Burger Highlife To Rock Town

Lee Duodu was like a commander leading troops through uncharted territories as his sturdy voice, cruising on a mix of danceable highlife and funk beats created in German recording studios, confronted listeners in the early 1980s. Like his colleagues in the Bus Stop Band then, Lee was somehow hopeful that the style they had formulated would arouse some interest back home. Luckily, the music caught on and was even branded ‘Burger highlife’ by fans. Lee will be part of the line-up when the music is celebrated again on a big scale at the National Theatre in Accra on Saturday, March 8. He will share the stage with Ben Brako, George Darko, Charles Amoah, Bob Fiscian, McGod and Pat Thomas at the show dubbed Made in Germany II. "We did not give any name to the music," Lee told Graphic Entertainment in a telephone interview from his Berlin base. "We were aware that African music was not strongly represented on the world scene then. Manu Dibango, the big African star then, was not so hot anymore and Toure Kunda from Senegal was just beginning to rise. We wanted to fill the void then, so all of us in the band put ideas together for an easily digestible cross-over style.” George Darko was leader and guitarist for the Bus Stop band, which unfortunately disbanded soon after the groundbreaking Koo Te Brofo release. Lee went on to form Kantata, which also put out notable songs like Akpeteshie, Odo Beba, It's High Time, Saworoma and Let's Save Africa . Lee was a potent force on the local scene before settling in Germany. Bands he played with here included Medican Lantics, Police Band, Bisa Goma and Zantoda. Lee would not say whether there was bad blood between him and Darko as was being bandied around in music circles but was emphatic that he would do all the favourite Kantata pieces at the National Theatre next Saturday. "I have not been home for eight years and it will be nice getting back there to put some sun into the bones and also to do some of the Kantata stuff which I like very much. As of now, I know I’m not performing with Goorge Darko but I won't mind doing a song or two with him if the audience want that." Lee, McGod and Fiscian were expected to arrive in Accra from Germany Friday night February 22. Made in Germany II is being produced by World Rhythms in collaboration with the Goethe-Institut. It is being supported by Lufthansa and the National Theatre of Ghana with GTV, Citi FM, Channel R, Weekly Fylla and ghanamusic.com as media partners.