‘I’m here for Fuse ODG is known for joining the dots from the music of his birthplace Ghana to the urban sounds of grime and hip-hop that filled his teenage years in the UK, but along with the music comes plans to build schools, organise festivals and rebuild national pride.
Ghana
W
ith its irrepressible Afrobeat rhythms, Fuse ODG’s music has always
been a celebration of the Kumasiborn artist’s Ghanaian roots. It’s been there from his 2013 breakthrough hit ‘Azonto’, that took the West African dance worldwide, to his most recent EP, Road to Ghana Vol 1, that showcases some of the country’s hottest emerging musical talent. But Fuse – born Nana Richard Abiona, the ODG in his stage name stands for Off The Ground, a musical collective he was once part of – champions his homeland in much more than music. This year began with the second annual TINA (This Is New Africa) Festival, in Accra’s Labadi Beach resort. The threeday event was organised by Fuse and included his biggest live music concert, a series of discussions on
of African slaves in America and to
is a call to the African and Caribbean
how to take Africa beyond aid –
welcome descendants to their spir-
people, bonded by blood and
with speakers including President
itual home has catalysed the festival
history, to return to their beginnings.
Nana Akufo-Addo – and a Kente
as well as much of Fuse’s recent
Party celebrating the visionary
musical output. His second album,
Festival fundraising
artists, designers and thinkers that
New Africa Nation, released last year,
This Caribbean and African fusion
are changing perceptions of the
includes the song ‘Bra Fie’ (‘Come
extends to the two causes that will
continent.
Home” in the Ghanaian Twi dialect),
benefit from the festival and its
a duet with Jamaican reggae star
fundraising drive. One is based in
the Year of Return to commemorate
Damian Marley, in which Fuse rallies:
Ghana – the building of a secondary
the 400th anniversary of the arrival
“Don’t forget where you are from.” It
school in Akosombo – and chosen
Akufo-Addo declaring 2019 as
All images courtesy of Fuse ODG
FLYafrica
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