Let’s hear it for the Kenteman!

Whether playing straight-ahead Highlife melodies or any of the diverse contemporary grooves he has mastered over the years,multi-instrumentalist, singer, arranger, composer and producer,Eugene Nene Agyeman Cropper, known widely as Kenteman, has long been known for his admirable musical capabilities.

The man has now used his many past experiences to work out crisp new material he is about to put out in a collection that stands him out as a fully active musician who deserves wider recognition.

To many, Kenteman is just the brother of the famous Highlife exponent, Queen Asabia Cropper. The reality, however, is that he spurred his sister on to achieve laurels and continues to firmly be by her side as they get ready to mark 50 years together in music.

What is not commonly known is that Kenteman has consistently been full of vim and vigour on his own and also performed and recorded with other prominent folks in the popular music space.

1n 1981, Kenteman worked with the renowned Senegalese  recording engineer and producer, Abdoulaye Soumare of Eboni Records label in Côte d’Ivoire. Soumare was internationally-acclaimed singer, Stevie Wonder’s recording engineer at a point. Kenteman also played with celebrated Senegalese guitarist,Amadou Doukoure.

He collaborated with well-known Ivorian guitarist, Jimmy Hyacinthe and also played on some of notable Congolese singer,Sam Mangwana’s studio-recorded songs.

Apart from being the bassist with the Tema-based Sweet Talks and Black Hustlers bands, he also featured with the King of Highlife, E.T. Mensah and played with Highlife giants Joe Mensah and Agya Koo Nimo. Of course, he has arranged and produced all material recorded by Queen Asabia Cropper.

On his own newly-recorded material, Kenteman points at his maturity as he projects some fluent, Highlife-steeped fare while exploring other tasty territories.  ‘People of the World,’ for instance, embraces grooves for both those who like to get up and dance and those who like to sit, listen and simply enjoy something pleasant to their ears.

In ‘We Wear Kente Colours,’ Kenteman spells out his love for kente fashion and music. He has proudly,  alongside his sister Asabia, projected himself as a  genuine crusader for kentefashion since the 1980s.

In The Mirror newspaper of May 4 1985, artswriter NanabanyinDadson stated: “If you were quizzed about the one musician with whom the kente costume has come to be associated, you would jump to the name Eugenia Asabia Cropper.

“But just a moment. There’s a gentleman who also gives a very good portrayal of the indigenous and colourful kente of Ghana. He strums a bass guitar and is often costumed in a kente suit: trouser, vest, coat and all. His name is Eugene Nene Agyeman Cropper.”

The Union of Radio and Television Networks of Africa (URTNA) honoured Kenteman as the King of Kentemusic and conferred the title of Cultural Ambassadors of Africa on him and Queen Asabia at the URTNA Awards ceremony in Kenya in 1993.

So Kenteman continues to seamlessly thread his devotion to music  and kente fashion together as he deals with the never-ending challenge to stay himself and uphold his cherished Ghanaian and African roots.

(Source: Ndaye N’Diaye)