Nana Fynn: From Odo Handkerchief To Dokodoko

Nana Fynn ?I am not planning on outdoing my own record, I?m charting a course?. These were the words of Nana Fynn in answer to the question whether his third album, Dokodoko, can hold a candle to Odo Handkerchief, his previous album.

With the release of Nana Fynn?s second album many questions are being asked by the listening public. One of such questions is ?Where has this guy been all this while?? Odo Handkerchief was an instant hit that set the artiste on the path to stardom.

With Dokodoko, he has confirmed his arrival among Ghanaian contemporary highlife heavyweights. Nana Fynn?s current album boasts of well thought-out songs like Sika, Thank You God, Hyia Me, I Do and the title track Dokodoko. As one listens from one song to another, one comes to appreciate the reason why Nana Fynn insists that his songs are not for people in a hurry.

The songs slowly grows on listeners, before they know it, they are smitten. A typical example of such songs is Sika which is done in a beautiful dance hall beat. The instrumentation for the song perfectly matches with the sober message that the song conveys.

Nana sings that all the world?s riches cannot buy life but if it is the will of God everyone should have a little because poverty turns princes into paupers. The song features an artiste who wants to be known as Kupa who does a little raglife to complete the dancehall presentation of the song.

Opening side B is the nuptial song I Do. Nana employs the famous phrase that most people are looking forward to saying at least once in their lives into a mellow song that everyone will love to listen to. The guitar and the keyboard combine to give a full, deep and rich sound that compliments Nana?s husky voice. Backing vocalist Mariam Douge needs commendation here. It is clear than Nana?s favourite inspiration is love.

Most of his songs serenades his lover. However love is not the only subject he sings about. Certain social issues also gain his attention here and there like the song Me Wo Odo.

Surviving a motor accident some months back was what gave Nana Fynn the inspiration needed to record the song Thank You God. It was written on his accident bed when he realised how narrowly he had escaped serious injury.

The reggae instrumentation that accompanies the song enhances the lyrics. Nana Fynn Acquaah Harrison, his full name, is a trained graphic designer who insists that music is a jealous profession that does not like competition from any formal job.

According to him his ?formal career will only stifle my charismatic feel?The album was released on the Soul Record label and most of the recording and programming were done at the TLC studious except Thank You God which was recorded at Crystal Bay studios in Tema.