Live band fans will from Wednesday, March 5 enjoy refreshing live music from the Afrikan Unity Band in the cosy interiors of Mojo Klub, located within the premises of Next Door Beach Resort in Accra.
Dubbed Sankofa Nite, the programme which will come off every Wednesday, will feature top-flight guest artistes and the line-up for the opening night includes master guitarist De Roy Ebow Taylor, singer Pat Thomas, rootsman Amandzeba and reggaeman Shasha Marley.
The African Unity band is led on drums by Ekow Alabi Savage and includes Kwame Yeboah on keyboards and Dan Grahl on bass.
According to Savage, who initiated the programme, the time is ripe for the resurgence of quality live band music in the country adding that the move will not only entertain the public but also provide jobs for musicians and others in the music industry.
“Musicians must create avenues for work for themselves. It is fine when other people step in to help with jobs but in situations where we can come together and start something useful for ourselves and the public, we must take the challenge and move on.”
He said the Afrikan Unity Band was formed to stimulate and promote the culture of live band music in Ghana and that the idea is also to feature good foreign musicians passing through Accra.
Many excellent African musicians transit through the city all the time. We want to raise the Mojo Klub to a level where such players will drop in anytime they are around and be assured of a good atmosphere and great jam sessions.”
According to Savage who just returned from Zanzibar where he participated in the 2008 edition of the Santi Sa Busara Music Festival, the aim of the Afrikan Unity Band is to be a solid, versatile group capable of dishing out good quality music to all shades of live music lovers and playing with any world-class acts at when necessary.
“I have a lot of expereience and keyboardist/producer Kwame Yeboah is in a class of his own. He plays regularly with Kojo Antwi, Craig David, Amy Winehouse and other top international stars. Dan Grahl is wonderful on bass and other instruments so we have the core of a very good live band.
He revealed that the Sankofa Nite programme would be extended to other locations in Accra and eventually to other parts of the country as a way of creating employment for musicians and bringing superior entertainment to all.
Savage has lived and worked in Germany for about three decades. He has toured extensively with notable groups and musicians in Europe.
His first solo album Return to Zion, was recorded in Germany and Jamaica. His latest album, Going for Gold, was released in Accra last year to mark Ghana’s 50 independence anniversary celebration.
