Gyedu-Blay Ambolley

Gyedu-Blay Ambolley's 1973 single "Simigwa-Do" is often cited as one of the earliest rap records: a highlife groove over which he half-spoke, half-chanted in Fante. Decades later the British label Soundway put it on its Ghana Soundz anthology and introduced it to a new generation of listeners abroad.

Simigwa

Ambolley was born in 1947 and grew up in Sekondi-Takoradi. He calls his style simigwa, a blend of highlife, funk and jazz with spoken vocals, and "Simigwa-Do" became its signature. He recorded for Essiebons in Ghana and later for WEA International and his own Simigwa label. In Ghana he was named Most Consistent Artist in 1980 and won album and song of the year in 1990, and in 1997 he picked up an award at the Trend Music Awards in Ivory Coast.

Los Angeles

He later based himself in Los Angeles, where he performed on the jazz and world-music circuit. Charles R. Drew University's Jazz at Drew gave him a lifetime achievement award in 2003, and the same year he received a certificate of special recognition from Congresswoman Juanita Millender-McDonald. Philadelphia City Council honoured him with a citation in 2015. In 2020 Okyeame Kwame sued him over remarks about payments made to musicians by a former MUSIGA president; the case ended with Ambolley's retraction and apology.