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Alogte Oho and Florence Adooni: The voices of the Frafra Gospel

Marian Märki05-07-20252 min. read

Far from the noise of Ghana's bustling coastal cities, a unique style of music has emerged in the northern savannahs: Frafra Gospel. The two best-known artists in this genre are undoubtedly Alogte Oho and Florence Adooni — and they have more than just a genre in common.

To understand the Frafra Gospel, it is helpful to consider the origin of the term. The Frafra are an ethnic group from northern Ghana for whom belief in a supreme creator plays a central role in their culture. Their name originates from a colonial-era greeting: 'Yɛ fara fara?' means 'How is your suffering?'.It was the missionaries who not only gave the people their name, but also shaped the development of the gospel in Ghana. The gospel enjoys a special status there and has expanded over time to incorporate elements of indigenous music. Since the 1980s, it has gained considerable social and religious recognition in Ghana. In some years of the 1990s, three out of every four published songs belonged to this genre.Frafra Gospel: a blend of tradition and modernity
Frafra Gospel fuses traditional Ghanaian sounds with highlife and modern influences. It is characterised by a strong emphasis on percussion and polyrhythms, as well as spiritual messages. While other Ghanaian music styles often combine danceable melodies with urban influences, Frafra Gospel remains firmly grounded in the Frafra's cultural and religious identity.The leading representatives of this genre are currently Alogte Oho and Florence Adooni, widely considered to be the king and queen of Frafra gospel. They both have one thing in common: they are both performing at Moods this season.A journey that changed everything
The careers of these two artists are closely intertwined, not least thanks to German producer Max Weissenfeldt. The ethno-funk pioneer and founder of the Philophon label played a crucial role in bringing their music to an international audience.Weissenfeldt first travelled to Frafra land in 2013. The first song he heard was by Alogte Oho, and he was immediately fascinated. Soon after, he arranged a meeting, and they released Zotta Yinne together on Philophon.
Picture: Alogte Oho (f. m.) and His Sounds of JoyOn this trip, Weissenfeldt discovered Florence Adooni, whose song 'Da Sake (Never Give Up)' inspired him. In 2014, he invited her to tour Ghana with a supergroup, which also included Alogte Oho and members of Sounds of Joy.This collaboration led to further musical projects. For example, Adooni was involved in the re-recording of Oho's song 'Mam Yinne Wa', which went from being a local hit to an international one. Adonui's debut album, A.O.E.I.U. (An Ordinary Exercise in Unity), was also the result of her collaboration with Weissenfeldt.
Picture: Florence Adooni (F. r.) and her bandAlthough the music of Alogte Oho and Florence Adooni is firmly grounded in Ghanaian tradition, it also bridges the gap to modern music. Their work is an expression of spiritual connection and a symbol of cultural unity and musical innovation.

Frafra Gospel at Moods

    • Florence Adooni

      Global SoundsAfrica
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    • Alogte Oho & His Sounds of Joy

      Global SoundsAfrica
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