Ghana’s highlife and palmwine music legend, and former resident scholar at the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) Centre for Cultural and African Studies (CECAST), Agya Koo Nimo, is set to be celebrated in two major national tributes recognizing his lifelong devotion to the country’s rich musical heritage.

These honours come not only in recognition of his artistry, but also as an affirmation of his profound role as a cultural custodian and educator, one who has left indelible footprints on both national and academic platforms, especially at KNUST.

At the launch of the Black Star Experience on May 1, 2025, President John Dramani Mahama made a heartfelt appeal at Black Star Square. He called on the Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture to organize a state-led tribute for Agya Koo Nimo, urging Ghanaians to honour him while he is still alive.

Mahama described him as a living archive of Ghanaian music, whose storytelling through song has shaped national consciousness and instilled pride in local heritage.

In a complementary gesture, the Ghana Celebrity Impact Awards (GCIA) has named Agya Koo Nimo the recipient of its prestigious Lifetime Achievement Award.

The ceremony, scheduled for June 7, 2025, at the Conference Centre Arena in Accra, is expected to draw a wide range of dignitaries, musicians, and cultural enthusiasts for a night dedicated to honouring one of Ghana’s most revered musicians.

But Agya Koo Nimo’s influence has never been limited to national stages and airwaves alone. For decades, his voice and presence have resonated through the ceremonial spaces of KNUST, where he has become a beloved fixture at major university events, particularly congregation ceremonies.

With his guitar gently resting on his lap and a quiet dignity radiating from his presence, Agya Koo Nimo has opened and closed these solemn occasions with his iconic songs, delivering renditions that blend music, proverbs, and philosophy in both Twi and English.

Whether performing Efie ne Efie or Ohia Yɛ Ya, his appearances at KNUST are more than musical interludes; they are momentous cultural teachings.

For many graduating students, his songs have become part of the memory of their academic journey: a soothing reminder of home, wisdom, and the enduring beauty of tradition.