The recent MTV Base concert in Durban was not only a chance to see
the renamed Lion but a great opportunity to see performances from some
great artists from this wonderful continent. In keeping with the African
theme our musical star today is Joy Frempong more popularly known by
her stage name OY. This genre defying artiste hails from Ghana and has
been on a journey thought Africa that has influenced her latest album
Kokokyinaka
Kokokyinaka is the Akan (Ghanaian language) name for the bird ‘Great
Blue Turaco or Giant Plantain Eater’ whose looks I love – blue with a
punky crown. It’s also said to have taught man to drum, and so drummers
would not kill or eat it. The reason she chose the title was because of
this poem:
Kokokyinaka Asamoa, the clock-bird, how do we greet you?
We greet you with ”anyaado”
We hail you as the drummer’s child,
The drummer’s child sleeps and awakes with the dawn.
I am learning, let me succeed.
You know the sonic journey is going to one of adventure when the
first sounds you hear are of a clapped out public transport bus wheezing
and grinding its way to a breakdown while OY explains how to pronounce
the title of her album. And what an adventure it is.
Kokokyinaka,
the sophomore album is an experimental, genre-bending, generously
seasoned stew of Africa-inflected Electronica that captures, illuminates
and refracts her journey through Mali (4 weeks), Ghana, Burkina Faso
and South Africa (5 weeks), with all the “found” sounds recorded as
she traveled and with lyrics inspired either by traditional African
stories or proverbs or by conversations held with various people she met
during her travels, or simply picked up along the way.
If this sounds interesting then you’re in luck because she is on her
way back to tour with her band: the tour dates are listed below.
- 25-05, Maputo (MOC) – Azgo Festival
- 26-05, Harare (ZBW) – Book CafĂ©
- 28-05, Cape Town (ZA) – Mahogany Room
- 31-05, Johanesbourg (ZA) – King Kong
- 02-06, Swaziland (SWZ) – Bush Fire Festival
Cape Town fans are in for a special treat as OY will also be hosting a
workshop on the 29th of May at 48 Albert Road, Woodstock.
Follow OY on twitter @Oymusic
ff us on twitter @loudafricatv