Music of Wednesday, 19 September 2007

Source: ghanamusic.com

Agya Bomofour put girlfriend saga behind to release “Zakia”

Among the household names during the mid-Hiplife days (millennium-Hiplifers) was Agya Abomofour made up of the duo, Thunder and Fumakoshie. Their maiden album “Meda Ho Mawo” released in 2002 on the Frimprince Music Production label, which they featured, the likes of Nkasie’s Shy (now in London) and good old Charlie Pee earned them a place among the best during those days.


Public response to their music was fantastic and encouraging but that romance didn’t last for long as the following year saw the two going solo


Thunder then changed his name to Bomofour and released his debut: “Adjoa Fowah” that became an instant hit all over the country and beyond. That album boasted of good remixes from Alhaji K. Frimpong and Thomas Frimpong (The Best of Lifes) apology to Obour. He then collaborated with friends like Osarany to form an adhoc musical group called Triple ‘O.


Thunder now Bomofour has now come back to his roots, that is his old producer Frimprince and with his second solo album called Zakia, after that misunderstanding with the Kofi Nti and his girlfriend who was cheating on him. With the release of Zakia, Bomofour’s personal second, has specialized in the use of female names in his songs to his advantage and also calling for attention to the new collection of good songs he is unleashing, though without Best of Lifes this time around.


The album opens with Akweley a popular Ga name is used by the singer to venerate and actually sang in the lady’s native dialect in other to win her favor. The beautiful song is a combination of a popular South Africa rhythm and beat. If you happen to hear it for the first time you may mistakenly take it for a South African stuff.


This is because the melodious voice presentation by the lady and the harmonious smooth drive to the heart of the lady with South African ascent by the singer makes the song unique and irresistible. The use of the guitar solos and the bass line as the main ingredient that moves the music.


Zakia is the title track of the album and is a combination of two different languages: Akan and Hausa as the name suggest, is another lovely track that has been cleverly fused with an Hausa feel. The rendition is superb and beautiful except that I have problem with the mixing and the rap by Ntensere. It is very difficult to reconcile whatever he is driving at but I must praise Najo of FBS fame for his proficiency and flow.


In the song the singer promised her Moslem girlfriend not to worry since he is committed to her and assured her of his readiness to convert (Tuba) into Islam if that is what will satisfy her.


Yonko Pa, (My Best friend), is a hilife tune and trust Thunder to give it to you the way it should be. The instrumentation on this song is very profound, this may be due to the use of a lot of assorted instruments whiles he sang smoothly over it. Musically he actually employs faltering in his composition to draw the attention of the listener to whatever he is driving at. The staccato sweet words he applied here seems to be directed to a lady he is in love. Enjoy it.


Hye Me Bo (Promise) is my favorite on 8-track album, featuring one of the best hardcore rappers in Ghana today, Okra Wa who want to date Okra Ba. It is a mid-tempo beat with unadulterated organ works for your listening pleasure. The Okra-Bomofour collaboration is a masterpiece. He asked his lover to promise him that she is not going to leave him alone. He tried to flatter her by saying “if the heart is like a pawpaw he would have cut it open for her to see how deep he loves her”.


Yehwie Agu is a cool tantalizing and sizzling song that would melt your heart out. His style of singing on this cool and slow pace song goes a long way to show how versatile the singer is. It is blazing which is dedicated to the ladies as usual. The back-up lady did well to carry the emotion and its effect to the listener to enjoy it to the fullest, wonderful! The rest of the songs include; Me Nyae a Nka, Otuu Mani and Our Love in which he featured Reggie Zippy.


Bomofour is back with a renew enthusiasm and vim as a result he is here to take his rightful place in the music scene after a long absence. The album is produced by Frimprince Music Production, Katamanso and Distributed by Pat Thomas in Kumasi and Abeiku Container in Takoradi.