Koo nimo
DANIEL
AMPONSAH KOO NIMO ( 1934 - )
Daniel Amponsah (alias Koo Nimo) was born on 3rd October, 1934,
at Foase, Atwima District in Ashanti Region.
His father, Opanin Kwame Amponsah, was a trumpeter and guitarist,
and his mother, Akua Forkuo was singer in the local Methodist Church in
the village.
Daniel Amponsah attended Adisadel College at Cape Coast from 1947-1952
and obtained the Cambridge School Certificate.
He took a Technicians course at the Medical Research Institute,
Korle Bu for one year and worked at Okomfo Anokye Hospital for five years
from 1955-1960 as a technician.
He left the Ministry of Health and joined the Chemistry Department
of the University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, in 1960. He was sponsored by the University of
Science and technology to do a Technician's course in Chemistry and Biochemistry
at Paddington Technical College
as he also was attached to the Chemistry Laboratories of Imperial College
in London. Whilst in London, he took part-time course in Len William's
Classic Guitar Centre in London for three years.
He returned to Ghana, and was promoted to Senior Technician in
the department of Biochemistry, University of Science and Technology in
1968. He was again awarded study leave by
the University to do further course in Laboratory Instrumentation and
Management at Salford University in Manchester. He took part-time course in Harmony and Classic guitar playing
for a year at Manchester School of Music. He returned to his post at U.S.T. in 1970 and was promoted
to the post of Chief technician in 1975. He holds a Technician's Certificate of the Institute of Science
and Technology (A.I.S.T.).
He published his first major work "Ashanti Ballads" with
Dr. J.L. Latham, a Physical Chemist at the U.S.T. in 1968. The name
"Koo Nimo" is a stage name.
Daniel Amponsah, whose musical works have had a tremendous impact
on Ghana's art and culture was honoured by the Entertainment Reviewers
Association of Ghana in 1977. Such
is the two widely different personalities of Daniel Amponsah, the man
whose voice is heard practically every day on the radio net-work behind
the name "Koo Nimo".
Daniel Amponsah's fame was prestige in music and entertainment
has in no way been influenced by his high professional status as a technician. The fact that his music is daily played
on the radio, and also the fact that he was among the outstanding artists
who were chosen to represent Ghana at the 1976 Smithsonian Music Festival
in the U.S.A. should be seen entirely from the standpoint of artistic
excellence.
"Koo
Nimo's" music stands out as a good example of contemporary Ghanaian
folk music. He has been able to keep up his music
to modern taste without being influenced by Western musical idioms. This could be found in his instrumentation,
syncopation and voice production.
Koo Nimo's presence on the stage is always hailed at any performance especially at the National Cultural Centre in Kumasi where he performs regularly at Anokyekrom. This is because of his musical skill, wit, and sense of humour. He is married with nine children and he hopes that when he retires from the University of Science and Technology he will retire to his village to help improve the living conditions of his people and artists in the country
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GHANAIAN MUSICIANS (PAST AND PRESENT) A Handbook For Schools and Colleges VOL. 1 by KWASI ADUONUM DEPARTMENT OF MUSIC, UNIVERSITY OF CAPE COAST CAPE COAST and C.Y. BOAMAH CENTRE FOR CULTURAL STUDIES, UNIVERSITY OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY, KUMASI 1983 C O N T E N T S
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