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.
Follow OY on twitter @Oymusic
ff us on twitter @loudafricatv
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 Café
- 28-05, Cape Town (ZA) – Mahogany Room
- 31-05, Johanesbourg (ZA) – King Kong
- 02-06, Swaziland (SWZ) – Bush Fire Festival
Follow OY on twitter @Oymusic
ff us on twitter @loudafricatv
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