Paapa Yankson Returns At Hilife Parade

Paapa

Ghanaian high life legend Paapa Yankson is expected to make a comeback on the performing stage, several years after he appeared to have been missing in action.

He will be performing at a programme dubbed, Hilife Parade, scheduled for Saturday August 10, at the plush Marjorie Y Hotel in Tema. Paapa Yankson will share stage with youngsters Kwabena Kwabena and Kwesi Pee.

 Paapa Kofi Yankson is one of Ghana’s celebrated high life musicians. Coming Saturday will be his birthday, as he was born on June 22, 1944, at Winneba.  

His latent music flair was discovered at the funeral of a neighbour. He landed his first music contract during his mother's funeral. And for more than 30 years, Paapa Yankson has produced music that has brought life to many dead souls.

Even though both of his parents were musicians, they didn’t want him to take up singing. Instead they wanted him to have a white collar job.

After he left the Takoradi Methodist School he enrolled in the Ahantaman Secondary Commercial School where he studied and obtained a Certificate In Stenography. He got a job at the Kingsway Chemists Limited where he worked as a stenographer for five years. He later landed a job at the African Timber and Plywood Company, a subsidiary of the United African Company (UAC), at Samreboi. The company, UAC had a band, the Big Sound Band, so he played as the lead singer while he worked as a stenographer for the company for four years. There, his musical journey started.

He has composed many hit songs some of which have attracted national awards and nomination for awards. In 1997 his composition, ‘Yaaba’ won an award for Best Composition during the Komkomba Awards. His works, ‘Wiase Mu Nsem’, ‘Show Your Love’, ‘Wo Yere Anaa Wo Maame’, and ‘Tena Menkyen’ are among his hit songs.

Paapa Yankson has more than 15 albums to his credit and it is not surprising that some young hiplife artistes keep knocking at his door to feature him on their albums. He has taught and performed in many countries around the world including the US, Canada, Belgium, Britain, Germany, Holland, Nigeria, Benin and Cote D’Ivoire.

 Credit: NEWS-ONE