KOFI GBOLONYO HAILS from Ghana, is Ewe by ethnicity, and grew up surrounded by traditional West African music. He was also exposed to western music through colonizing German and British missionaries, who built churches and schools, where he first learned to play trombone. Now based in Vancouver, the musician, professor, educator, ethnomusicologist, multi-instrumentalist, and vocalist is passionate about sharing the music of his homeland.
He’ll do just that in the upcoming boundary-breaking concert called Azae Loo (Festival/Celebration). To explore the African roots of jazz as well as traditional music from Ghana, Gbolonyo is teaming up with CapU’s jazz ensembles and faculty members, among other artists. As for what audiences can expect, they’re encouraged to get up and dance.
On faculty at CapU as a professor of jazz studies, Gbolonyo is a virtuoso of the talking drum and a co-founding member of Adanu Habobo with multi-instrumentalist Curtis Andrews. The drum and dance ensemble will share the stage at Azae Loo, as will Seattle-based Ghanaian drum-and-dance duo Awal Alhassan and Sheimawu Abubakari.
Other artists taking part in the celebration of West African music are Sylvanus Kwashie Kuwor, a master drummer, dancer, and cultural educator from the University of Ghana, Legon; and Greg Campbell, a multi-instrumentalist and faculty member of Seattle’s Cornish College.
Gbolonyo wears many hats. In Ghana, he runs Nunya Music Academy, Ghana School Project, and Orff-Afrique Summer programs. He’s also a lecturer of African music and African studies at UBC and is the director of UBC African Music and Dance.
More information is at BlueShore at CapU.
