E. T. Mensah

Emmanuel Tettey Mensah, best known as E. T. Mensah (31 May 1919 – 19 July 1996), was a Ghanaian musician who was regarded as the "King of Highlife" music. He led The Tempos, a band that toured widely in West Africa.

E. T. Mensah
Birth nameEmmanuel Tettey Mensah
Born(1919-05-31)31 May 1919
Accra, Gold Coast
Died19 July 1996(1996-07-19) (aged 77)
Mamprobi, Accra, Ghana[1]
GenresHighlife
Associated actsThe Tempos

Early years

Mensah was born at Accra, in the Gold Coast, West Africa, on 31 May 1919. His early education took place at the Government School, Accra, and later at Accra High School. At the age of 12 he learned to play flute in the Government School band and in 1932 he began playing piccolo and flute in the Accra Orchestra, a schoolchildren's band. The leader of the Accra Orchestra at the time was a teacher, Joe Lamptey, who gathered talented young people together to form a band. Mensah continued to play with this orchestra and also learnt to play the alto-saxophone. His musical career was given an opportunity when he was able to finance his own musical ventures by opening a pharmacy.[2]

E.T. Mensah also has an elder brother, Yebuah Mensah, who was the leader of a dance orchestra in the Gold Coast.[3] Yebuah Mensah and his younger brother E.T. Mensah formed the Accra Rhythmic Orchestra,[4] which won the Lambeth Walk Dance Competition in 1939 at the King George Memorial Hall, now known as the Parliament House in Ghana.[5]

The Tempos and later career
An invitation to a concert featuring Louis Armstrong "from America" and E. T. Mensah and his Tempos Band "of West African Fame"

The original "Tempos" band was formed in 1946 as a "jam session" group by some European soldiers stationed in Accra. It played for army dances and at the Accra club. Over time, African musicians replaced the European ones, until finally it became an all-African band. Mensah joined the band in 1947. Shortly after this the band split up, to be reformed again with Mensah as its leader.[2] The group gained international attention and in 1957 Mensah performed with Louis Armstrong.

The highlife style of music started to decline in the 1960s, but E. T. Mensah remained active for years afterwards.[6] He co-starred on a highly successful album with the Nigerian trumpeter Dr Victor Abimbola Olaiya.[7]

Discography
E. T. Mensah & The Tempos
  • King of Highlife Anthology, four-CD box (2015, RetroAfrica)[8]
Contributing artist

References
  1. John Collins, "E. T. Mensah", GhanaWeb.
  2. Decca Presents E. T. Mensah And His Tempo's Band — album information on Decca WAL 1001
  3. Acquah, Edward (9 April 2018). "DJs should be creative to blend old and contemporary Highlife on air - Presenter". Kasapa102.5FM. Retrieved 11 August 2020.
  4. Collins, John (1985). Musicmakers of West Africa. Lynne Rienner Publishers. p. 65. ISBN 978-0-89410-075-8.
  5. "E. T. Mensah". www.ghanaweb.com. Retrieved 11 August 2020.
  6. Afropop.org
  7. Richard Eghaghe. "Victor Olaiya: 50 years of ingenious highlife on stage". Daily Independent. Retrieved 11 April 2019 – via Worldservice.
  8. "A HOT BOX OF HIGHLIFE DELIGHTS! E.T. Mensah & The Tempos: King of Highlife Anthology", RetroAfric.

Further reading
  • John Collins (1996). E. T. Mensah King of Highlife. Anansesem Publications. ISBN 978-9988552176.


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