Through Bamako’s French Cultural Center I met Lloyd Tommy, half of Eden Roots Liberation. He and his partner Patrick Kousi are originally from Sierra Leone, the met in Freetown in 1990 through Massive Roots Band, a local reggae group. They started touring West Africa playing for Malian reggaeman Askia Modibo in the late 90s before settling in Bamako, Mali in 2000. After collaborating with many other regional artists, Eden Roots Vibration released its first album, Genesis, in 2006 in Mali, and eventually in Sierra Leone in February 2008. Akwaaba will release the album worldwide in late 2008.
Sira is one of the very first songs I heard when I arrived in Dakar, and it’s still one of my absolute favorites. It is the story of a griot friend of Rahmane’s, who falls in love with this girl, Sira, who comes from a noble family. Her family initially refuses to let the griot take her hand because of the social difference between them, but eventually love prevails. Rahmane wrote this song on the fly, right as his friend shared his grief with him in the studio!
Quophi has agreed to work with Akwaaba to further spread his music around the world. He also mentioned Akwaaba to his longtime partner Okyeame Kwame, with whom they record under the name Akyeame. He also hooked up Bradaz, Kwame’s new hiplife proteges, who’s song One Gallon was a huge hit in Ghana.
Through Bamako’s French Cultural Center I met Lloyd Tommy, half of Eden Roots Liberation. He and his partner Patrick Kousi are originally from Sierra Leone, the met in Freetown in 1990 through Massive Roots Band, a local reggae group. They started touring West Africa playing for Malian reggaeman Askia Modibo in the late 90s before settling in Bamako, Mali in 2000. After collaborating with many other regional artists, Eden Roots Vibration released its first album, Genesis, in 2006 in Mali, and eventually in Sierra Leone in February 2008. Akwaaba will release the album worldwide in late 2008. 
