Guy Warren

Guy Warren, who took the name Kofi Ghanaba in 1974, was a Ghanaian drummer, composer, journalist and broadcaster, best known as the inventor of Afro-jazz, which he described as reuniting African-American jazz with its African roots. His skill on African drums earned him the name "The Divine Drummer", and he inspired musicians including Fela Kuti.

Early life

He was born Warren Gamaliel Kpakpo Akwei in Accra on 4 May 1923, named after the US president Warren G. Harding. His father, Richard Mabuo Akwei, founded the Ghana National School; his mother was Susana Awula Abla Moore. He attended the Government Boys' School in Accra, went to Odorgonno Secondary School in 1940, and that year joined the Accra Rhythmic Orchestra as a drummer. He won a teacher-training scholarship to Achimota College in 1941 but left in 1942, bored by its discipline.

Journalist and broadcaster

In 1943 he enlisted with the US Office of Strategic Services and then became a reporter on the Spectator Daily, later editing the Daily Echo, the Gold Coast Independent and the Star of West Africa. From 1944 he presented jazz programmes on the Gold Coast Broadcasting Service as Guy Warren, and in 1951 became the first African to host programmes for the BBC. He acted in the 1951 film The Boy Kumasenu and from 1953 to 1955 worked for the Liberian broadcaster ELBC.

Afro-jazz

He was a member of The Tempos with E. T. Mensah until 1951. In 1955 he moved to Chicago as co-leader, percussionist and arranger of the Gene Esposito Band, and recorded Africa Speaks, America Answers (Decca, 1956). In the United States he worked with Duke Ellington, Max Roach, Charlie Parker and Louis Armstrong. Disillusioned, he returned to Ghana and on Republic Day, 1 July 1974, renamed himself Ghanaba. He later appeared in Haile Gerima's film Sankofa (1993).

Family and death

He married twice and had six children, including the drummer Glenn Warren, to whom he handed his drumsticks. He died at 37 Military Hospital in Accra on 22 December 2008, aged 85, and was buried in a drum-shaped coffin made by Eric Adjetey Anang of the Kane Kwei workshop.