Akwaaba Music is an Accra-based label and agency, founded in 2008 by Benjamin Lebrave.

The label came up at a time when most African artists remained excluded from major music platforms and markets. The situation has continuously improved since, yet support and infrastructure remain scarce for a wide range of artists – even entire genres.

Akwaaba fits where it is most needed: distributing and marketing releases is still our foundation, but we also operate a recording studio, we organize international tours, we are a publishing company with a solid track record of sync licenses, and we have become a trusted partner for artists as well as brands and institutions looking to develop music-based projects.

We are not limited by genre or geography; as you browse our site you may come across the electronic experimentations of Dakar-based Ibaaku, the centuries old melodies of Osei Korankye and his Ghanaian seperewa harp, or the rugged Sahelian flow of burkinabè rapper Art Melody.

Since its inception, the label has been dedicated to connecting and empowering: the move in 2011 from San Francisco to Accra is a testimony to our commitment to supporting the local creative scene in every way possible: besides providing flexible terms to artists, we have put together workshops and seminars, cultural exchange programs, we support institutional artist submissions and assist visa application processes.

Our Last Chance studio and office in the Dzorwulu neighborhood of Accra, are a meeting point and creative space where artists, producers, music entrepreneurs and creative hustlers can mingle and collaborate, a melting pot where daily sessions, informal meetings and conversations contribute to fine-tuning visions and enriching expertise.

We don’t just have our ear to the ground: we live on the ground. We live and breathe the scene. This proximity and our longevity speak to our commitment, our ethics, and our positive social and economic impact. We are proud of our artists, proud of what we do, and proud to be weaved into the creative landscape of Accra, Ghana and Africa. We hope you allow the music to surprise you. We hope its stories seduce you, and draw you one step closer to the wealth, diversity and potential we see here daily.

 

NEWSLETTER