Ghanaian highlife inspires debut album by Accra collective Santrofi

Mixing Afrobeat influences with modern shaku shaku and Gwara gwara dance styles.

Santrofi are releasing their debut LP, Alewa, this April via Outhere Records.

Watch next: The story of Ghanaian highlife legend Ebo Taylor’s “lost tapes” in his own words

Composed and recorded in Accra, Alewa incorporates elements of psychedelic highlife and ’70s afrobeat, alongside call and response vocals, and recordings of Ghana’s first president, Kwame Nkrumah.

Formed by bassist/producer Emmanuel Ofori, the group includes Dominic Quarchie (electric guitar ), Robert ‘Nsoroma’ Koomson (guitar/vocals), Bernard Gyamfi (trombone/shekere), Norbert Wonkyi (trumpet/flugelhorn/bells), Prince Larbi (drums/vocals), Emmanuel Boakye Agyeman (organs/fender rhodes/vocals), and Victor Nii Amoo (percussion).

Head here for more info in advance of Alewa’s 24th April release, check out the artwork and tracklist below.

Tracklist:

1. Kokrokoo
2. Alewa
3. Kawa Kawa
4. Africa
5. Odo maba
6. Cocoase
7. Adwuma
8. Kwabena Amoah
9. Konongo Kaya
10. Mobo

Photo by: Jacob Crawfurd