Uncle,

It was with a heavy heart seeing go through the dying process.You are a real man because you really fought.My children,I and your sister Christie will forever remember you for your kindness,encouragement and your lovely jokes.You were always proud of me and my profession.

as you tread the Verge of Jordan,maythe fiery cloudy pillar land you safe on Canaan's side.Rest in Perfect Peace from Veronica Antwi Darkwa and children.

In 1973, I met Komla in a small eating place on the first day of arrival at the University Of Pittsburgh.. I had accepted a Teaching Assistant Position at the University while I pursued doctorate degree in Ethnomusicology. As I was paying for my meal, Komla arrived at the same time to pay for his meal. As we talked we found out that we were both were  in the same program at Pitt. The program was under the direction of Dr. Nathan Davis, a great jazz musician and scholar who created internationally known jazz seminars and concerts at the university. 
 
During our course of studies, we became close friends. He finished ahead of me  and found employment. I later finished and returned to my home town to accept the position of Supervisor of Music for the Caddo Parish School System. A part of my responsibility was to evaluate textbooks for State adoption. As I reviewed books, I came across a book titled "WE SHARE MUSic". When I reached the 3rd grade level of the book, I saw a picture of Komla Amoaku. I recognized him but there was no information about him. When I reached the 5th grade level there was a full page photo of him in his full African regalia and drums. I nearly jumped out of my seat.


I mediately called the Pitts' music department to see if I locate Komla. I was later told that he was a Howard Unversity. I called told him what I had seen in the book and that it was related to the Orff-Kodaly Music Program that we were considering for State adoption. He told that he had done some work for Carl and Mary Orff for the book. Immediately asked if he could come to Shreveport and do a workshop for the teachers. He said yes!


I immediately secured the funding, set date and secured two days for music teachers to attend. Komla came and knocked everybody out. He was very effective in his demonstrations and the teachers loved him. While there he stayed in my home with my family. Later that day I took him to a proprietary music school that my father and I owned and had him play for my father who was a jazz pianist. Later that evening we had him to play for one of the classes and again he knocked everyone out.


My father and I decided that we wanted the community to hear Komla perform. On a very short notice we secured the Riverfront Center for a one night performance. We added our inhouse 18 piece jazz ensemble to play with him. We made one day announcements in radio, and newspaper about the performance. The teachers and told their students to bring their parents.


The River Center crowd was standing room only. We opened with the big band and Komla on African drums, seated in front of the band. This was just a teaser opener. On the second selection Komla was featured alone. He was fantastic. I had never heard drums played like that. At times, it sounded as though more than five persons were performing simtaneously. It was an amazing performance. Komla was very talented, very smart and humble. He will be missed.
  .
 .

    
       

We interviewed Professor Amoaku at his house in Ho in August 2010 for our documentary film "Sounds from Ghana". Appart from the fact that he has given us great tips as well as  thoughtfull and valuable input for the film, he has also been such a warm and welcoming host and incredible gentle man! May his soul rest in peace.
We will never forget him !

Jochen Schell
Lucía Arias Ballesteros

Sublime World Productions. 

I have many memories of Komla’s visits to South Africa ; he was an amazing musician himself, an excellent teacher and such a humble human being.  

He broadened the horizons of all the participants in his workshops – of the whites who had little knowledge of indigenous African music, he showed them how to incorporate it into their teaching to enhance education and nation building in our country; and of the black delegates to show them the value and significance of their own music to the country and the cause of nation building.

The following story which my husband remembers illustrates this point graphically:

The most delightful story I heard about Komla on his first trip here was when Geoff Smith, Inspector of Music Education in PE, ordered all the “music” teachers in Mthatha to attend a workshop for teachers run by Komla.  They were all Xhosa women who had been taught how to play the piano and were teaching children how to play the piano.  That was “music”.

Komla began by asking the teachers to sing him some little song they had learnt on their mother’s knee!  Dead silence, if not horror!    But Komla insisted explaining that he did not know any Xhosa tunes.  Eventually one nervous, giggling younger teacher sang a little ditty.  Komla was delighted.  Did they all know that tune?  Yes they did, still highly suspicious if not embarrassed.  Komla said, “Well, lets workshop that tune and see what we can get out of it.”  He organised them: some singing, some dancing, some clapping, some body percussion, others playing whatever instruments they could lay their hands on.  One humble little ditty went on for about four minutes with everybody working hard!  What a change. Laughter, smiling faces, happy and excited people.

When Komla asked if there were any other tunes learnt on Mother’s knee there was no holding back.  They just poured them out. Then they got to work. They workshopped them into a performance of about 20 minutes or more.  Of course they went over time, but participants had lost all sense of ‘home time’!  Those who came to fetch them did not mind waiting, they made up an amazed and enthusiastic audience.

When it was all over, one teacher said to Komla, “I never realised that our (Xhosa) music is REAL music.”  Joyous but also sad – sad in that minds had been constricted if not closed for so long.

Dear Komla, the LIBERATOR of people’s minds through music, all kinds of music, leading to personal happiness, joy and LIFE.

We  value his contribution to our transformation to a much more understanding society which is learning to appreciate all the cultures in our country and pass as much as we can on to the next generations.

May he rest in peace

Clive and Penny Whitford (retired to Grahamstown)

I had the unique opportunity to meet Dr. Amoaku during one of his visits to Ghana in 1990 right after my national service days. I had always dreamt of furthering my education abroad and being 18 years at that time, my parents were reluctant since they didn’t know anybody in Ohio to be my guardian.

I remember that evening when my mum and I were introduced by a good friend Dennis Amoaku. Dr Amoaku  welcomed us warmly and assured mum I will be in good hands. That statement started a journey of a thousand miles... I got to meet his family in Ohio in August of 1990 – Auntie Ellen, Patrick, Kwaku, Senyo and Selassie Amoaku and they readily accepted me as one of their own.
Through his many ties, I got to work with one of the greatest artist who became my mentor, Bing Davis.  Not forgetting Andrew Scott, Abner Cope and Mr Porter. These ties won me special and favorable mentions to study at Ohio State’s Advanced Computing Center for Art and Design with Charles Csuri – a pioneer in the field of computer graphics, computer animation and digital fine art and working at the Wexner Center for the Arts.

These are the foundations that you set for me and I never got the chance to say thank you. Your next challenge for me is reminding me always to return home to experience life with my parents while they are still living. On all my numerous trips back to Ghana, all your converstations to me echoed “come home”!
Later in life, I got to know Auntie Korkor (one of the most amazing women), Mayfair, your daughter and John Owoo - All very positive influences in jump starting a website company.

dad is heart broken, my mum is wailing for her best friend, she calls you her “paddy”.  She had told me her next trip to Accra will be to see you but she is a week late.
But I didn’t even get the chance to thank you yet, I didn’t even thank you for bringing the band to play at my grandpa’s funeral….

You wouldn't want me to weep anymore, or shed any more tears, but allow me to thank you for making my journey in life possible. And as said in one of your songs, I will dance, dance and be happy, rejoice and dance around. I am going to sing, sing, sing all my troubles away and be glad I am here today.

I leave you with four words….Rest In Perfect Peace - by Anita