Ghanaian musicians died at 80
Here are 3 famous musicians from Ghana died at 80:
Nii Amaa Ollennu
Nii Amaa Ollennu (May 21, 1906 Accra-December 22, 1986) was a Ghanaian lawyer and judge.
He was the first African to be appointed Chief Justice of Ghana and had a long and distinguished legal career. Ollennu was also involved in politics and was a member of the United Gold Coast Convention, which campaigned for Ghana's independence from British colonial rule. In addition to his work in Ghana, Ollennu was a leading figure in African legal education and helped to establish law schools in other African countries. He was a respected scholar and author, and his writings on African law and politics continue to be influential today. Ollennu was widely regarded as one of Ghana's most distinguished jurists and his contributions to law and political development in Ghana and Africa have been widely recognized.
Ollennu earned his law degree from the University of London and was called to the bar at the Middle Temple in London in 1932, before returning to Ghana to practice law. In 1954, he became a judge of the Gold Coast's Supreme Court and later served as president of the court from 1958 to 1960. He played a key role in drafting Ghana's constitution, which was adopted in 1960.
Throughout his career, Ollennu was a strong advocate for the rule of law and the importance of an independent judiciary. During his tenure as Chief Justice, he worked to ensure the integrity of the judicial system and was known for his fairness and impartiality.
In addition to his legal and political accomplishments, Ollennu was a prominent member of the Methodist Church in Ghana and served as the church's lay president for many years. He was also a skilled musician and played the organ at church services.
Today, Ollennu's legacy lives on through the many law schools he helped to establish across Africa and his influential writings on African law and politics. He continues to be remembered as one of Ghana's most distinguished legal minds and a trailblazer in the country's struggle for independence and the development of its legal system.
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Charles Odamtten Easmon
Charles Odamtten Easmon (September 22, 1913 Accra-April 5, 1994 Accra) was a Ghanaian personality.
He was a physician, a medical researcher, and an educator. Easmon received his medical education in the United Kingdom at the University of Edinburgh, where he obtained a degree in Medicine and Surgery in 1939. He then went on to specialize in tropical medicine, receiving his Diploma in Tropical Medicine and Hygiene from the University of Liverpool.
Easmon returned to Ghana in 1949 and began his career as a medical officer in the public health sector. He later became the Director of Medical Services for the Gold Coast, now Ghana, and played a crucial role in the country's fight against diseases such as yaws, leprosy, and tuberculosis.
In addition to his work in public health, Easmon was also a professor of microbiology at the University of Ghana, where he conducted groundbreaking research into the pathogenesis of tuberculosis. He was also instrumental in establishing the West African College of Physicians, serving as its first president from 1976 to 1982.
Easmon was a respected figure in the medical community and received numerous accolades throughout his career, including the Order of the Volta, Ghana's highest civilian honor.
Easmon was also known for his advocacy for better health care in Africa. He believed that local medical professionals should be trained and utilized to improve primary health care in their respective countries. Easmon's advocacy efforts eventually led to the creation of the African Regional Office of the World Health Organization in 1951. In addition, he served as the Vice-Chancellor of the University of Cape Coast from 1973 to 1978, working to improve the university's academic standards and infrastructure. Easmon's contributions to medicine and education in Ghana and Africa have left a lasting impact on the region, earning him the reputation as one of the most distinguished physicians in West Africa.
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Shirley Graham Du Bois
Shirley Graham Du Bois (November 11, 1896 Indianapolis-March 27, 1977 Beijing) a.k.a. Shirley Graham was a Ghanaian composer, musician and writer.
Born in Indianapolis, Indiana, Shirley Graham was the daughter of a businessman and a music teacher. She graduated from Oberlin College and later earned a master's degree in music from the Sorbonne. She moved to Harlem in the 1920s, where she became an active member of the Harlem Renaissance and worked with prominent artists and intellectuals, including W.E.B. Du Bois, Langston Hughes, and Paul Robeson.
In addition to her music and writing, Graham was also active in politics and social justice causes. She was a member of the Communist Party USA and wrote several plays with socialist and anti-racist themes. She married W.E.B. Du Bois in 1951 and moved with him to Ghana in 1961, where she continued to work as a musician and writer.
Throughout her career, Graham composed numerous works, including operas, orchestral pieces, and songs, many of which were inspired by African and African-American themes. She was also a prolific writer, publishing several biographies and works of history, including a biography of Paul Robeson and a history of the African-American struggle for civil rights.
Despite her contributions to the arts and social justice causes, Graham's legacy has often been overshadowed by that of her husband. However, in recent years, there has been renewed interest in her life and work, with several biographies and academic studies published about her accomplishments.
In addition to her activism, music, and writing, Shirley Graham also worked as a radio producer during her time in the United States. She produced several radio programs that highlighted African-American culture and performers, including a program called "Our Gal Sunday" which aired on CBS radio for over 20 years. Graham also worked as a music teacher and lecturer, teaching at schools such as Howard University and Chicago State University.
During her time in Ghana, Graham continued to be involved in politics and social justice activism. She worked for the government in various positions, including as the director of Ghana Television and as the head of the Ghana National Theatre. She also founded the W.E.B. Du Bois Memorial Centre for Pan-African Culture, which aimed to promote African culture and unity.
Graham's contributions to music and literature have received renewed attention in recent years, with several academic studies and books focusing on her life and work. In 2020, a biography titled "Shirley Graham Du Bois: A Life in the Struggle" was published by historian Gerald Horne, shedding light on Graham's important role in the African-American and Pan-African movements.
She died in breast cancer.
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