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Philip Gbeho
Philip Comi Gbeho was a Ghanaian musician, composer and teacher. He is best known for his composition of the Ghana National Anthem. He was instrumental in the establishment of the Arts Council of Ghana and was a Director of Music and conductor of the National Symphony Orchestra in Ghana.
14January
1904
14 January 1904
Born
Philip Gbeho was born on Saturday, 14 January 1904, in Vodza, a fishing village in the suburb of Keta in the Volta Region
03July
1925
03 July 1925
Early life
Philip Gbeho, a gifted musician, honed his talents in piano, violin, and organ through his education at Keta Roman Catholic Boys School and Achimota Teacher Training College, where he later became an organist at St. Michael's Catholic Cathedral, founded the St. Cecilia's Choir, and established a music school that prepared students for London's Victoria College of Music exams upon returning to Keta as a teacher.
03July
1954
03 July 1954
Later life
Philip Gbeho, recognized for his musical talents, taught at Achimota College before pursuing further studies in the UK, where he gained recognition for his lectures, performances, and broadcasts on African music; upon returning to Ghana, he dedicated himself to teaching music, preserving indigenous music, promoting Ghanaian culture, and establishing the National Symphony Orchestra and Choir.
03July
1957
03 July 1957
National Anthem
Philip Gbeho won a national competition to compose the National Anthem of Ghana, which replaced "God Save the Queen" as the country's anthem on the eve of its independence, although the original lyrics of Gbeho's composition were later replaced with new ones written by a commissioned literary committee.
03July
197203 July 1972
Honours and tributes
Dr. Seth Cudjoe, who succeeded Gbeho as Chairman of the Arts Council of Ghana, praised Gbeho's enthusiasm and contributions to the cultural development of the country, leading to him being honored with the Grand Medal and recognized as the "Father of the present Arts Council of Ghana," while Geoffrey Mensah Amoah highlighted Gbeho's skills as a conductor and leader of the National Symphony Orchestra, as well as his arrangements of popular highlife tunes and indigenous songs.
24September
1976
24 September 1976
Death
Philip Gbeho passed away on September 24, 1976, leaving behind a family of seven children, including Victor Gbeho, who became a diplomat and Minister of Foreign Affairs in the Fourth Republic, Theresa Abui Tetteh, an organist, music teacher, and Director of the National Symphony Orchestra Ghana, and Peter Tsatsu Gbeho, who serves as a Director in the Ministry of Information.
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