Afrafranto CD Release Concert - "Nsadwase” - A place of reflection
Modern palm wine and highlife music at its finest from Ghana
Batuki Music Society presents Afrafranto, masters of palm wine and highlife music of Ghana for their eagerly anticipated debut CD "Nsadwase" (A Place of Reflection) at the QW Resto-Bar located at 1032 Queen St. West, Toronto on Saturday June 11th, 2016 at 9:00 PM.
Afrafranto which means Butterfly in the Akan language of Ghana perform authentic acoustic palm wine and highlife music. Palm wine is West African folk music with Portuguese influences and Trinidadian calypso rhythms. It is said the Portuguese sailors introduced the acoustic guitar to the coast and so the inhabitants adopted it and made it an integral instrument for folk music. Palm wine music was named after the drink from the naturally fermented sap of the oil palm, which was shared at gatherings where African guitarists played. Highlife music is popular music that started in the administrative centres or towns and was associated with civil servants and other professionals who made up the middle and upper classes.
Afrafranto was formed in early 2007 by Theo Yaw Boakye (lead vocals/composer) with fellow band-mates Pa Joe (guitar and vocals/composer), Kofi Ackah (percussion and vocals/composer), Ebenezer Agyekum (bass guitar/composer) and Quandoe Harrison (keyboards).
Afrafranto has grown into a dynamic group that has entertained audiences over the past few years with their dance-driven music and electric performances. They have opened for Salif Keita at the Harbourfront Centre and performed at various venues and festivals in the city. Four members of the group (Theo Yao Boakye, Kofi Ackah, Pa Joe and Ebenezer Agyekum) are also part of the African Guitar Summit collective that has won a JUNO with their very first recording in the world music category.
Afrafranto is promoting and keeping alive this unique form of music. There are very few practitioners of palm wine in Ghana nowadays; Toronto is very fortunate indeed to have such a talented and dedicated group as Afrafranto.
Afrafranto's debut release "Nsadwase" is an impressive collection of songs featuring modern palm wine and highlife music at its finest..
Come celebrate the beginning of a busy and hot concert season by supporting local music and rejuvenate especially African music in the city.
QW Resto-Bar
1032 Queen St. West, Toronto, ON
Saturday June 11, 2016
Doors open at 8 PM / Show at 9 PM
Advance Tickets (online only): $15 / $25 (including CD)
Door Tickets: $20
afrafrantomusic@gmail.com batukimusic@yahoo.com
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