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The Rhythm Is ... Ghana Get You! Enterprises
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Cultural Understanding Through Traditional Music and Arts
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Kpani Addy is the grandson of Okanfo Akoto, who was a Wonche priest of the Ga peoples of coastal Ghana. Born into a traditional "house of drumming," the music and dance accompanying his grandfather's ritual ceremonies were an integral part of Kpani's development as a drummer and dancer.
His professional career began at the age of twelve, dancing in his father's group. As his talent developed, he played with a variety of popular groups and eventually led his own. Brought to the United States in 1986 by his father to play with his troupe, ODADA,he then toured Japan, Canada, and the US.
While living in Portland, Oregon, Mr. Addy started a solo career establishing his own traditional drum and dance troupe and High Life band and developing himself as a talented choreographer and composer as well as performer. He emerged as a gifted teacher as well, working in schools and providing workshops to all ages. Kpani has "a knack" for communicating the feeling and spirit of his vibrant traditional heritage with authority and compassion.
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Traditional Ghanaian Culture, Music & Dance Education & Performance
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- For Promotional Package including videos & CD or to arrange performances and workshops CONTACT: Kpaniiaddy@yahoo.com or CALL(708)503-6942
- Performances of African Traditional &/OR High Life Music and Dance from Ghana, West Africa
- African Drumming and Dance Classes and Workshops for Adults or Children.
- Traditional African Instrument Making Workshops
- Traditional African Tie & Die Workshops
- African Music and Culture Camps for Adults and Children.
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Kpani Addy & Kolomashi perform at Main St. Nights in Park Forest, Il. SWEET & BAD High Life & Traditional Dance Band is looking to renew its self in Illinois. You can be a part of the fun!
Sweet and Bad is an exciting “world beat” dance band. Their lively sound originates from Ghana, West Africa and is called High Life Music or “Osibisaba”. This most danceable music is made additionally exciting because it is interspersed with authentic traditional drumming and dance. The dances re-enact century old rituals and social celebrations from many of the 50 different cultural groups that make up Ghanaian society.
Sweet and Bad, came together during the summer of 2003 but represents a gathering of long time musicians who have played together in a variety groups over the last 10 years. Master musician Kpani Addy teams up with high life rhythm guitarist Jaga Botchway. These two musicians have been playing and composing music together for six years. They are joined by saxophonist Miguel Maldonado, who played with Kpani nine years earlier in his troupe called “Pani Pani”. Cypress Knight, Comice Addy and Adam Carpineli make the group complete and add the Traditional element that makes their performance unique and memorable.
Sweet and Bad’s performance and music is a real crowd pleaser. They Bring You To Your Feet Dancing!
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ATTENTION INTERESTED MUSICIANS IN ILLINOIS !Looking for Musicians To Join New High Life Band in Chicago! SWEET & BAD Band is reorganizing in the Mid-West! We need guitar, bass guitar, saxaphone and keyboard. High Life music experience not necessary. Contact us by writing to riggyenterprises@yahoo.com or call (708) 503-6942 MUSICIANS’ RESUMES:
PERCUSSION, COMPOSER/ARRANGER, LEADER
Kpani Addy: See Resume Above
As well as performing, Mr. Addy has been teaching drumming and dance in Oregon and Illinois since 1991. Over the last 17 years he has performed and taught traditional Ghanaian music throughout Oregon, the Western and Mid-Western United States, and Washington DC. He has been an artist-in residence with both the Oregon and Washington State Arts Commission.
BACKGROUND VOCALIST AND DANCERS:
Cypress Knight has been a student of dance since the age of five. For the last eight years she has been training in Ghanaian dance from Kpani Addy. In the early 1970’s Ms Knight studied modern and interpretive dance at Goddard College in Vermont and the University of Washington in Seattle. At the U of W she also studied and performed the traditional dances of Zimbabwe taught by native musician, Dumisani Maraire “Dume”. She has performed in Mr. Addy’s traditional dance and drum group named “Kolomashi” for seven years and accompanied him in presenting programs to preschools, elementary schools, and prisons as well as local festivals and shows. In February 2002 she completed a seven-week dance intensive in Ghana, West Africa with the Traditional Drum & Dance Company Ga Gbeke Bii. She studied under master dancers; Nii Aryee Hammond, Anthony Tieku Addo, Benjamin Ankrah, and Francis Adjetey Adjei.
Comice Addy began studying traditional African dance from Kpani Addy at the age of fourteen. As an infant her mother recalls her dancing to the rhythm of the electric ice cream maker. She has performed in Mr. Addy’s group “Kolomashi” for seven years and accompanied him in teaching and performing for preschools, elementary schools, and prisons as well as local festivals and shows. In 2002 she completed a seven-week dance intensive in Ghana, West Africa with the Traditional Drum & Dance Company Ga Gbeke Bii and performed with the troupe in Accra. She studied under master dancers; Nii Aryee Hammond, Anthony Tieku Addo, Benjamin Ankrah, and Francis Adjetey Adjei. She serves as lead female dancer and disciplinary and when in Ghana she performs with Ga Gbeke Bii at various events in the city of Accra.
OLD MEMBERS RESUMES GUITARIST, COMPOSER/ARRANGER
“JAGA” Nii Sai Botchway has been a talented and versatile musician for over twenty-five years. He plays guitar, bass guitar, and keyboard as well as composes and arranges music. He comes from the Osu District of Accra, Ghana, West Africa where he played and recorded with such famous High Life musical groups as the BARONS and the MAGIC ALIENS during the seventies and eighties. He came to America to play with the renowned and long-standing group HEDZOLEH SOUNDS out of the Bay Area in California. He did song arrangements for such well know people as Konimo from Ghana and Huma Sakela from South Africa. In 2000, he returned to West Africa where he worked in a recording studio and learned the techniques and processes of producing music CDs. He moved to Portland, Oregon in 2002 where he plays, composes and produces professionally.
PERCUSSIONIST and BASS GUITAR:
Adam Carpinneli, is a local Portland musician who has been studying drumming and percussion with Mr. Addy for three years. During the summer of 2001 & 2003 he studied drumming in Ghana, West Africa while participating in an international study program with Portland State University. He also worked with Kpani’s Traditional Drum & Dance Company; Ga Gbeke Bii “Children of Ghana” which is based out of Accra, Ghana.
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