What's Hot?
95th Oscars: ‘Everything Everywhere All at Once’ Leads...
‘Shanty Town’ Star, Chidi Mokeme, Reveals ‘Scar’ Behind...
Aluu Four: Linda Ikeji’s ‘Dark October’ Coming To...
19th AMAA: Organisers Reiterate Call For Entries
How Rema’s ‘Calm Down’ With Selena Gomez Conquered...
19th AMAA: Organisers Reiterate Call For Entries
International tourist arrivals doubled in 2022: UN
Dakar is reclaiming its place as the cultural...
Ijongbon! As Kunle Afolayan Goes On Set Again
Nigerian Artistes Shine As Burna Boy, Davido, Asake,...
The Culture Newspaper
  • Home
  • Arts & Exhibitions
  • Culture & Festivals
    • Culture Africana
    • Culture People
  • Fashion & Lifestyle
    • Music, Movies & More
  • News
    • Travel News
  • Opinion
    • Reviews (The Critics)
  • TCN Literati
  • Tourism & Hospitality
Culture Africana

Santrofi gives an enthusiastic preview of what to expect with “Alewa”

by Olamilekan Okeowo February 20, 2020
by Olamilekan Okeowo February 20, 2020

Youthful Accra based highlife band, Santrofi has given music enthusiast worldwide a feel of what to expect from their debut album with the release of the first single “Alewa”. The debut album is set to drop on April 24, 2020, on Outhere Records.

Santrofi’s members are deeply rooted in vintage Ghanaian highlife music in all its forms. The influences range from the riveting fast-paced pulse of 70s dance-guitar highlife or the other-worldly sound of Highlife funk to the polyrhythmic beats and melodies that took Afrobeat across the globe. The members have toured the world with legends like Ebo Taylor, Pat Thomas, Gyedu Blay Ambolley, Osibisa, George Darko and many, many others. They have also backed numerous artists in Ghana, from Azonto sensation Sarkodie to Nigerian superstar 2Face Idibia.

According to Ofori it is high time to bring back the glory days of Highlife, not only to the world but also to Ghana, where the young generation has forgotten all about this genre of music.

“Back in the days in the 60s and 70s, we had so many bands in Ghana, if you go to a pub to have a drink or something there isn’t a DJ, no, there is a band playing and they are playing their music. Ghana is one of the richest places when it comes to music. Hugh Masekela, Fela Kuti, Orlando Julius or Richard Bona, they all came to Ghana to learn so much. But we lost it all, so we want to bring it back. And wherever we play we are starting to see our friends rethinking their attitude towards highlife and trying to bring out their inner highlife voice. But we also love to throw in some of the trending dances like Shaku shaku or Gwara gwara to keep the music fresh” he said.

Even without the release of the album, Santrofi has already been making waves all over Europe during their 2019 summer festival tour which included Roskilde (Denmark), FMM Sines (Portugal), WOMAD (UK), Fusion (Germany) and WOMEX (Finland). This young all-star band from Ghana brims with energy on stage. (2020 UK shows to be announced soon.)

Santrofi was founded by bassist and producer Emmanuel Ofori who rose from playing with Ebo Taylor, Pat Thomas and Kwashibu Area Band. The band’s debut album ‘Alewa’ features a new wave of fresh highlife rooted in the past with knowledge of the future directly from the streets of Accra.

Santrofi in Akan mythology is a rare and precious bird, identified by its bright colours and four wings. It is so unique, it was forbidden to be hunted. Attempting to catch and lock up the bird will bring you bad luck. If spotted and left to fly away, great luck and fortune can be expected.

‘Alewa’ is a metaphor for a popularly known local black and white striped sweet. It symbolizes the need to recognize, accept, tolerate and embrace racial diversity to build a world with love and unity. This spirit also shows in their D.I.Y. band approach. The album was composed arranged, produced and recorded in Ghana in a joint effort by Santrofi. On stage Santrofi breaks down hierarchies, the musicians alternate their roles each growing on the other’s talent while harmonizing as a whole.

0
FacebookTwitterPinterestLinkedinWhatsappEmail
Olamilekan Okeowo

previous post
Cruise Travel Risks Remain ‘Manageable’ Despite Virus, WHO Says
next post
CIFF signs 5050×2020 pledge to promote female representation in cinema

You may also like

Back to roots: Why African Americans are flocking...

January 19, 2023

Egypt: ‘Kira Wal Gin’ Named As Highest Grossing...

January 12, 2023

Teranga Edition: Organisers Unveil Events Programme As Eight...

January 7, 2023

These Are the African Films That Missed Out...

December 31, 2022

Senegal: Omar Sy presents new film about African...

December 31, 2022

Africa’s biggest photography library opens in Ghana

December 21, 2022

Red Sea Film Festival Chiefs Talk Taking Saudi...

December 4, 2022

Asake, the breakout pop star from Nigeria who...

November 29, 2022

Chance the Rapper And Vic Mensa Announce Free...

November 23, 2022

Award-winning Kenyan Film, Medicine Man, Set For iHub...

November 14, 2022

3 comments

Ekuba February 25, 2020 - 2:55 am

Great bandekubaez

Reply
Ekuba February 25, 2020 - 2:56 am

Great band

Reply
Ricky Viviey February 26, 2020 - 9:42 am

Congratulations 💪
Great can’t wait to listen 🎶

Reply

Leave a Comment Cancel Reply

Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment.

Recent Posts

  • 95th Oscars: ‘Everything Everywhere All at Once’ Leads As Academy Unveils Full List Of Nominees [FULL LIST]
  • ‘Shanty Town’ Star, Chidi Mokeme, Reveals ‘Scar’ Behind His Five-Year Break From Acting
  • Aluu Four: Linda Ikeji’s ‘Dark October’ Coming To Netflix This February
  • 19th AMAA: Organisers Reiterate Call For Entries
  • How Rema’s ‘Calm Down’ With Selena Gomez Conquered the Global Charts

Sponsored

Recent Posts

  • 95th Oscars: ‘Everything Everywhere All at Once’ Leads As Academy Unveils Full List Of Nominees [FULL LIST]

    January 24, 2023
  • ‘Shanty Town’ Star, Chidi Mokeme, Reveals ‘Scar’ Behind His Five-Year Break From Acting

    January 24, 2023
  • Aluu Four: Linda Ikeji’s ‘Dark October’ Coming To Netflix This February

    January 24, 2023

Categories

  • Arts & Exhibitions
  • Culture & Festivals
  • Culture Africana
  • Culture People
  • Fashion & Lifestyle
  • Food
  • Music, Movies & More
  • News
  • Opinion
  • Photo News
  • Reviews (The Critics)
  • TCN Interview
  • TCN Literati
  • Tourism & Hospitality
  • Travel News
  • Travel Trends
  • Travelogue
  • What's Hot?
  • World Culture

Connect with us

Connect with us
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Instagram
  • Youtube
  • About Us
  • Advertise With Us
  • Privacy Policy
  • Contact Us

@2019 - The Culture Newspaper. All Right Reserved. Designed and Developed by Zero-One

The Culture Newspaper
  • Home
  • Arts & Exhibitions
  • Culture & Festivals
    • Culture Africana
    • Culture People
  • Fashion & Lifestyle
    • Music, Movies & More
  • News
    • Travel News
  • Opinion
    • Reviews (The Critics)
  • TCN Literati
  • Tourism & Hospitality