Kenneth Kwaku Avotri Kafui (July 25, 1951 – March 18, 2020) was a Ghanaian composer.
[ He was a lecturer in ]music theory
Music theory is the study of the practices and possibilities of music. ''The Oxford Companion to Music'' describes three interrelated uses of the term "music theory". The first is the "rudiments", that are needed to understand music notation (ke ...
and composition at the music department of the University of Ghana
The University of Ghana is a public university located in Accra, Ghana. It the oldest and largest of the thirteen Ghanaian national public universities.
The university was founded in 1948 as the University College of the Gold Coast in the Br ...
, Legon.
Career
Following graduation, Kafui joined the university faculty as a teaching assistant in the department of music. The following year, he became a senior research assistant.[ While working at the university, he gained further qualifications, including a Diploma in African Music (1982) and a ]Master's degree
A master's degree (from Latin ) is an academic degree awarded by universities or colleges upon completion of a course of study demonstrating mastery or a high-order overview of a specific field of study or area of professional practice. in music (2003).[
Most of Kafui's compositions are orchestral or choral works, or pieces for solo piano. He also composed for the orchestra of the ]Ghana Broadcasting Corporation
The Ghana Broadcasting Corporation (GBC) was established by law in 1968 with a triple mandate as a State Broadcaster, Public Service Broadcaster, and a Commercial Broadcaster in Ghana. Headquartered in the capital city, Accra, it is funded by gr ...
during the late 1970s.[
Kafui served as the choirmaster for the Madina Evangelical Presbyterian Church, and the Hohoe Evangelical Presbyterian Church, where he was also the organist. He also played organ for ]Trinity College Trinity College may refer to:
Australia
* Trinity Anglican College, an Anglican coeducational primary and secondary school in , New South Wales
* Trinity Catholic College, Auburn, a coeducational school in the inner-western suburbs of Sydney, New ...
.[
Kenneth K. A. Kafui was also a music tutor and the conductor of the Aggrey Memorial Chapel Choir at ]Achimota School
Achimota School ( /ɑːtʃimoʊtɑː/ ), formerly Prince of Wales College and School at Achimota, later Achimota College, now nicknamed Motown, is a co-educational boarding school located at Achimota in Accra, Greater Accra, Ghana. The school wa ...
before he moved on to the University of Ghana.
Selected works
Choral
* ''Nutifafa'' (Peace), Op. 1 No. 1 (1972)
* ''Yehowa fe Lↄlↄ Lolo'' (God's Love is Great), Op. 1 No. 2 (1973)
* ''Dzifo Gbowo Navu'', Op. 2 No. 1 (1974)
* ''Nunya Adidoe'' (Wisdom is like a Baobab Tree), Op. 1 No.5 (1979)
* ''Kokoeto'' (Holy One), Op. 1 No. 6 (1980)
* ''Dom Ko Mayi'', Op. 2 No. 5 (1982)
* ''Miwↄ Dↄ Kple Lolo'', Op. 1 No. 11 (1983)
* ''Ne Nyo Ko Noviwo'', Op. 1 No. 12 (1984)
* ''Brighten the Corner where you Are'', Op. 1 No. 14 (1988)
* ''Dzidzom''
* '' Mida akpe na Mawu''
* ''Migli ''
* ''Zↄdede''
Orchestral
* ''Symphony No. 1 in D'', Op. 3 No. 1 (1975)
* ''Rhapsody'', Op. 3 No. 2 (1976)
* ''Kale'', Op. 3 No. 3 (1977)
* ''Clarinet Concerto in B♭'', Op. 3 No. 4 (1980)
* ''Pentaphony'', Op. 3 No. 5 (1986)
Solo vocal
* ''Nunya'' (Wisdom), for Tenor and pianoforte (1976)
* ''Dzogbenyuie'' (Goodwill), for Tenor and pianoforte (1977)
* ''Eny yie Enuanom'', for Tenor and orchestra (1986)
Solo piano
* ''6 Easy African Piano Pieces'' (1976–7)
* ''Pentanata no. 1'', Op. 10 No. 1 (1980)
* ''Visitation'' (1985)
* ''Black Visitation'' (1986)
* ''4 Keyboard Songs'' (1986)
* ''Pentanata no. 2'', Op. 10 No. 2 (1986)
* ''Divine Love and Peace'' (1987)
* ''Sonata in D'' (1987)
References
{{DEFAULTSORT:Kafui, Kenneth
1951 births
2020 deaths
20th-century composers
Ewe people
Ghanaian composers
Ghanaian musicologists
Ghanaian Presbyterians
University of Ghana alumni
Academic staff of the University of Ghana