics. He won five awards at the 2005 Ghana Music Awards. His albums include Atentenben, Akademua, Dondo and Atumpan. He made a duet album with A. B. Crentsil entitled The Best of the Lifes. Obour's 2004 album Menwo Bio[6] produced the hit single "Konkontiba".[7] He released a socially conscious album and project, One Ghana Peace Project/Obour for President, ahead of the 2008 general elections. He went on to embark on a Nationwide Peace Campaign. Obour was selected among 12 other emerging leaders by The African Leadership Initiative to pursue training with the Aspen Global Leadership Network.

He is also currently the President of the Musicians Union of Ghana, the National TB Ambassador of Ghana,[8] Road Safety Ambassador, Executive icon of Youth Icons Africa and a Climate Change Champion for the British Council. He serves on several executive and advisory boards, including the executive committee of the International Federation of Musicians, University of Ghana School of Performing Arts advisory board, Ghana Music Rights Organisation.

References

  1. 1 2 "Obour is new MUSIGA President". www.myjoyonline.com. Retrieved 19 August 2011.
  2. ↑ "Obour Elected MUSIGA President". www.modernghana.com. Retrieved 19 August 2011.
  3. ↑ Selase Attah, "Pressure mounts on Obour as MUSIGA elections loom", Ghanaie.com, 12 June 2015.
  4. ↑ Mustapha Jimah, "Congratulations Obour. You Deserve It", Modern Ghana, 23 April 2009.
  5. ↑ Nii Ogbamey Tetteh, "'I am the first hip life University graduate'", Ghana Forum, 17 March 2011.
  6. ↑ "Obour To Launch New Album", Modern Ghana, 2 June 2004.
  7. ↑ "‘Konkontiba’ Tops Musical Charts", Modern Ghana, 15 October 2004.
  8. ↑ "Musician Obour named as national TB ambassador for Ghana", Stop TB Partnership, 2011.

External links

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