Daniel "Koo Nimo" Amponsah

I was born with the name Kwabena Boa-Amponsem, I was baptized Daniel Amponsah. On stage, I took the name "Koo Nimo"-"Koo" is a male child born on Friday, "Nimo" means "someone who takes the blame for something he has not done." I was born at Foase, Atwima No. 1, in the Asante region of Ghana, West Africa. My father, Opanin Kwame Amponsah was a trumpeter, a guitarist, a tailor, a builder and a shoemaker. My mother, Akua Fokuo, sang in the Methodist church. So I was born into a musical family. When I was eight, my sister, Akua Fosuaa, married Nana Kwame Bonsu, the late Otumfuo Opoku Ware's brother (Asantehene or King of the Asante). So I moved from my village to live around the palace. By living in the palace, I became exposed to the activities in the court. For example, the day before the festivals Adae or Odwira, there would be performances heralding the great days. In the evening we would hear ceremonial horns, then master drummers would play attributes and appellations for all the kings that had ruled the nation. When the Queen Mother had to leave her house for the main palace, it was often my role to carry her umbrella and follow her, something I longed to do. I learned how the court settled cases, where traditional jurisprudence was practiced, and I learned court language, where proverbs and figures of speech are very important.