Paapa Yankson has died

Reliable information available to www.233times.net is that, Highlife maestro Benjamin Paapa Kofi Yankson known in Showbiz as Paapa Yankson has died.

According to his relatives, Paapa Yankson died in Accra this morning, Friday 21st July, 2017.

He died at the age of 72.

Born Benjamin Paapa Kofi Yankson on 22^nd June, 1944 at Winneba, Paapa Yankson surprisingly discovered his talent at the funeral of a neighbour.

Born into a music family where both parents were musicians, Paapa Yankson’s parents wanted to see their son in a white-collar job instead of joining them in the music industry. Paapa Yankson sang along with his mother anytime his mother was singing during house chores. That was when he started polishing his skill. 

Paapa Yankson has a certificate in stenography from Ahantaman Secondary Commercial School. With five (5) years experience as a stenographer at Kingsway Chemists Limited, he later worked with African Timber and Plywood Company, a subsidiary of United African Company (UAC). At UAC, he was the lead singer with the company’s band where he also worked as a stenographer.

When his mother died, Carousel Seven, C.K. Mann’s band came to the funeral grounds in search for him. It was during the funeral that he landed his first music contract with Carousel Band.

In 1975, he enrolled at National Academy of music in Winneba to read diploma in music. Mr. Ebo Coker then brought Paapa Yankson back to Takoradi to form the Western Diamonds band. Later, Sir Sam Jonah who was then the Chief Executive Officer of Ashanti Goldfields Limited invited Paapa Yankson to help form a company band, the Golden Nuggets Band.

Paapa Yankson went solo in 1995. His works ‘Wiase mu nsem,’ ‘Show your love,’ ‘Wo yere anaa wo maame,’ ‘Tena menkyen,’ amongst others are songs which have become the measure gauges for excellent and well composed music.