Chief mourners and sympathizers who were at the National Theatre to bid the late highlife music legend, Khodjo Acquai farewell were disappointed by the absence of hiplife artistes.

Present at the funeral, however, were highlife musicians, executives of MUSIGA, family members and sympathizers.

The late Khodjo Aquai was last Saturday laid to rest at the Osu cemetery in Accra after a burial service at the National Theatre.

60-year-old Aquai died on July 16, 2007 at the Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital in Accra after a short illness. He left behind an only daughter, Muodupe Aquai, 28.

Until his death, Khodjo Aquai, who was a composer, arranger, producer and owner of Aquitone Medi Lab, was an active member of the Ghana Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers (GHASCAP) and the Coalition of Concerned Copyright Advocates (COCA).

Highlife musicians present at the ceremony included Charles Amoah, Paapa Yankson, Rex Omar, Alhaji Sidiku Buari, Carlos Sakyi, Pat Thomas and many others.

Other dignitaries also present at the burial ceremony were Elleonore Sylla, Director of Goethe Institut, pastors and some government officials.

In a tribute read on behalf of his friends by Carlos Sakyi, chief executive officer of Galaxy Entertainment, he was described as a man who was much concerned about the plight of Ghanaian musicians and agitated for a proper system to address all the problems that they faced in the country.

He said musically Aquai was in a class of his own; a perfectionist who delighted in the musical works that he created.

According to Mr. Sakyi, the late Aquai was a true and trusted friend who paid attention to anyone who approached him with a problem, without being judgmental.

“His ability to empathize was amazing,” he stated.

His only child, Moudupe Aquai, in her tribute recounted some of the memorable moments she shared with her father, such as playing the piano together and teaching her to read before entering kindergarten and primary school.

She said independence and self-reliance were other characteristics put in her by her dad.

“If I wanted to know the meaning of a word, I could not expect him to tell me, I had to look it up myself,” she said.

Moudupe said her late father thought her to appreciate varieties of music and was glad that he loved the work he did.

Pastor Alfred Lamptey of Saint Barnabas Anglican Church, Osu advised all friends and family members of the deceased to take heart and look up to God to carry them through this difficult moment.

He told the congregation they should know death was part of life on earth as well as the beginning of a new life.

“Man should know that death is not the end, but the beginning of a new life,” the pastor stressed.