Celebrations and remembrances are taking in place in Ghana today for this man.

He's Ghanaian musician Kofi Ghanaba. But for part of his career he was known as Guy Warren.

Kofi Ghanaba died late last year. And tonight concerts are being held in the capital Accra to pay tribute to his music.

Kofi Ghanaba was an influential drummer. He the first Ghanaian drummer to forge a successful career here, and he was credited with introducing African percussion into American jazz.

That was in the 1950s.

He played with jazz greats like Thelonius Monk, John Coltrane, and Billie Holiday.

He and Holiday were reportedly a couple at one time.
Kofi Ghanaba continued to record and perform around the globe for several decades.

Then he became a Buddhist monk and retired... for a time. But the pull of music lured him back.

COLLINS: "His contributions was a long term contribution to Ghanian popular culture."

John Collins is a professor at the University of Ghana.
He says Kofi Ghanaba may not be a major influence on young Ghanaian hip hop artists OR hip-lifers right now, but he hopes that will change.

COLLINS: "I'm not sure if the Hip Lifers will miss him or not, but maybe in 20 or 30 years they will realize what a great man they had in their midst."

Kofi Ghanaba's body will be cremated tomorrow. He died in December at the age of 85.