The Composer
Kenn Kafui was one of the most outstanding composers produced by the Music Department, (IAS) SPA, University of Ghana, Legon.
He was born and bred at Hohoe in the Volta region of Ghana.
He entered the University of Ghana at a very youthful age after form five, and studied for the General Diploma in Music at the Must Department (IAS) now School of Performing Art from October 1972 to June 1975.
He was a student of Commonwealth Hall, and latter became the Hall’s organist.
Kenn served his National Service at the Music Department UG. Legon in 1976, and was also employed to teach on the Extension Programme of the same department from 1978 to 1979.
A highly talented and very hardworking student, Kenn, by his final (3rd) year, had composed his first work for Choir and Orchestra Dzifo Gbowo Na Vu (Let the gates of Heaven Open). The premier performance of the work was at the great annual St Cecilia s Day concert organised by Commonwealth Hall, and performed by the Madina E P. Church choir and accompanied by the Ghana National Symphony Orchestra under his own baton. No wonder, the Vice-Chanceller at that time, Prof. Adjei Bekoe wrote about him in his annual report that year.
Kafui wrote his Six Easy African Pieces for piano during his National service period.
A year later, he wrote his one movement symphony, “KALE” and two years later, he started working on his Pentanatas.
He joined the Achimota School staff in 1979 as a Music Master and two years later, he became the Head of the Music Department.
Kenn became a lecturer in Music Theory and Composition at the Music Department
(SPA), University of Ghana, Legon, Accra, Ghana.
