Category: Twi
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Hiphop as a Vessel for Black Consciousness: Digging into the artistry of Pure Akan and Elom 20ce.
Black consciousness, as propounded by N’longi Steve Biko, was a philosophical and political transformation of the mind emerging in South Africa during the 1960s and 1970s. In essence, Black consciousness sought to imbibe amongst Black people in Southern Afrika who had been subjected to systemic racism and discrimination under apartheid a sense of pride, dignity,Read…
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Nsɛmsɛm Bi: A Rap Collaboration with Visual Art
It is 7:40pm on the 28th of July 2023 in Accra and I arrive at the buro, a building in the city with multifaceted work spaces. I am directed to the back of the building by the security walking through an alleyway. Upon arriving, here I see the rapper Pure Akan seated on a benchRead…
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‘WO KUM APEM BEBA’ – Jay Bahd and the Asakaa Boyz Lead the Drill Scene in ‘Kumerica’, Ghana
Jay Bahd is one of the figure heads of the Ghanian drill, or ‘Asakaa’, music scene. Bahd and his crew, known as the ‘Asakaa Boyz’ are changing Ghanaian hiphop – mixing US inspiration with the power of a distinct Ghanaian message.
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Obibini: Putting Ghanaian Hip-Hop on the map
October 23rd was the day David Kwaku Effum Boafo was born and he later adopted the stage name Obibini which is an acronym for “Obviously Black Is Beautiful Infinite & Naturally Inspiring”, which just makes his name even more unique. Obibini is making great strides in trying to make a name for himself on theRead…
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Sarkodie
Michael Owusu Addo, also known as Sarkodie is a thirty-six-year-old rapper from Tema, Ghana. Sarkodie has been in the music industry for over fifteen years and consistently remains on top. He has received over 200 awards and nominations that which include BET and MTV awards in the United States. Many people are most familiar withRead…
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CFP: Politics of Language in African Hip Hop
The question of language in African literature was debated in the 1960s and 1970s. At the heart of the debate was: who qualifies as being an African writer? and what qualifies as African literature? African authors like Ngũgĩ wa Thiong’o and Chinua Achebe weighed in on different sides of the debate. Today a similar debate…
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EDEM – Favour (feat. Efya & Sarkodie)
The song Favour by EDEM featuring Efya and Sakordie is a tremendous musical message that highlights some essential ideals of Black Positivity. The opening scenes’ whole dynamic provides us with a glimpse of what the root topic will be. The first scene starts from the skin of a Black woman then proceeds to give theRead…