Ozi Ozaa & Yaw Asumadu - Afrofunk and Highlife: CANCELLED

Ghanaian master drummer, flautist, singer and mulit-instrumentalist Yaw Asumadu hits town with Ozi Ozaa, an 11 piece band full of horns, percussion, and highlife and afrobeat grooves.

"A joyful and jaw dropping fusion of afro-grooves and jazz that hits you like a burst of sonic sunshine" Phil Jackson, BBC.

Yaw Asumadu began learning drums and traditional Atentenben flute at a young age. After touring with the Ghanian Pan African Orchestra for 12 years around the United States, Canada, Europe and Africa, Yaw later moved to London in 1999, and performed with Adzido Pan African Dance Ensemble as a master drummer and composer. During his time in Ghana and the UK, Yaw has performed or recorded with Andy Summers, Oren Marshall, Michael Jackson, Tunde Jegede, Annie Whitehead, Angelique Kidgo and the Kakatshitshi drumming group.

Yaw moved to Aotearoa in 2018, and met guitarist Tristan Hancock, and together they pulled together a talent-packed band to build on the music from his original Ozi Ozaa highlife band in London.

The new Aotearoa based Ozi Ozaa is a eleven piece band packed full of funk & jazz with sweet highlife and traditional African rhythms, with members who have previously played in Kiwi acts including Batucada Sound Machine, Tahuna Breaks, The Scribes of Ra, The Yoots , Twinset & Ijebu Pleasure Club. Ozi Ozaa has played many venues and festivals around New Zealand including,Cuba Dupa, Auckland Art Festival, Tauranga National Jazz Festival and many more.

Bring your dancing shoes, your feet won't stop moving.