I had four people in the whole world I wanted to meet one day (meet, not see) they are people I called, my favourite humans from a distance.
Michael Jackson, Joseph Hill (Culture), Lord Kenya and Rev. Kusi Berko.
I always knew it was going to be quite difficult to realise this dream with MJ and Culture.
With Kusi Berko and Lord Kenya, I knew it was just a matter of time.
Unfortunately, we don’t control time and certain events.
In 2006, Joseph died, in 2009, Michael Jackson died and then in 2014, my dear Kusi Berko died. This year, with life, I intend to have a lunch date with Lord Kenya.
Today, I want to talk about the man who made God’s head big.
Reverend Kusi Berko, who later changed his name to Kusi Brempong. Berko means he came to fight, Brempong means he is a mighty man.
When Revered Kusi Berko died, it felt like a personal loss, I was particularly hurt by the death because I felt I was at the point where all I needed was a little effort and a little luck.
Death brings closure but it doesn’t end the memory.
Introduced to his songs way back in 1996 when my dad purchased an album of his, I don’t know if that was his very first. However, there was this song titled, David vs Goliath. Even at that time, I was deeply fascinated by how he put those songs together. The narration of the David and Goliath story in that song was top-notch. That storytelling ability of his was taken to another level in his song: Edin Ben Ni, on the same album he had Edin No, his all-time and timeless hit, Ofata. Ofata told the story of John’s revelation encounter on Patmos in Rev 8 and 9.
As a singer/worshiper, Rev Kusi Berko specialised in songs that talked of God’s Greatness, his unparalleled superiority over everything that exists, and his sovereignty. In Akan, we call it mmerane. Mmerane isn’t just about worshipping God, it was about using metaphorical examples to describe the nature of God. Christians believe that God feels pampered when he is worshipped in this manner.
It takes dexterity in a language to be able to describe God in this manner and Kusi Berko proved that if we celebrate people for speaking impeccable English, we should accord those who spoke impeccable twi same level of reverence and acclaim. The difference between Shakespeare and Kusi Berko is that one was super good in English and the other super good in Twi.
In terms of writing songs, I will place him above any musician I have seen, whose song I have heard and whose lyrics I have paid attention to. I have listened to more than 2000 songs, I am ready to debate anyone on the lyrical prowess between any musician pitched against Kusi Berko.
His gift of composition is amazing and even more intriguing when you consider the fact that he wasn’t so well educated.
His song, Mmerane to me is the finest written Christian song of all time. It doesn’t have to be your best song or a favourite song, just look at the content and you’d struggle to draw a different conclusion.
I call him the man who made God’s head big, it’s a direct translation from the twi language that is used to describe the inherent feeling of a person who is being celebrated.
Throughout his musical career, Kusi Berko mastered this and did it so effortlessly. His songs transcend times and breaks generational barriers.
His song mmerane is one of the most remixed or sampled songs from a Ghanaian artist ever.
Today, I want to celebrate a man who gave his all for the Kingdom business and left a mark in an illustrious career.
Eight years after his death, his presence is being felt through his music.
We are still in awe of the gift that made him a unique worshiper in a generation blessed with super talented singers.
Unfortunately, I wasn’t able to celebrate Rev Kusi Berko while he lived, I hope his children or anyone related chances on this so they know not only how great a person their dad was but how high he raised the bar for Gospel Ministers.
Kusi Berko was buried in a casket designed in the form of the Accordion instrument.
For over 30 years, he held his accordion and sang to the glory of God.
Dead but as though asleep.
Laid to rest in his favorite instruments, he was returned to his maker
Cheers to the greatest composer that ever lived
Kofi Kyei
