After Ephraim Amu Came Zapp Mallet

Emmanuel Kwame Mallet has been a genius since childhood. Aside making good grades in school, he was an autodidact who taught himself how to play the guitar, bass and keyboard. He always loved music and had a natural inclination for it. Perhaps the only thing that surpassed this unwavering love was the mothers love, vice versa, being her only child. His self-discipline, passion and hardwork was to a large extent the 100-hour rule in play and this gave him mastery over these instruments in no time.

The light he bore was so bright and at Accra Academy Senior High School, his talent became common knowledge. Without sidelining his academic work, he will perform to the admiration of the students and more.

Soon Emmanuel, reached a stage where he needed a name to complement his music and the name Emmanuel was perhaps not going to strike that chord.

He settled for the name "Zapp Mallet", where Zapp represents American funk band that emerged from Dayton, Ohio, United States, in 1977. This is a band he loved so much so he fused their name to his surname "Mallet".

He gained admission to Kwame Nkrumah University of Science & Technology to study Book Industry. He continued doing music and started making a name for himself. Aside graduating with a Second Class Upper, he had also attained enough skills, self belief and confidence to make the bold decision of doing music professionally.

Truly, the over 6 feet tall, giant looking young man, indeed had the potential to be a giant in many fields. However he chose music even as his mother didn't see it as the best choice at that moment. Regardless, he believed he was going to be a giant in music one day. In good time, he had become an integral part of thriving bands like Abundant Life in the 70's and also the gospel music group Joyful Way (now Joyful Way Incorporated).

He had the gift of making something great out of little especially at a time where studio equipment and technology was expensive and unaccessible. He had a midas touch. Zapp Mallet was quickly becoming wildly known and the turning point came with the proliferation of radios in Ghana. Joy FM hired his services for jingles and behind the scenes, he had worked on some great albums including that of Rex Omar.

Upon the return of Reggie Rockstone to Ghana and the bustling hip hop genre, the first Hip Life song was made by Reggie Rockstone produced and engineered by Zapp Mallet. This changed the Ghanaian music landscape and influenced the West African Music scene. Eventually becoming a source of employment for many.

This genre has gone a long way to influence what is celebrated today as Afrobeats by the world. Prior to to Hiplife,

Zapp Mallet had as far back as 1989 made hits for multiple award winning Ghanaian gospel singers, Tagoe Sisters, Hannah Marfo and Obotantim by Francis Agyei. It was on this occasion, he met and recorded multiple award winning gospel singer Diana Hamilton who was a teenager then.

Zapp Mallet has single handedly pioneered and influenced at least 3 major genres in Ghanaian music. Notably Highlife, Hiplife and gospel. Highlife and Hiplife have clearly crystallized into what is called Afrobeats today.

The tall list of songs he has engineered and produced include Agoo – Reggie Rockstone, Tsooboi – Reggie Rockstone, Nightlife in Accra – Reggie Rockstone

Visa – Reggie Rockstone
Keep Ya Eyes on the Road – Rockstone
If You Don’t Want Me – Reggie Rockstone

Mensesa – Reggie Rockstone Big Dreams – Wutah , Sanbra – Root Eye, Abrewa Nana ft Samini – Esisi Meso, Wo Din – Praye , Medo – Lord Kenya, Yɛ W’adwen Yie – Lord Kenya, Driver Susukɔ – Lord Kenya, Sika Baa – Lord Kenya, Nwom No – Lord Kenya, Fameko – Lord Kenya, Chap with the Rap – Kenya, Sika Mpo Mfa Neho – Lord Kenya

, Slip Music All-Stars – Afehyia Pa, TH4 Kwages – Taxi Driver, TH4 Kwages – Sɛ Maa Metea, Nananom – Panin Na Obi Nnyɛɛ Bi Da, Nananom – Asɛm Sɛbɛ, Nsatea nyinaa nnyɛ pɛ – Nananom, Sass Squad – Obaa Serwaa, Daasebre Gyamena – Ntoro, Akon – Ghetto (remake), Police Abaa – Nsia Piesie, Mesan Aba – Akyeame, Brebre – Akyeame, Bra Yɛntena – Akyeame, Asa Abaso – Akyeame, Atia Donko – Nana Quame, Burning Desire – Wutah, Ngozi – Micheal Dwamena, Wobre Na Wenya – Adane Best

Fa W’akoma Me – Rex Omar, Daniel in the Lion’s Den – Felix Bell, Akokora Tipa – Yoggi Doggi, Obrafour – Okukuseku, Akyeame ft Root Eye – Brɛbrɛ Obaahema, Agya Bomofoɔ ft. Charlie Pee & Shy – Medahɔ M’awo, Me Dɔ Mu Eduru – Tommy Wiredu, Yaa Maame – Joe Frazier, When Peace Like a River – Black Heritage, Chooboi – Naana and Dan, Asew Konofuor – Nana Quame

Kofi B – Mmɔbrɔwa, Kotosa – Rex Omar, Wasei M’adwen – Sass Squad, Macha Macha – Helena Rhabbles, Okamafo Nyame – Helena Rhabbles, Yedi Nkunim – Tagoe Sisters, Mebo Wo Din Daa – Daughters of Glorious Jesus, Mmrane – Suzzy & Matt, Tsooboi – Suzzy & Matt, Yehowa – Suzzy & Matt, Eno Abena – Nana Quame ft. Obrafour and more

His contributions to the Ghanaian culture through music with genres like Hiplife, Gospel Music and also West African music generally is indelible and unrivaled. Although he prefers to remain behind the scenes, he has not been appreciated enough. He deserves his flowers. He deserves to be honored over and over again.

He has contributed massively to the Music and Entertainment industry and empowered the youth. Thanks to his ingenuity, many lives have being empowered through music and it's peripherals. This has brought Jobs and expanded the government's tax net. I am not by any means down playing the role of others in the evolution of Ghanaian and West African music by the above.

To be blunt, Art and Culture/Entertainment are some of the major factors enabling the peace we have enjoyed as a country for a protracted period. It has also enabled the level of happiness Ghanaians enjoy.

This is why the Peki native, Emmanuel Kwame Mallet aka Zapp Mallet deserves all the praise for his great sacrifice and effort. After Ephraim Amu's contributions to Ghana, came Zapp Mallet from the same Peki township.

Selflessly he continues to work behind the scenes with some of the big stars on the continent and overseas. He equally avails himself for the up and coming, using every instance to impart and nurture the future of the West African sound and music. Just as his phone number 0244232251 has remained the same, so is his humility and love for talent. Fame hasn't given him an ego. He remains approachable, available for work and he is one of the few people. who has managed fame very well even though he is one of the greatest producers and engineers in the world.

Long Live Mother Ghana. Long live Zapp Mallet.

By Dumenu Charles Selorm