He established himself as one of the important personalities on the Ghanaian popular music scene from the mid-1970s and bassist, singer, arranger, composer and producer, Eugene Nene Agyeman Cropper, better known as Kenteman, is continuing to shed new light on his creativity.

His recently-recorded songs slated for a soon-to-be-released album, are refreshing musical documents that draw upon a wide palette of rhythms, melodies and textures.

Known to many as a brother of well-known Highlife exponent, Queen Asabia Cropper, he has been his sister’s mentor and the brain behind her rise in showbiz. Kenteman has always been a solid music act on his own and also a kente fashion icon alongside his sister over the years.

 The welter of influences that have characterised his musical journey is reflected in one of his new tracks called ‘People of the World.’ It is a collection of rhythmic intersections that plainly uphold his compositional abilities.

Another track, ‘We Wear Kente Colours,’ is a bouncy, Highlife-flavoured piece that outlines his love for kente fashion and music. The song’s lyrics point out Kenteman’s ideas about togetherness and why people of all colours and shades must always stand up and exhibit the pride they have in their roots.

His pride in being a Ghanaian musician and adherent to kente fashion goes a long way back. In The Mirror newspaper of May 4, 1985, artswriter Nanabanyin Dadson 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.”

For decades, a lot of people have known him as the original Kenteman who was a member of the Tema-based Sweet Talks and Black Hustlers bands in the 1970s. With his evocative basslines and general contribution, he helped the bands create an indigenous brand loved at home and abroad.

He worked with the Eboni Record label in Cote d’Ivoire in the early 1980s and played on some of Mory Kante’s recordings when the popular Guinean star was on the Eboni label.

The management of Disco Stock International in Cote d’Ivoire assigned him to arrange and produce Queen Asabia’s ‘Wamaya’ album in 1981. The duo worked on a lot of material together after that which won international acclaim.

One of their proudest moments was when 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 the brother and sister at the URTNA Awards ceremony in Kenya in 1993.

Kenteman is a Ghanaian original who for half a century, has significantly contributed to uplifting Ghanaian and African music and has also helped bring global attention to the kente fashion.