NEW: KOLOGO UNTITLED

MusicXChange released this unique performance by kologo master Ninety on November 6th, recorded live at Accra’s Art Center, featuring original Kologo music and unique highlife and afrobeat rhythms from Ghana! Enjoy!

Recorded live around Accra’s Art Center, a unique and historic location for artists and creatives from all over Ghana and West Africa, and a true melting pot of sounds rhythms colors and cultural connections from all over the world, this mixtape is a previously unreleased selection of traditional music from the Frafra people, a local tribe based in the northern region of Ghana! Featuring original songs and repertoire sung and performed by Ninety, a young and independent artist now based in Accra, who also plays and accompanies the music with the Kologo, a lesser known traditional African instrument which is at the hearth of the Frafra culture, and which we could call one of the musical ancestors of today’s guitar, if the comparison is allowed. Played with a large pick with only two strings which create a one-chord alike, pentatonic sounding much more rhythmically oriented playing interaction, to support and interact playfully with the call and response style of the vocal message.

Tracklist

01. Kologo Untitled (Live) 

02. Who Seh Man Non Deh

03. Don’t Brake My Heart

04. Dont Believe Your Neibor

05. Baby Girl I Need You

credits

released November 6, 2024
Kologo and voice: Ninety

Produced by MusicXChange
Executive producer: Federico Masetti

Recorded live in Accra, Ghana
Engineer: Federico Masetti

Edited, Mixed and mastered by Federico Masetti

NEW: Africana Dance Ensemble - Live!

MusicXChange released a new song by Africana Dance Ensemble on May 5th, and it’s #bandcampfriday! It will be available to listen and download on Bandcamp, featuring original sounds from Ghana, and unique highlife rhythms!

World renowned Africana Dance Ensemble is amongst the finest performers collective and most original remaining interpreters of Ghana’s traditional music and culture.

Here is an incredible live performance depicting Africana's mystical sounds and complex rhythms, featuring drumming, singing and dancing to remind all of we about the importance of love in everyday life and works.

Enjoy!

credits

released May 5, 2023
Drums, voice and dance: Africana Dance Ensemble

Produced by MusicXChange
Executive producer: Federico Masetti

Recorded live in Accra, Ghana
Engineer: Federico Masetti

Edited, Mixed and mastered by Federico Masetti

NEW: Nii Otoo & Friends - Kpanlogo

MusicXChange released a new song by Nii Otoo & Friends on May 5th, and it’s #bandcampfriday! It will be available to listen and download on Bandcamp, featuring original sounds from Ghana, and unique highlife rhythms!

Traditional Kpanlogo songs and rhythms from Ghana as performed by Nii Otoo and his fellow musicians. Recorded live in Accra, Ghana. Enjoy!

credits

released May 5, 2023
Ensemble: Nii Otoo & Friends

Produced by Nii Otoo and Federico Masetti

Recorded live in Accra, Ghana
Engineer: Federico Masetti

Mixed and mastered by Federico Masetti

Art direction: Tommaso Dal Poz

NEW: Osei Korankye - Odo

MusicXChange released a new song by Osei Korankye on May 5th, and it’s #bandcampfriday! It will be available to listen and download on Bandcamp, featuring original sounds from Ghana, and unique highlife rhythms!

Osei Korankye is amongst the master performers and interpreters of Ghana’s seprewa musical tradition, the harp of the Ashanti people of Ghana!

Osei's grandfather Opanin Kwabena Agyarko rediscovered through dream this unique instrument, which originally came from the Sahara, and it has been present for a long time among various Akan groups. Then it almost disappeared as guitar playing started spreading from the coast...but the legacy still lives on!

Here is an incredible live performance from Osei Korankye's beautiful voice and mystical instrument, singing to remind all of we about the importance of love in everyday life and works.

Enjoy!

credits

released May 5, 2023
Vocals, Seprewa: Osei Korankye

Produced by Osei Korankye and Federico Masetti

Recorded live in Accra, Ghana
Engineer: Federico Masetti

Mixed and mastered by Federico Masetti

Art direction: Tommaso Dal Poz

HEWALE SOUNDS!

MusicXChange will release the new album by Dela Botri & Hewale Sounds on March 5th, featuring new original music and unique Ghanaian highlife and afrobeat rhythms! It will be available to listen and download on Bandcamp and as an exclusive limited edition 12” vinyl record!

The flutist Yaw Dela Botri founded the Hewale Sounds group in 1996, and he is now considered an absolute master, virtuoso of atenteben, that’s the name of the traditional wooden flute of Ghanaian music. Alongside his ensembles, he participates in numerous festivals across Europe and the United States, with a repertoire that includes both original compositions as well as traditional music, with forays into high-life, afrobeat and juju music.

The new Hewale Sounds project, released by MusicXChange, is recorded in Accra during the lockdown (which inevitably gives the title to the first song!), and it can be found on Bandcamp or on our online store as an exclusive 12” vinyl record!

Three songs on each side and, after the introduction, "Odo", places us in a landscape of the sweetest, with the incredible intro of the atenteben flute: the sound of Africa is right there, just around the corner, all the members of the group are as inspired and knowledgeable as they are discreet and willing to share the music with their audience! The third, enchanting piece "Bani"  also feature an excellent performance by Dela Botri, and an opportunity to remark how Dela is the first to be able to play the entire chromatic scale on the atentebem.

The vinyl is turned and the afrobeat groove of "Fela" arrives, an explicit homage to Kuti's saxophone, even if the theme is always performed on the flute. Estrangement and wonder are assured before Evans Aduful enters with his guitar: it almost seems to listen to Abraxas, that is, the Carlos S. of Abraxas! With "Novinye Wo” on track five, from the Black President’s Nigeria we return to a more properly Ghanaian rhythm, also decidedly possessed and inspired, but with that joyful frenzy which the record is soaked through from top to bottom.

The rest of the group is also in great shape here: Okoe Amatefio on kpanlogo drum, Emmanuel Ohene on gankogui and axatse, Beda Ehrensperger on electric bass, Katrine Suwalksi on saxophone, David Odoum Jr. on drums. The closure is entrusted to Nana Eba, with a yoruba juju perfume: always great, great music from Planet Afreekah!

MUSICXCHANGE RADIO SHOW on ASTARBENE!

Greetings brothers and sisters worldwide! Happy and grateful to introduce you to MusicXChange’s radio show, live and direct on Astarbene.com!

Every sunday we will be listening and sharing to some of the grooviest rhythms, sounds and music directly from our beloved mother Afreekah!

We will be running interviews, hosting performances and live shows, featuring artists, musicians and guests from the continent.

We will share ideas, vision and perspectives, talk about traditional music and culture, and give thanks to the unique power of music that brings us together, music that unite and not divide, music that heal!

Here you can find the broadcast of the first episodes, and a unique selection of songs, chants and rhythms. Enjoy and stay blessed!

DRUM AND DANCE AT TRINITY YARD SCHOOL!

Since 2021 started, the MusicXChange team has been at work to bring forward the grant projects and to renew the collaboration with local partners, providing music education to underserved youth and creating accessible job opportunities for local musicians. 

Trinity Yard School, located near the small village of Cape Three Points in the western region of Ghana, is a nonprofit organization focused on empowering local youths through education, arts and sports amongst other activities, and one of MusicXChange friends and partner organization.

Working with musicians and dancers from the Amandze Fie cultural troupe of Takoradi, and with the village youth attending the after school program, MusicXChange has been supporting the hosting of traditional drum and dance classes, with positive results in a joyful movement of rhythm and sounds!

Thanks to all our friends and donors who are making this possible!

NII BUXTON: FUTURE (NEW RELEASE!)

“During a time of global crisis, a fresh and hopeful look on what’s coming next”

Follow this link and check out the song:

https://musicxchange.bandcamp.com/track/nii-buxton-future

lyrics

I see myself in a jungle there’s no food and water to drink 

I turned around to the north and south there’s plenty greens and the birds are singing 

The future look so bright but the road is tough 

That’s why me can’t stop singing and playing cos Jah go bless me one day 

I can see the future the future look so bright and happiness 

I can see the future I pray for Jah protection in the future 

We can see the future that’s why we work torward the future 

The future look so bright it look so bright 

Wos3ko wos3ko sane no hewol3 ny33f3a toiboo Koni ny33 boa me toi 

Shi woshitamo min ehii eeee dzanyonmo 

K3 ohi3 akafo ony3mi ko no 

Nohewo wontsunin koni aka to wobii y3 y3 wos3ko wos3ko

about the song
written and composed by Nii Buxton, this piece is a strong and positive prayer to life, to our future, and to the idea that nothing will be easy as we move along our path, but we shall not give up!
Recorded live and acoustic at Accra’s Art Center, the song features Nii’s guitar and voice, supported by unique sounds and rhythms that offer the idea of being immersed in a west-African forest. In addition to the lyricis sung in english, Nii brings in his cultural background and tradition by singing in his native tongue, the Ga language from Accra.

about the artist
Nii Buxton was born in Mudor, James Town , Accra. Nii started playing the kpanlogo drums (percussion) at age five (5) without learning it. Nii is from a cultural and musical background with inspiration from his father who is a musician.Nii was taught the Guitar by his father’s mentee. Since then till now, Nii has never stopped playing the Guitar and performing.

Follow this link and check out the full bio: https://www.musicinafrica.net/directory/nii-buxton

END

AFLAO ADZOGBO GROUP - ADZOGBO

MusicXChange goal is preservation of traditional music through field recording.

“Adzogbo” is a traditional dance of the Ge/Ewe/Fon/Gbe people, originaly from Benin, Togo and the Volta Region of Ghana. It is a war dance used to celebrate spirit chiefs, and festival as well as other functions of local royalties.

Aflao Adzogbo Group based in Aflao in the Volta Region of Ghana, is amongst the few ensembles that are preserving and maintaing the cultural tradition of Adzogbo music, as well as its social and spiritual value. 

Check out this exclusive performance below:

Click here to access our Bandcamp page, where you can listen and download the music:

Click here to access full liner note and description of the dance:

NKABOM CULTURAL TROUPE: AHANTA AND NZEMA MUSIC FROM THE WESTERN REGION

Nkabom Culture Troupe is a group that was established in 2007 in d golden city of western region called Tarkwa. The motive behind the creation of this group is to promote Ghanaian culture and to also teach the youth their tradition. This group performs only traditional dances across Africa and mostly the unseen dances that is almost in the verge of dying or missing . The group also do traditional music such us osode, adenkum and palm wine music that are typically and traditionally rooted.

“Abuyor” is a traditional dance from the Western region of Ghana . This dance is a celebratory dance, originated from the Nzema people, that was traditionally danced after the harvest. The dance is now it's dance in most occasions such us wedding and others too. ENJOY!

“Kundum” dance is mainly danced by the Ahanta and Nzema tribe from western region of Ghana.
Kundum dance has its history traced back in the ancient days when our ancestors make Mary with this dance to show a bumper harvest season.

KOO NIMO: PALMWINE MUSIC AND STORYTELLING

Agya Koo Nimo (born Kwabena Boa-Amponsem on 3 October 1934), is a leading folk musician of Palm wine music or Highlife music from Ghana.

He is a legendary Ghanaian singer who is popularly referred to as the “king of palm-wine music”. The "grandfather of highlife" as he is often called uses his music to tell life stories which has greatly influenced the Ghanaian and other West African music scenes.

Palm-wine music is a West African musical genre, who used the first guitars brought by sailors, combining local melodies and rhythms with calypso feel. Palm-wine music was named after a drink, palm wine, made from the naturally fermented sap of the oil palm, at gatherings where early African guitarists played.

Check out this exclusive video performance, recorded live in Kumasi in July 2016:

ACCRA PSYCHIATRIC HOSPITAL: MUSIC FOR HEALING

MusicXchange Ghana actively worked to promote the use of music therapy as a tool for healing and wellness at medical facilities, schools and organizations, focusing on the inclusion and recognition of traditional healing methods linked to indigenous music.

The Accra Psychiatric Hospital is responsible for the treatment, welfare, training and rehabilitation of its patients, affected by a number of mental health dieseas.

Our work provided 20 disabled and mental health disease patients from the pediatric department of Accra Psychiatric Hospital with weekly hands-on music therapy sessions relating to traditional African music forms, using music as a tool for self-empowerment and as a means to abolish barriers in their lives.

It is a global oriented project, and we look at collaborating with music therapist, teachers and students from Ghana and from around the world to work on research and provide training as a major opportunity for growth and impact.

The programs were achieved in collaboration with Multikids Academy and with the hospital management, as well as with teachers and musicians from the local community, who we want to acknowledge and thank publicly for their strong commitment and dedication to this initiative.

Check out this video to find out more about the program, with interviews and contributions from the musicians, nurses and school teachers:

ITHACA REGGAE FESTIVAL 2019

Official announcement that MusicXChange will be attending Ithaca Reggae Festival this year!

Come and join us on JUNE 29, 2019 in Ithaca, NY to experience a unique festival event that combine reggae music with nature and a conscious mind towards diversity and inclusion!

Come and find us in the Educational area, and feel free to take part in a drum circle, or learn some original dance moves from master drummer Koblavi Dogah, all while living and learning about African music and culture and experiencing the healing power of music!

(Of course we’ll also be at the main stage to support Ghanaian artist Cha Cha leding his band the Medicinals!)

Check out the full lineup and program on the website http://ithacareggaefest.com, and make sure to follow the Facebook event for some exclusive musicxchange content —> https://bit.ly/2XI9W3N

#musicxchange

2023 Top-Rated nonprofit

MUSICXCHANGE HONORED AS TOP-RATED NONPROFIT

GreatNonprofits.org Award is based on Positive Online Reviews

MusicXChange has been honored with a prestigious Top-Rated Award by GreatNonprofits, the leading provider of user reviews about nonprofit organizations. The Top-Rated Nonprofit award was based on the large number of positive reviews that MusicXChange received – reviews written by volunteers, donors and clients. People posted their personal experience with the nonprofit. This award is a form of recognition by the community.  Being on the Top-Rated list gives donors and volunteers more confidence that this is a credible organization. The reviews by volunteers, clients and other donors show the on-the-ground results of this nonprofit. In addition, we’ll be added to GreatNonprofits #GivingTuesday Guide—an interactive guide to top nonprofits throughout the years. 

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