Bapi Joss is on a personal mission to capture the rambunctious melodies of baroque Ghana, and flip it into a modern sound.
He’s been obsessed with music his whole life. In fact, he first started composing lyrics as an adolescent.
At night in Accra, smartphone cameras brighten up the scene and the audience roars its approval as Ghanaian highlife artiste Bapi Joss — known in his private life as Nadim J. Acquaye half walks, half dances all the way to the front of the stage.
‘If you’re feeling good, say ahaa. One, two, three, four!’ he claps, before launching into a feverish, rhythm-fuelled whirlwind of a sonic piece.
Watching the crowd at The Woods, from its bohemian-inspired alternative poolside lounge, you might assume it was lost in a rage. The concerts’ slick branding and location did attract an untraditional audience.
To achieve this effect, Bapi Joss has interwoven various genres across distinct influences, yet still maintaining a unique highlife identity.
“I enjoy the catchy ad-libs and vocals in Gyedu-Blay Ambolley’s music. He has a ferocious attention for detail. I also love the unpredictability in Amandzeba’s highlife. A master of the art, he merges two completely different worlds together, harmonised by his era-defining sound,” Bapi Joss said.
The intentionality of greats like Gyedu-Blay Ambolley’s craft has been a pillar of inspiration for Bapi Joss.
Assuming an organic form, he expresses this intensity with notable tenderness on his records. His music provides stillness in chaos and highlife is like a canvas which allows him to paint freely.
As a free-spirited teenager observing social life in Kokomlemle, Accra Bapi Joss immersed himself in the town’s lively folk and pop scene – it was a flavourful blend of everything. DJs kept spinning round-the-clock and the people never stopped dancing. On a few occasions he couldn’t help but join local jam sessions.
‘As far as modern figures are concerned, Darkovibes and Black Sherif capture the essence of Ghanaian music and deliver with a futuristic vibrancy. With Darkovibes, it’s the playfulness and soulfulness of his melodies. There’s a rawness to Black Sherif’s vocals which are distinguishing.’
Over the past few years, Bapi Joss has collaborated with Kirani Ayat, Blaq Pages and DJ KO. He has also performed at the Cali Vibe Fest 2024 and Enjoyment Land 2024.
Authored by V. L. K. Djokoto
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