Kologo

Stevo Atambire is already a big deal in Ghana, a streetboy-turned-pop star whose local releases are full of synths and autotune. With his band Alostmen, and the help of big-name producer, Wanlov the Kubolor of FOKN Bois, Atambire goes back to his roots. Alostmen's music marries the gritty, bluesy sound of the Frafra kologo (two-string fretless lute) from Ghana's Upper East Region with the hip cosmopolitan vibes of the capital Accra. It's all led by Atambire, who uses his mighty kologo to accompany his griot-like teachings on morality and philosophy, but Wanlov's production and guest spots from some of Ghana's biggest names add further vibrant colours to the canvas. Glossy production and a pile of guests could easily transform the down-to-earth kologo into a totally different monster, but it's all done with a subtlety that takes nothing away. Even with hip-hop stars such and Yaa Pono and Medikal and highlife legend Gyedu-Blay Ambolley in the credits, the driving force is that deep pentatonic blues and the clacking, loping groove that is unmistakably Frafra. Bass, synth, viols, trombones – the additions only add new flavours, and none of the charm of tradition is lost. That's the sign of musicians and producer working in mental and musical synchrony. Roots and innovation: this is kologo music for 2021.