By Benjamin Nii Nai Anyetei
It was an emotional scene at the forecourt of the State House in Accra on Saturday, as hundreds of mourners gathered to bid farewell to Ghanaian highlife legend Emmanuel Harris Brefo, popularly known as Dada KD.
The 54-year-old music star, who passed away in May 2025 after a brief illness, was given a solemn state burial that drew together a cross-section of Ghanaian society.
From musicians, politicians, businessmen, traditional leaders and government officials to ordinary citizens, many came out in their numbers to honour the life and legacy of the man whose music touched generations.
During the ceremony, tributes were read in memory of Dada KD, with family, friends and colleagues describing him as a gifted artiste whose works captured the essence of love, relationships and Ghanaian culture.
Veteran music producer Fred Kyei Mensah, speaking to GNA Entertainment on the sidelines of the funeral, eulogised the late singer:
“He has definitely left a legacy. Dada KD did a lot of love songs, and he had in-depth knowledge of our culture, so it brought confidence to his music, especially his lyrics. He was very intellectual when discussing things about life and was a principled person. It is rather unfortunate that he died at the age of 54.”
After the state funeral, the late musician’s remains were transported to Agona Asamang in the Ashanti Region, his hometown, where the burial and thanksgiving service was scheduled to take place on Sunday, September 21, 2025.
Dada KD hailed from the Asene Abusua family of Asamang and was the third of five siblings, born to Opanin Yaw Owusu and Madam Abena Asubonteng.
His death has left a void in the Ghanaian music industry, but many say his soulful voice and timeless highlife records will continue to live on.
