IS THIS GHANAIAN MUSICIAN RELATED TO MICHAEL JACKSON?

 

 

Michael Jackson, the American's pop music's super mega star has a family in Ghana! Wait a minute! What? Michael Who? Has What? At Where? Yes, the man of Beat It, Black and White and Thriller hits might have a Ghanaian roots. Which family could this be and which Ghanaian musician might be related to this great singer?

Well, check this out, Obuoba J.A. Adofo is probably a relation of Mr. Michael Jackson because they share similar name JACKSON. Yes, you heard me right, the name is JACKSON.
How many Ghanaian highlife music fans and followers of the man popular known as Okwahu Bob Marley, know what the initials J.A stand for in Obuoba's name? The answer to this question was answered in far away, New York City, recently when the great Ghanaian highlife musician Obuoba J. A. Adofo and a US based Ghanaian cultural educator and ethnomusicologist, Harold Akyeampong aka Okyerema Kwabena Prekese Akyeampong Tenten were featured on a popular weekly Television.

In a live studio shooting of a faith based program titled Expressions of Faith on BCAT television in Brooklyn, New York, Obuoba played guitar as well as did the leading singing while Okyerema played percussion and did some support singing. The two were so impressive that they had everyone at the studio, both crew and staff dancing or nodding their heads in appreciation of the duo's unique performance.

During the interview segment of the show which was facilitated by Mr. Raymond Oakley, a minister and a producer in New York, Mr. Adofo took the opportunity to explain what the initials in his name stand for. He said the J stands for Jackson and A is for Alfred. This makes Obuoba's full name as Jackson Alfred Adofo. When the interviewer asked Adofo that since he is a great musician and shares a name with Michael, could he be right to speculate that the two might be related as they are all great musicians?; Adofo replied that that could be a possibility but he will leave that to Michael and historians to research into that. He continued that since the Black Diaspora is linked to the continent, Africa by way of African American history, anything is possible.

Obuoba also answered questions regarding how he became a musician and who his mentor was, which incidentally was his father, who played Konkoma in the village. He also mentioned the late E.K. Nyame of E.K's Band as another important person who influenced his musical career. He went on to discuss the evolution of contemporary gospel music in Ghana and how guitar band highlife music has impacted it. He continued that he welcomes new ideas and the integration of new beats with the original highlife guitar works, but warned that there should not be a situation that highlife musicians should be ostracized and labeled worldly composers. He called for mutual and collaborative existence and tolerance for each genre of Ghanaian music.

Mr. Adofo who is currently in the US for cultural and educational tours at the instance of the international office of the International Center for African Culture and Arts, the Center for World Folkloric Arts,USA, the Global Arts Connection, USA and OBAATANPA International will be away for three to five months. He will also record some new albums which he said will feature super hits.

On his part, Mr. Akyeampong who is the President of the Ghana Percussive Arts Society discussed the history of Ghanaian percussion and its significance as a communication tool, its historical and contemporary roles in faith based activities and for effecting positive community change.

Mr. Raymond Oakley, a minister and prominent US Television producer commended the duo for their appearance and Ghana for such special talents and cultural ambassadors.

Ghanaian TV networks that are interested in re-broadcasting the show may contact the BCAT TV by email on www.bcat.tv and ask for the producer of Expressions of Faith.