Digging 4 Gold

Ah, Mr. Alhaji K. Frimpong.

The man’s work has graced many afrobeat compilations over the past few years.  And although his sound echos the moodiness and hypnotic melodies one finds in other afrobeat artists (which some attribute to its modal composition), he probably would have been shocked to hear his music akin to the genre.  That’s because while the funkier artists of his day where playing places like Faisal’s Napoleon Club in Accra, Frimpong was more than likely found out in the villages and small towns, playing highlife to an older crowd.  

Oh, what a sight it would have been to see K. Frimpong backdropped by a concert party stage in an open village center. 

Regardless, we at least got the tunes.  Here’s his 1976 release, which some Ghanaians so affectionately referred to as the “big head” album (from his big, blue head gracing the cover).  

The album features one of his most popular tunes, “Kyenkyen Bi Adi M’awu.” Memories of Lion and I singing along to the tune come to mind, as he would explain the lyrics - a story of being broke and in love - over cigarettes and Star beer.  we used to emphasize the “Akye” (pronounced ah-che) in the chorus, which literally translates to the sound of a whip crack on one’s back.  The sound of love lost.  

*NOTE: As some may already know, I was recording a lot of the earlier uploads with a crapy portable straight from Ghana (you gotta work with what you got). I’ve since started uploading quality rips of these records.  I’ll also be updating the older postings with better rips as time permits. 

K. Frimpong & His Cubano Fiestas (1976)