March 3, 2022

Ghana, forward forever

On March 6th, 1957 the British colonies of Gold Coast, Ashanti, Northern Territories and Togoland officially became the independent Republic of Ghana, the first colony in sub-Saharan Africa to achieve sovereignty.
 
After a series of military coups in the 1960s, 70s and 80s, Ghana today has cast off authoritarianism in favor of one of the freest and most stable governments on the continent.  More to the point of this radio program, Ghana is the source of some of my favorite music on the planet.  From highlife and palm-wine to kologo and Afro-funk, there are just so many brilliant sounds that Ghana has sent out to the rest of the world.
 
So it's my pleasure this week on Global A Go-Go (Sunday March 6, 1:00-3:00 PM on WRIR, for two weeks afterwards on the wrir.org archive player, check your local listings for airing on other radio stations, and any old time at my podcast site) to celebrate with two hours of music from Ghana on that nation's 65th birthday.
 


Artist | Country | Song | Recording | Label | Year
 
Oliver Lake | USA | Separation | Matador Of 1st & 1st | Passin' Thru | 1997
Joe Strummer & The Mescaleros | England UK | Global A Go-Go | Global A Go-Go | Hellcat | 2001
 
Lord Kitchener & His Calypso All-Stars | Trinidad & Tobago | Birth Of Ghana | Birth Of Ghana - Single | Melodisc | 1957
Lord Ganda & Rupert Nurse's Calypso Band | Sierra Leone-Trinidad & Tobago | Ghana, Forward Forever | Ghana, Forward Forever - Single | Melodisc | 1957
E.T. Mensah & His Tempos Band | Ghana | Ghana Freedom | Ghana Freedom - Single | Decca | 1957
E.T. Mensah & His Tempos Band | Ghana | Ghana, Guinea, Mali | Tempos Melodies | Decca | 1961
 
Koo Nimo | Ghana | Yaa Amponsah | Vintage Palmwine | Otrabanda | 2003
Santrofi | Ghana | Cocoase | Alewa | Out Here | 2020
Ebo Taylor & Uhuru Yenzu | Ghana | Love & Death | Conflict Nkru! | Essiebons | 1980
 
Pat Thomas | Ghana | Mewo Akoma | In Action - Asante Kotoko | Kapa | 1982
 
C.K. Mann Big Band | Ghana | Fa Wa'koma Ma Me | Essiebons Special 1973-1984: Ghana Music Power House | Analog Africa | 1976
K. Frimpong & His Cubano Fiestas | Ghana | Kyenkyen Bi Adi M'awu | K. Frimpong & His Cubano Fiestas (Blue Album) | Ofo Bros | 1976
Jembaa Groove | Germany-Ghana-Benin-Israel-Portugal | Mokole | Susuma | Agogo | 2022
 
Honny & Bees Band | Ghana | Psychedelic Woman | Psychedelic Woman - Single | Essiebons | 1973
Gyedu-Blay Ambolley | Ghana | This Hustling World | Simigwa | Essiebons | 1975
K.O.G. (Kweku Of Ghana) | Ghana-England UK | No Way (feat Gyedu-Blay Ambolley) | Zone 6, Agege | Pura Vida Sounds / Heavenly Sweetness | 2022
Oscar Sulley & The Uhuru Dance Band | Ghana | Bukom Mashie | Ghana Soundz: Afro-Beat, Funk & Fusion In 70s Ghana | Soundway | 1973
 
Alostmen | Ghana | Teach Me | Kologo | Strut | 2021
Guy One | Ghana-Germany | Everything You Do, You Do For Yourself | #1 | Philophon | 2018
King Ayisoba | Ghana | Champion No Easy (feat Batman) | Modern Ghanaians | Pidgen Music | 2006
Atongo Zimba | Ghana | No Beer In Heaven | Savannah Breeze | Hippo | 2005

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