We met George Spratz in Kumasi last month, but only Ananse got to meet Frederica, who sings with George. Ananse brought back this video, which we melted for. We’d never heard the original song by Ronan Keating, but we sure like this one. So we recorded George, Frederica, Junior on the bass + all kinds of percussions. The result is coming to this page very soon…
The energy today in Accra was crazy. The game stirred up the city on an otherwise quiet sunday. We’ve got more pix coming, but for now let’s celebrate the man of the hour, the Black Stars striker, Mr Asamoah Gyan! Ananse saw him and a bunch of other top soccer players at Afrodisiac a few weeks ago. This is a little more paparazzi style than we usually go for, but we hope all see this as a friendly incursion into Accra’s nightlife, and an homage to the players, cheerful and filled with energy. Go Black Stars!!!!!
Asamoah Gyan with Togo’s Emmanuel Adebayor (!)
Rahim Ayew
Derek Boateng
Adebayor breaking apart the dancefloor, with his *Francophone* DJ blasting coupé décalé!!
(apologies for the erratic layout. WordPress /Macbook not very cooperative and it’s getting late…)We’ve been really, really bad about keeping the site up to date these last couple of weeks. We’re just too busy schmoozin’ around in Accra! These photos will give you a quick taste of the types of encounters we’re making on the ground in Ghana. Left to right, top to bottom:
– Wanlov the Kubolor and Gyedu-Blay Ambolley
– Ananse practicing xylophone with members of Daoma (Burkina Faso)
– Ananse being subtle
– Ananse with King Ayisoba
– Benjamin with Abraham of OM Studios
– Benjamin with Appietus at his studio in Dansoman
– Kojo the sculptor just back from his village with another incredible mask
– Benjamin with Skillions’ ill beat maker Jay So at his studio in Adenta
– Jay So kickin’ back
– Efya being a beautiful dork with some friends
– Jada Sparkle & Stonebwoy Burniton
– last but not least, Ladji, our Francophone buddy, an art dealer visiting from Abidjan. Sagacité!
Many of Ghana’s top artists are BUSY right now, getting ready for a massive series of Ghanaian music concerts. Amandzeba, Samini, Ambolley, Rex Omar and a few more have been rehearsing daily at TV3 Studios, as they get ready to head down to South Africa for a series of concerts in support of Ghana’s national soccer team, the Black Stars.
This video is just a very short sample of the type of potent beats created by one of highlife’s most respected voices, the man who started rapping in the early 1970s before rap was even a concept, “Simigwa do Man” himself, Mr Gyedu-Blay Ambolley. Ambolley’s career started pretty early in the highlife days, he learned from legends such as Ebo Taylor, but he added a distinctly funky touch to highlife, and 40 years later this short break is a nice reminder that Ambolley is one of the heavyweights we MUST bring to the table. Let’s get him touring soon!!!
Also introducing Ananse, aka Old Dad, who’s been helping us a LOT in Accra, he is a comedian, model and more importantly a people’s guy, he knows Accra impeccably and keeps us laughing through traffic jams… you may have spotted him in some of our earlier photos…