Amakye Dede

Amakye Dede had his first big hit, "Jealousy Go Shame", while living in Nigeria, and with his Apollo High Kings, formed in 1980, he went on to dominate highlife through the 1980s and 1990s. He is often called the Iron Boy, after one of his hits.

Beginnings

Dan Amakye Dede was born on 5 January 1958 and went to Agogo Roman Catholic School. In 1973 he joined the Kumapim Royals, Akwasi Ampofo Agyei's band, as a composer and singer, on hits including "Ohohoo Batani".

Apollo High Kings

He has recorded around 20 albums, and his songs include "Dabi Dabi Ebeye Yie", "Akwadaa Wesoa", "Handkerchief", "Seniwa", "Mabre", "Broken Promises", "Sokoo Na Mmaa Pe", "Kose Kose" and "To Be a Man Na War". Later in his career he tried soca, calypso, lovers rock and pop. He runs Abrantee Spot, a live-music bar in Accra where he and other highlife musicians play. He has been installed as a sub-chief at Agogo in the Asante Akim area.