Final Descent Into Vinterjazz: Okyerema Asante (GH)

Born into a family of drummers, he began playing as a child and quickly mastered the talking drum, developing an extraordinary ability to make rhythm function as language, narrative and spiritual expression. From palace ceremonies and village festivals to major international stages, his musical journey reflects a lifelong devotion to rhythm as both tradition and living force.

Renowned for his solo performances, Asante is famous for recreating the complexity of an entire traditional drum ensemble on his own, using a wide array of instruments attached to his body and surroundings. In performance, he weaves together ancestral rhythms with jazz, funk and hypnotic repetition, creating immersive sound worlds that shift between trance, celebration and introspection. His playing is both virtuosic and deeply human, rooted in storytelling and collective memory.

Asante’s influence extends across continents through collaborations with artists such as Paul Simon, Hugh Masekela, Miriam Makeba and Fleetwood Mac, as well as through his landmark recordings, including Drum Message and Sabi (Get Down), which are considered foundational works in Afro-jazz and global percussion music. Over decades, he has remained a vital link between Ghanaian tradition and contemporary global sound, continually renewing the spirit of the drum while honouring its origins.

Today, alongside performance and recording, Asante dedicates himself to education and cultural transmission, sharing his knowledge with new generations and advocating for the preservation of African traditional music as a living, evolving art form.

Don’t miss this rare solo performance by one of the most highly acclaimed West African percussionists of our time.

Bandcamp