Album Notes

Drenched in the sun-bright rhythms of Africa, singer and drummer Akayaa Atule brings her own flavor of Ghanaian Highlife music to San Diego. Akayaa is a native of the Frafra tribe in the Upper East Region of Ghana. The daughter of a master drummer, she learned how to dance and drum almost as soon as she learned how to walk. As a young woman in 1980, Akayaa attended the Performing Arts School of Ghana, where she furthered her study of the talking drum and traditional dances. Akayaa first came to California in 1983, bringing with her the music and dance traditions of the Frafra tribe. As a teacher and performer, Akayaa has shared these traditions with people of all ages throughout California. She is currently a dance instructor at San Diego State University and Southwestern College, and at several elementary schools in San Diego through Young Audiences of San Diego. In addition to Akayaa and Bolga Zohdoomah, she is the founder of the dance and drumming ensemble Abaa Koma, and also conducts private dance and drumming workshops.