Did ever know Alhaji Sidiku Buari was a strong athlete?

The name Alhaji Sidiku Buari no longer rings a bell. It has assumed the character of a loud drum-beat that  can be heard several miles outside coverage area. Musicians and composers say he is their Godfather, producers pay him homage and say a prayer in his name.

In some circles, Alhaji Sidiku Buari is a cult figure; in others he is a mentor. His kind heart has endeared him to thousands of those who need pieces of advice and support to carve a niche for themselves in the hugely competitive world of survival.

It is almost a tragedy that people hardly know who Sidiku Buari is and what he was in the days of his youth.

He was born in Accra and attended Government Boys School, Row Road, and African College in Accra.

He was a former national athlete who displayed exceptional athletic qualities and made Ghana proud. He won a Silver Medal in the 400 meters in the All African Games held in Dakar, Senegal in February 1963.

In August 1963 the same year, he represented Ghana in the West Africa games which was held in Ibadan, Nigeria and won one Gold, one Silver in the 400 and 400 meters relay for Ghana.

In the year 1965 he won a Bronze Medal in the All African Games held in Congo Brazzaville in the 400 meters.

As fate would have it, Alhaji Sidiku Buari left the shores of Ghana in 1966 to United States of America and attended York Institute and Bronx Community Business Administration.

However, he had the knack for music and when the opportunity was right, he attended New York School of Music where he majored in the Notation and Business of Music. He proceeded to La Sale University in Chicago Illinois to study Interior Decoration.

He was sporty, strong and athletic. No wonder he ended up playing in the non-Professional Baseball in the United States and represented his school in games and sporting events. He also represented the non-Professional Baseball Club Concord in New York from 1978 to 1980.

All these notwithstanding, the music in his blood began stirring. He was the second African to have a contract with the Radio Corporation of America in New York in which his first album was released entitled ‘Karanbani’.

He returned to Ghana in the Year 1985 to release an album entitled ‘African responds to the World’ from which he raised C250, 000 for charity, a feat which won him an ECRAG Award.

He has since released 16 albums in Ghana which were all successful.

Alhaji Sidiku Buari is also a pioneer in film production in Ghana. His movie was the first to take off at Ghana Film Industry, entitled “Ayalolo”.

He is the immediate past President of the Musicians Union of Ghana (MUSIGA) and vice of President of the International Federation of Musicians (FIM).

He has won not less than 52 awards, both national and international in several countries including USA, Britain and South Africa.

Presently, he owns three companies including a forex bureau, studio and a theatre.

Alhaji’s greatest wish for Ghana is the revival and promotion of athletics as in the days of Alice Anum and Mike Ahey.