
ACHIEVEMENTS
& AWARDS
Nana Kwame Amapadu has received countless awards; he won the ever-1st National Dance Band Competition in 1972(S.M.C GOVT.) in Accra. Crowned NNWONTOFOHEHE by the Arts Council of Ghana in 1973 with the National stool name of "Nnwontofohene Nana Kwame Ampadu 1". Received several awards between 1981 and 1998 at Legon Hall, University of Ghana; Rex Image Associates, ECRAG, COSGA & ACRAG. All in respect of the tremendous role and contribution for the upliftment of our cultural heritage through music. Awarded State Grand Medal Award in 1997 by the President of Ghana, his Excellency FLT. LT. J.J. RAWLINGS. Composed the signature and theme song for Operation Feed Yourself in 1974(N.L.C). Some of the indelible achievements of Nana Kwame Ampadu 1 & his African Brothers Band are that, in 1973, the group stopped playing copyright music and concentrated on their own. In the same year, Nana Ampadu introduced the AFRO HILIFE BEAT. They were also the first band to record on 45 R.P.M with a duration that exceeded the maximum 2.55 minutes in those times. They were also the first to introduce title track that consisted of, Part 1 & Part 2. Nana Ampadu was the youngest to have leadership in a band at the age of nineteen in 1963. So far it is believed the African Brothers Band has recorded the largest number of title tracks totaling about 700 at the time I did this interview with Nana Ampadu. African Brothers has trained many musicians into stardom than any other band in Ghanaian history; some of the artists are as follows:
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SNR EDDIE DONKOR (DECEASED)
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SAM DERCHIE (AUSTRIALIA)
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ANTHONY SCORPION (THE BEACH SCORPION)
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APENTEN (He later led the pilsners band)
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JOE DEE
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OPPONG KYEKYEKU (YOUNG AFRICANS)
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TEACHER BOATENG (AFRICANA)
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ANCIENT AWUA- (MUSICLOGIST IN SWITZERLAND)
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FRANK HIANGO- (ASST. PROFFESSOR OF MUSIC-USA)
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KWAME SETH- (VIRGINIA USA)
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PAA ALEX 111- (MARYLAND USA)
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AGYA OSAE- (HE IS THE LONGEST SERVING BANDSMMAN FORM 1972-1994)
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NANABA AMOAKO
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PRINCE OSEI KOFI (AFRICAN HEROES)
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MOM BEE (EHURU A EBEDWO)
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AKOSUA AGYAPONG
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KWASI BEKOE
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ABENAA NYANTEH
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AKOSUA AMOAM
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STELLA TACKIE