Biography
Kyekyeku is seen as a new generation of young lively Ghanaian musicians that is combining musical traditions from roots Palmwine (A style of Ghanaian folk) Hilife and Afrobeat; performing live in new and exciting sounds. Kyekyeku creates a unique high-energy sound mixed in with Highlife and Afrofunk of fellow countrymen Ebo Taylor and Pat Thomas erupting in a pulsationg Afro-urban musical broth.
Kyekyeku and Ghanalogue Highlife is a celebration of Ghana’s music heritage of a bygone era and yet a salutation to the evolution of modern trends locked between a sumptuous folk style and West African urban beat.With lyrics reminiscent of village recreational songs, protest songs, love poetry and old African spirituality, his music touches on themes concerned with the well-being of Africa and the world society. Kyekyeku escorts you on a soulful journey to the enchanting lands of West Africa in a Palmwine meets-Highlife-meets-World Grooves fun moment!
The Ghanaian musician has collaborated with world-renowned musicians including Koo Nimo (GH), Peter White (UK/Jazz), Pat Thomas(GH), Ambolley(GH) Thais Morel (Brazil), Mayra Andrade (Cape Verde), Blick Bassy (Cameroun) etc.
'Wizard with a Guitar'
-CNN-
Kyekyeku & Ghanalogue Highlife brings back deep warm grooves reminiscent of when folk Ghanaian musicians first plugged in and went electric, creating tons of delightful music filled with thrilling guitar lines, soaring farfisa organs, reliably solid bass motifs and drums, all punctuated by punchy horns to create a full sound popularly known in Ghana as Highlife music (a generic name for Ghanaian music built around folk styles mixed with Funk, Soul and Jazz birthing Afrobeat and Afrofunk).
This project proudly reintroducing vintage Highlife music from the late 70s - 90s and linking that to recent Afro-urban music.
''our need to make this music again stems from the discontinuity and gap created between the previous and modern eras largely due to coups d'etats, curfews, religious transitions and mass exodus of musicians abroad thus re-establishing the link and evolution to modern urban highlife music; madly loved in Ghana''
-Kyekyeku-
Videos
Gigs and Concerts
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03
Feb
2017
BAB'ILO, Paris
08:00:00 PM
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04
Feb
2017
NEW MORNING - Paris
08:00:00 PM
tickets
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05
Feb
2017
BOZAR, Brussels - Afropolitan Festival
09:00:00 PM
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11
Feb
2017
SAUTI ZA BUSARA
ZANZIBAR,Tanzania
11:00:00 PM
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17
Mar
2017
Printemps des Poètes avec Fouad Hani (Maroc)
Médiathèque d'Orist
06:00:00 PM
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23
Mar
2017
Concert Ephémère
Caprices de Romane, Soorts-Hossegor
09:00:00 PM
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01
Jun
2017
Pôle Sud - Landes Musiques Amplifiées
Saint-Vincent-de-Tyrosse
06:00:00 PM
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04
Jun
2017
Orange Run, Lac d'Hossegor, FR
01:00:00 PM
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16
Jun
2017
Le Magnéto, Bayonne, FR
08:00:00 PM
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21
Jun
2017
Fête de la Musique par Surf FM, Seignosse Le Penon, FR
09:00:00 PM
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23
Jun
2017
Le Circus, Capbreton, FR
09:00:00 PM
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01
Jul
2017
Central Café - Hossegor, Place des Landais - FR
10:00:00 PM
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08
Jul
2017
Show Case Time - Pau - FR
10:00:00 PM
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14
Jul
2017
Kasumama Festival, Austria
08:00:00 PM
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16
Jul
2017
THE HAGUE AFRICAN MUSIC FESTIVAL, Holland
09:00:00 PM
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21
Jul
2017
Les Festives, Kiosque d'Hossegor, FR
11:00:00 AM
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21
Jul
2017
Jo&Joe Hossegor - FR
07:00:00 PM
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24
Jul
2017
Coolin Hossegor
Place des Landais
11:00:00 PM
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28
Jul
2017
Les Festives, Place des Landais, Hossegor, FR
09:00:00 PM
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29
Jul
2017
O'Green Oak - Mont de Marsan - FR
08:00:00 PM
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03
Aug
2017
Feitoaman Festival, Santiago de Compostela, Spain
08:00:00 PM
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02
Sep
2017
Catach Festival - Saint Martin de Seignanx - FR
08:00:00 PM
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14
Sep
2017
Les Ecuries de Baroja - Anglet - FR
07:00:00 PM
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21
Oct
2017
Café Music
Mont de Marsan. France
12:00:00 PM
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12
Jul
2018
Montreux Jazz Festival
08:00:00 PM
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15
Jul
2018
Latitude Festival-UK
BBC Music Stage
09:00:00 AM
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01
Mar
2019
Stanbic Jazz Festival
Accra, Ghana
10:00:00 PM
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13
Mar
2019
Republic Bar
Osu, Accra Ghana
10:00:00 PM
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18
Mar
2019
Meet Me There Weekender
Volta, Ghana
10:00:00 PM
Music
News
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Kyekyeku (Ghana – Highlife/Afrobeat)is releasing 2nd album 'Sor'
Thursday, June 29 2017read moreTwo years after his debut album ‘Higher life On Palmwine’, Kyekyeku has just released his second album titled ‘Sor’, with a strong Highlife and Afrobeat mix. The live recording happened in one straight sequence owning in part to the fact that there were no power interruptions during the recording in Accra, Ghana. This situation of frequent electricity cuts in Ghana is what Kyekyeku’s band is named after; ‘5 Days No Light Off’.
'With people keeping a low profile during the collation of election results (out of fear, high tensions, all streets deserted), a perfect backdrop of calm and quiet had been provided from Accra's noisy streets and churches. As the ruling government hoped to win more votes, the erratic power supply was stabilized. Our studio located in a noisy neighbourhood with not so good isolation from all the noise had suddenly gotten a perfect situation to record and still leave the windows open (hot as hell inside and no Air Conditioner).
We took the chance to record this album of tunes largely based on themes of social shortcomings in Ghana, Africa and the world. While the tunes are largely up-tempo, they also call for deep thoughts about life and strength to carry on.
Style: we were largely influenced by Ghanaian Highlife music of Alex Konadu and J.A. Adofo on tracks such as 'Africa Voodoo Party' and by Afrobeat from Ebo Taylor and Fela Kuti on tracks such as 'Goose and Gander'. Yet we attempted putting our own signature and sound on the final materials.
The result is the album Sor, one that brings to you our live music sound, vibes and energy which we are extremely happy to share with the world on upcoming dates after playing already at The New Morning-Paris (France), Afropolitan Festival at Bozar(Brussels), Sauti Za Busara in Zanzibar, Tanzania and Visa For Music in Rabat (Morocco).'
Kyekyeku will be on tour in Europe with his band from Ghana June-July-August 2017. Supported by partner top online casino
Contacts/booking: [email protected] / +33(0)777061130TO BUY THE ALBUM 'SOR': https://itunes.apple.com/album/id1249464250
Also available on Amazon, Amazon on Demand, Deezer, Spotify, Soundcloud and more!
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For Bookings and Interviews