Rex Omar

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Rex Omar (AKA Rex Owusu Marfo)
BornGhana
OriginGhanaian
GenresHighlife
Instrumentsvocal
Years active1989–present
Associated acts

Rex Omar (real name Rex Owusu Marfo[1]) is a Ghanaian highlife artist. He first rose to prominence in 1989 with the Aware Pa album which also included the track, Wodofo Ne Hwan? Following this, in 1992 he formed the Highlife Supergroup Nakorex together with fellow Highlife artists Nat Brew and Akosua Agyapong, the group's name being an acronym made up of the first letters of each member's name.[2][3] He then pursued a solo career. In 2004 Omar was nominated for a Kora award, and in 2005 he was nominated as Artiste of the Year in the Ghana Music Awards.[4]

Following the break-up of the group he eventually became the head of the Ghana Music Rights Organisation (GHAMRO), and in his role as an advocate for greater copyright protections for Ghanaian musicians successfully lobbied president John Agyekum Kufuor to withhold asset to the new Copyright Bill in order for protections to be strengthened.[5] He has also called for greater protections for the Ghanaian music market from foreign competition.[6]

In January 2020 he won a copyright infringement lawsuit against Joy Industries, for using a part of his song Dada Di Da to advertise Joy Dadi Bitters without his consent. The company was ordered by the High Court to pay costs of GH₵ 30,000 and damages of GH₵ 200,000 to Rex Omar.[7] Omar has feuded with former band-mate Akosua Agyapong over alleged misappropriation of GHAMRO funds.[8]

References[]

  1. ^ Andam, E.A. (2 November 2005). "Rex Omar - His View Of Africa". Graphic Showbiz. Daily Graphic. Retrieved 19 December 2018.
  2. ^ Transactions of the Historical Society of Ghana, Volumes 7-9. 2003. Retrieved 19 December 2018.
  3. ^ Broughton, Simon; Ellingham, Mark; Lusk, Jon; Antony Clark, Duncan (2006). The Rough Guide to World Music: Africa & Middle East. Rough Guides. p. 133. ISBN 1843535513. Retrieved 19 December 2018.
  4. ^ ), Margaret Safo (Mrs (2 April 2005). "Ghana Music Awards 2005". The Mirror (Ghana), p. 26. Retrieved 21 December 2018.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  5. ^ Asamoah-Baidoo, Arnold (5 March 2018). "Ghana Month: In celebration of Rex Omar". Graphic Online. Daily Graphic. Retrieved 19 December 2018.
  6. ^ Amoofia, Max (3 May 2018). "Rex Omar calls for 'cultural warfare' to protect Ghana's identity". Joy Online. Retrieved 19 December 2018.
  7. ^ "Rex Omar wins copyright case against Joy Dadi Bitters; awarded ¢200k in damages". www.myjoyonline.com. Retrieved 2020-01-30.
  8. ^ "VGMA20: I impressed upon 'feuding' Akosua Agyapong, Rex Omar to come together - Amandzeba". My News GH via Ghanaweb.com. 20 September 2020. Retrieved 10 February 2021.


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