C.K. Mann

Charles Kofi Amankwaa Mann (1936 – March 20, 2018), popularly known as C.K. Mann, was a legendary Ghanaian Highlife musician, producer, and guitarist. Known for modernizing traditional "Osode" fishermen music with Western instruments, he successfully blended Fante traditional Osode rhythms with jazz, soul, and highlife, creating a unique sound popular across the West African coast. After working as a seaman and playing with Moses Kweku Oppong's Kakaiku band, he became the leader of The Carousel 7 band in Takoradi and shot to stardom with the 1969 hit "Edina Benya." His career spanned over 40 years, and he was awarded the Grand Medal of Ghana in 2006 by President John Agyekum Kufuor for his immense contribution to Ghanaian music. He passed away in 2018 in Takoradi but is remembered as one of Ghana's foremost masters of original highlife music, with popular songs including "Adwoa Yankey," "Mber Papa," and "Araba Lucy."