Saturday, May 20:
Obo Addy stays true
to Ghanian tradition
By Darla Jackson
Emerald Supplement Editor
Music is more than enter
tainment to Ghaman master
drummer Obo Addy He seeks
spiritual perfection in his
drum playing
According to Addy. intense
and powerful rhythms, which
are evoked from music, are
what makes the spirits happy
Obo and his band, Kukrudu,
will bring African sounds and
rhythms to the main stage of
the Folk Festival Saturday at 8
pm
Addy was raised with music
in his home His father was a
Wonche priest and medicine
man for the Gu tribe of Ghana
Addy became a master drum
mer (someone who leads the
drum ensemble) at the age of
six. In 1978, Addy established
his home in America and in
1982 formed Kukrudu, borrow
ing the name from an African
word for earthquake
The musical style of the
group is an intense and inno
vative fusion of Ghanian and
American music. They have
recorded several albums, and
their most recent. Alrtcan
American, explores a bright
sound similar to pop styles
Addy's ties to Ghana remain
strong By teaching children
and adults African tribal rit
uals and exposing them to the
music, he is passing some of
the tradition on
• African music is the soul
of its people." Addy said. "Ev
eryone gets involved, even the
onlookers."
Addy is encouraged by the
current surge of interest in all
types of ethnic music and the
interplay among them.
"People are adding more
technology to African music,
so I think it’s going to stick
around," he said And it will
add to American pop music "
Obo Addy and Kukrudu remain loyal to the origins of the African music they perform while
using the latest technology to make it accessible to pop audiences.
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Blackfish is a five-piece ca
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The cajun tunes that Black
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Northern Broadcasters
The Northern Broadcasters
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Beginning as a weekly blue
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