Okaidja Afroso:
JAKU MUMOR - ANCESTRAL SPIRIT

Okaidja Afroso ushers in a fresh breeze of musical flavors from the shores of Ghana’s Atlantic Gulf of Guinea, drawing from the ecological knowledge of the indigenous Ga-Dangme fishermen - the power of the nature-based rituals, and the connections that his ancestors had to the elements, particularly the Ocean. With his new project “Jaku Mumor” Okaidja’s distinctive musical style extends ancestral traditions and creates a contemporary African oral tradition, combining percussion, guitar, dance, and native language vocals. His artistry is grounded in traditional dance & rhythms with modern harmonies & updated lyrics. Jaku Mumor dives deeper into Okaidja’s cultural roots by collaborating directly with the fishermen to share the full artistry of their a cappella singing and chants that awaken the spirit of the human soul.

While in Ghana Okaidja will be filming his experience with the fishermen. Segments of the film including singing and interviews, may be incorporated into his live performance.

The project will provide rich residency opportunities. Where possible and appropriate Okaidja would like to meet with local indigenous groups for an exchange of their cultural experiences. One of the main themes of the outreach is to explore indigenous views on the element of Water, sanctity of Fish, and the role of music, dance, and storytelling in American indigenous and Ga-Dangme cultures. Okaidja will use this opportunity to foster conversations about the challenges facing indigenous communities across the globe, such as the impact of rising sea water levels around fishing communities, as well as the effects economic development has on cultural preservation. Through this project Okaidja hopes to learn and share indigenous resiliency practices or methods both for the sake of the American indigenous community, and for him to bring back to Ghana and share with the Ga-Dangme fishermen.