Accra Creative Writing Boot Camp

Accra’s literature collectives are running workshops throughout this month to November. Get involved.

 

 

 

JUST A BAND IS COMING TO ACCRA

On October 25th Accra will see its first Electro music festival with the city’s Djs and artists who have been cooking the scene for a while now. The festival is also bringing together producers and artists who are active within the scene to discuss ways of creating more Ghanaian psychedelic genres which used to be a thing in 1970s Ghana. The usual suspects performing are BBrave of Akwaaba Music, Steloo and Jason Kleatsh from Accra House Music, Dj Keyzzz and Azizaa. Kenyan Electro Funk trio Just a Band are headlining the festival which makes for a great shut down for anyone who knows their music or seen them live.

Just a Band was formed by Sellanga, Daniel Muli and Jim Chuchu while they were students at Kenyatta University. The group blew up following the release of “Ha-He,” their unique blend of funk and electro made sure of that. Now with three studio albums and counting, the band has forced the world to rethink what they know about African music and identity. Accra is definitely looking to bum rush this one. Electro Comes to Ghana is produced by Alliance Francaise Accra.

NEW MUSIC AFRICA

We found these new jams and thought it wise to share with our readers. The artists below are folks you should be curious about. Enjoy

 

Artist: SIPHO the GIFT Video Title: SOMEWHERE [dir Sam Turpin] Sipho the Gift is originally from Kimberly in SA but is currently based in Stellenbosch. He produces his own music and is an extremely dynamic lyricist quite unique among other South African rappers. He is currently working on his debut project “Coming of Age” which should be out in 2015 and has been in collaboration with US rapper (of Congolese origin) Well$ from Immaculate Taste.

 

 

Artist: ICE PRINCE Video Title: WHISKY FT. SUNNY NEJI Nigerian rapper Ice Prince’s new video”Whiskey”  off his album “Fire Of Zamani”  is a poignant tribute to fallen heros and friends. The Video features legendary Nigerian highlife singer Sunny Neji.

 

THE FOURTH CHAPTER: CHALE WOTE 2014

Strolling Goats in Accra with Chale Wote 2014.

Chale Wote 2014 will open with a heady rush of sights, sounds and vibrant creations by Ghanaian and international artists in James Town. This weekend over 200 artists will transform old Accra into a live museum with a long trail of multi-disciplinary art. Festival producers, ACCRA [dot] ALT, are collaborating with REDD Kat Pictures, Foundation for Contemporary Art Ghana, the Accra Metropolitan Assembly, NO LIMIT Charity and Attukwei Art Foundation for this year’s festival.

This is the fourth edition of the festival since it started in 2011. Last year was a major success and the collective effort of many young people—ranging from artists, musicians and writers to designers, students and activists. The two-day festival will feature graffiti murals, film screenings, theater, installations, live music performances, a fashion circus, extreme sport, dance, spoken word and art workshops.

THE ARTISTS BEHIND THE SCENES: CHALE WOTE 2014

Photography by MANTSE ARYEEQUAYE

As we ready ourselves for the CHALE WOTE Street festival 2014, we’d like you to familiarize yourselves with the works of some of the artists who are coming to the festival.

The Strolling Goats in Accra, DJ Steloo, Nii Aryittey, Abrokwah & Din.

DJ Steloo will be rocking the turntables at the Accra House Music DJ booth. Abrokwah A.K.A “Bike Lord” is getting ready to serve some Kpakpo Shito Bicycle stunts at Chale Wote 2014. Nii Aryertey and Din are part of the amazing Chale Wote 2014 production team.

Selorm Jay looking forward to the rebirth of GH Hiphop with Yoyo Tinz at Chale Wote 2014

Yoyo Tinz: Gbobalor

opposite Mantse Agbonaa

Gbobalor evokes the reincarnation of newborns in Ga. In the same way, Yoyo Tinz presents the evolution of hip hop culture in Ghana. This event will take hip hop lovers, spectators, community members, artists and art lovers on a journey into how broad and diverse Ghanaian hip hop culture truly is. On the bill: interactive freestyles, rap battles, dance, graffiti, beatmaking and much more.

LOOK WHO’S COMING TO CHALE WOTE 2014

Photography by MANTSE ARYEEQUAYE

Here are more pictures of the Strolling Goats with CHALE WOTE 2014. This edition features some of the amazing artists who are coming to the CHALE WOTE Street Art Festival in James Town on August 23 & 24.

 

Emelia Pinamang Asiedu & Elisabeth Efua Sutherland of Accra Theatre Workshop in James Town.

DREAMSCAPE explores the act of living as violence, following a young woman as she traverses a dream world, battling her mental fears.The piece asks the question, do we have the courage to take a hold of our destiny and translate dreams into waking? Does the strength we find in our daily death have any relevance in the land of the living?

Abena will be in charge of “The Ideal Woman Vision Boards”

The Ideal Woman Vision Boards

Brazil Lane [just behind Otoblohum]

Obaasema Magazine comes to CHALE WOTE with a focus on unearthing images of inspiration, integrity and action for women. Four vision boards on display will create a launchpad to discuss how images matter and what these representations mean to African women.

STROLLING GOATS IN ACCRA WITH CHALE WOTE 2014 II

Here we are again with more visuals from Strolling Goats In Accra, featuring  the artists who make Chale Wote pop.

Photos by Mantse Aryeequaye

 

FCA director Adjoa Amoah contemplating a spin with the Prince.

Adjoa Amoah works with the Foundation for Contemporary Art Ghana; the visual coordinators of Chale Wote 2014.  Word reaching us is that they have quite an exhibition at the festival grounds this year, so of course we are looking forward.

 

Nii Armah is a talented craftsman in James Town.

Nii Armah came up with an innovative way to set up our performance spaces by arranging stages an props so they become one with the space. Festival goers are curious about his setup on the 23rd and 24th of August.

STROLLING GOATS WITH CHALE WOTE 2014

We promised you a Strolling Goats In Accra edition with some of the most amazing creators in Accra. One of the highlights of this year’s festival is the addition of a street motor biking team in James Town. The Accra House Music station manned by Dj Steloo is certainly one to look out for. Enjoy

 

Photos by Mantse Aryeequaye

Kingpin of the Flat Land Boys Martin Abrokwa has crazy stunts for fans this year

Bad boy Steloo of Accra House Music

STROLLING GOATS IN ACCRA : CHALE WOTE 2014 EDITION coming soon

Bad boy Steloo of Accra House Music is bringing his sound system to #ChaleWote2014

Photo by Mantse Aryeequaye

We happy to announce another season of STROLLING GOATS IN ACCRA with our collaborators for this year’s Chale Wote Street Art Festival. In the coming days we will be publishing a new line up of gorgeous photos of the participating artists. Watch this space.

May #TALKPARTYSERIES: Mensa Highlife + Terrence Nance’s “An Oversimplification of Her Beauty”

We’re back after a short hiatus in April. This time with a two-for-one banger in May.

THE FILM SHOW [begins at 6:00pm]: We are super excited to premiere Terrence Nance’s acclaimed film, An Oversimplification of Her Beauty, in Ghana. The film is produced by Jay-Z, Wyatt Cenac, Dream Hampton and Joy Bryant, among others, with the soundtrack created by electric wonder, Flying Lotus. It has played at Sundance and along the global circuit and next Friday the film will debut in Accra.

An Oversimplification is a splendid exploration of love and mourning that blends animation, drama, fantasy and sonic color together. The story follows a quixotic artist who falls for a lovely lady who doesn’t quite fall for him. He then makes a film about their ambiguous affair and shows it to her. Director Terrence Nance will join us for a Q&A via Twitter.

THE LIVE MUSIC SHOW [begins at 8:15pm]: Mensa Highlife grew up in Sweden, the UK and the U.S. The London years shaped him into a full-fledged music producer while the U.S. years shaped an even sharper poet and lyricist. This itinerant lifestyle became the inspiration behind a quirky Jazz-Funk expression that has come to define his art today.

Now back in Ghana and inspired by the traditional mystic of sparse drum rhythms, Mensa Highlife is experimenting with a soulful unity between the past and present. He is currently promoting the single, “Ofori’s Story,” and Mensa will premiere it live at the Talk Party Series this month. He will also be performing songs from an upcoming album.

It’s a free party as usual. Join us for dope dialogues, a cool crowd, ice cold drinks and mad music!

6-9PM | Friday, May 30th | Passions Premium Restaurant | Osu Ringway | 2 streets behind Country Kitchen or 1 street behind Pippa’s Gym