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.
Story by BILLIE MCTERNAN | Photography by SELORM JAY
JAYSO, rapper, producer, CEO of Skillions Records, at IND!E FUSE.
DAY 2
On the second day, i.e. the SABOLAI RADIO Street Party, hordes of music lovers gathered at The Republic Bar & Grill in Osu to witness what some have called the “outdooring” of the new guard. Between the soulful folk bangers of Drunk Beggar Thief, the heavy drum and horn tunes from Fatau Keita and the HighLife-Flamenco fusion mashup of Kyekyeku – the Republic became a dance portal with bodies spiraling everywhere.
KYEKYEKU chills in Accra central |Catch him live at IND!E FUSE on Dec 13 photo by Mantse Aryeequaye
We are so AMPED about this new edition to IND!E FUSE. For the fourth time round, our team thought it necessary to include what we call The LABS – interactive and creative sessions with artists, industry personnel and audiences on how to grow your music game way up.
We’ll provide critical information for musicians on how to build your brand and develop an artistic sound. Learn how to maximize digital networking and expand your fan base internationally.
See the full schedule for The LABS here. The free event kicks off the start of the 3-day IND!E FUSE party on Thursday, December 12th from 8am – 4pm, Alliance Francaise Exhibition Hall.
Sankwas BOIS = Simpol Tinz x Mutombo da Poet. The duo will return as hosts for the final show, Sat. Dec 14 | photo by Mantse Aryeequaye
Wanlov the Kubolor + M3NSA = FOKN BOIS. Photo taken in Central Accra
For those that are unfamiliar with IND!E FUSE, you should know that it is the country’s largest concert of independent artists that falls slap-bang in the middle of Ghana’s December party season.
When I came to Ghana in December 2012 it had been four years since I’d last visited the country. Up until that time I had been under the guardianship of family, shuttling from one family house to another, missing out on the vibrancy the city had to offer. I was looking forward to discovering an alternative experience.
Kojo-Cue keeps it Kumasi in central Accra
I had been in Ghana for less than a week before I attended IND!E FUSE. Many Ghanaians had been speaking about the concert on Twitter for weeks prior and I was curious to know what Accra had to offer.
The vibe was nothing short of electric. With a crucible of genres, I hadn’t realized that Accra was so diverse.
by Aigerim Saparova + Sionne Neely | photos by Mantse Aryeequaye
BADBOY STELOO + YAW P chill in Ga Mashie | photo by Mantse Aryeequaye
To be totally frank, Ghana’s music identity is experiencing a sort of puberty – an awkward growing state on the verge of a uniquely full-fledged confidence. The country’s sonic youth are flipping through radio and TV stations, smartphone apps and digital downloads to hear the latest and greatest West African bass music from Ghana’s urban centers and Naija, U.K. grime and dub step from the U.K. and the U.S. hip hop pop sound, among others. Ironically, gospel highlife pop music is tuning the ears + pockets of most Ghanaians, including young folks who make up a swelling majority of the country’s Christian congregations.
If you were at IND!E FUSE 2012 this past weekend, then you know we had an INSANELY good time. Wow! Thanks Accra for coming out last Friday + Saturday and showing your support for independent African music.
Our MASTA MC – Mawuli Fudoglo – kept everyone in stitches with his silly swag and funky boogie.
FUDOGLO + DJ KEV WARM IT UP
Like any good block party, the drinks keep pouring and bodies go on shaking. The sound system was a beast so folks couldn’t help but shake a leg. Thanks to the massive mojo of our DJs and live artists – the party kept climbing until 4am in the morning – leaving loads of people in sweaty honeysuckle bliss.
What a blast! Take a journey through our photo selecta of IND!E FUSE 2012: Day 1 right here. All photos taken by ACCRA [dot] ALT.
OH CHALE! We are backononono for a third time with IND!E FUSE, the illest live music show in Accra this December at Alliance Francaise. To get you in the spirit, we’re dropping the trailer from last December’s show. Relive the copious amounts of fun had by all with just a click of a button.
In case you missed out, here’s a recap:
Oodles + noodles of cool folk jam-pack the joint out – holiday visitors returning home from the U.S., U.K. + beyond bond tight with the hometown crowd – PY Annan + @MutomboDaPoet keep the crowd amped with their side-splitting, funnyman antics – Mawuli Fudoglo + Tacitus the Greek Ga God take over the stage to show everyone the proper way to azonto – Kobby Graham aka The Funky Professor keeps it smoove + ever-funky as our resident wax selecta – Ananse aka Old Dad bumrushes eager fans who get too close to the stage then suddenly transforms into a freeze! pop-n-lock mime dancer making you wonder what the flipmode squad hell is going on?!
B.I.L.S. Rayoe surprises the audience with a kick-ass painted acrobatic troupe that eats fire – Azizaa performs her psycho-tropic myth music in the stands – Jojo Abot brings down the house with her natty Afro funk punk sound – The SANKWAS BOIS stir the pot with their tripped-up pidgen headbangas – Holla Blak casts spells with ther pan-African sticky icky lullabies (roll your blunt with that) – Lady Jay’s super-heroine sultry anthems hit you like an Accra heatwave – Steloo + Yaw P make you jump jump to their hypnotic house beats – Kofi BeatMenace and the Smol Smol Distins Band wreak havoc with their folk monster jams – Jayso, Shaker, Rumor and Sandra of Skillions Records kill it with their edgy yet charismatic bass bumpers – Yaa Pono and FaintMedal debut their now classic “I Dey Feel You Die” and create an infectious, all-out luvfest – and Wanlov the Kubolor spouts spoken word gems then unwraps his Christmas present for all to see.
WANLOV THE KUBOLOR IN ACTION @ IND!E FUSE
WELL, DAYUM. If you are digging all that, you won’t believe what we have in store for you this December.
So, get krunk. We’re live from the Ghana Space Station, baby, and beaming straight into your speakers. MO VIM coming your way real soon.
![ACCRA [dot] ALT Radio](https://accradotalttours.files.wordpress.com/2012/05/cropped-boy-18a.jpg)
ACCRA [dot] ALT Radio 