A scene from the burial ceremony
Thousands of Ghanaians including musicians, music producers as well as people from all walks of life last Saturday joined the family of the late A.B. Crentsil to mourn the death of their beloved son.
He died on July 13 this year at the Bank Hospital in Accra after a short illness and was laid to rest Saturday at his hometown, Ewoyaa near Saltpond in the Central Region.
He left behind nine children.
Before the burial on Saturday, there was a wake-keeping at the Community 8 Park in Tema on Friday, November 4, where a large number of musicians and stakeholders in the creative arts industry, as well as hundreds of fans filed past A.B.’s body and paid their last respects.
The burial and funeral ceremonies of the late highlife musician attracted a large number of musicians and other stakeholders in the music industry who gathered at the Community 8 Park to bid farewell to the late highlife icon.
Among personalities who graced the ceremony include former President John Dramani Mahama, Mr. Alan Kyerematen, Minister of Trade and Industry among others.
The presence of some seasoned music personalities such as Abrantie Amakye Dede, Bessa Simons, Pat Thomas, Obour, Smart Nkansah, Samuel Owusu, Tagoe Sisters, Rex Omar, Obuoba J.A. Adofo, Kojo Antwi, Kofi Kinaata and a host of others attracted a large number of mourners who trooped to the venue to have a full glare of the musicians they only saw on the screen.
The musicians turned the funeral ceremony into a lively affair as they mounted the stage one after the other to perform.
They however, described the death of their colleague as a big blow to the Ghanaian music industry.
A.B. Crentsil produced great highlife songs such as ‘I Go Pay You Tomorrow’, ‘Papa Samo’, ‘Moses’, ‘Juliana’, ‘Atia’, ‘Angelina’, ‘Ayen’, ‘Devil’, ‘Adwoa’, ‘Adam and Eve’ among others.
Credited with 25 albums, A.B. worked with the likes of Jewel Ackah, Pat Thomas, Eric Agyeman, Smart Nkansah, Pope Flynn among others.
By George Clifford Owusu