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Homowo Performing Groups The musicians and dancers of Homowo are living examples of the strength of African performing arts. Our repertoire, featuring the yesterday, today and tomorrow of Ghanaian cultural arts, creates an aural and visual history of Ghana. Under the artistic direction of Obo Addy, Homowo takes you on this journey through Ghana, West Africa, through its two performing ensembles: Okropong and Kukrudu. Obo Addy's Okropong : Traditional Music and Dance of Ghana 
Okropong meaning "eagle" in Obo Addy's native Ga language, performs traditional Ghanaian dance and music chosen from the various ethnic cultures in Ghana, including Ga, Ewe, Ashanti, Dagomba and Dagarti. Using a variety of hand and stick drums, talking drums, bells and shakers, the musicians build layers of driving rhythms while the dancers, clad in colorful West African garments, engage in an energetic physical "conversation" with the drummers. At the end of each concert, both musicians and dancers engage the audience in a spirited call and response, celebrating that shared experience with them through song and dance.
Obo Addy's Kukrudu : African Jazz Band 
This nine piece ensemble of African and American musicians performs original compositions by Homowo's artistic director, Obo Addy. Here, Obo fuses the rich drumming traditions of his childhood with his "big bands" experiences of his 20's. The result: an "infectious, immensely danceable hybrid" of "American jazz-rock riffs with African polyrhythms," says the Washington Post. Quite ingeniously, Obo takes the rhythmical patterns from traditional drum pieces, and by placing layers of notes on top of these patterns, creates the sounds of Africas tomorrow. Boasting a rich synthesis of musical styles on Ghanaian percussion and Western instruments such as the saxophone, electric bass, trumpet, keyboard and drum kit, Kukrudu crosses many musical genres including Afro-Jazz, Funk, Blues and Rock. Kukrudu, meaning "earthquake" in Ga language, invariably motivates audiences to dance with abandon. Obo Addy Solo 
Obo Addy, a renowned master drummer from Ghana, West Africa will share the many rhythms of his homeland in a solo musical performance. In addition to drumming, the performance will include a call & response session, opportunity for questions and stories behind the history of the music. |
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