Yacub Addy's Odadaa! in NYC

Highlights of a charismatic performance by Yacub Addy's Odadaa! March 28, 2009 at Symphony Space, NYC for the World Music Institute.

An exceptional ensemble of artists from Ghana, Odadaa! includes drummers, instrumentalists, singers and dancers of the Ga ethnic group, and a single American-born singer.

Odadaa!'s founder and leader is the irrepressible elder Ga drum master Yacub Addy, a hip and cosmopolitan traditionalist who bucked the status quo to live a life of culture. A drummer, composer and choreographer, Yacub is a master of traditional classics of the Ga people and creator of new works rooted in tradition.

Yacub is senior among the renowned Addy family of drummers from Accra, Ghana, the elder brother of Obo Addy and Mustapha Tettey Addy, the uncle of Aja Addy and many other performers.

Yacub was the first to stage genuinely traditional music and dance in Ghana in the 1950s. Determined to present his tradition on the world's stages, his art took him from Ghana to Europe and America, where he created the acclaimed performance ensemble Odadaa!, described by the New York Times as an "irresistible, hypnotically charged, earthy and stately treasure."

Addy's work preserves and advances the vibrant musical and movement heritage of Ghana-- it is the power of ancient rhythm breathing new life into the 21st century.

Also a respected educator, Yacub Addy lectures in the Music Department at Skidmore College in Saratoga Springs, NY.

Videographer: Penny Ward
Editing: Amina Addy with Steve Dinyer
© Yacub Addy 2009

Category:

Music

Tags:

• Yacub Addy
• Odadaa!
• African music
• African drumming
• Ghana music
• Ghana drumming
• Ga music
• drumming
• Ghana traditional
• ethnic music
• world beat
• Obo Addy
• Mustapha Tettey Addy
• Kusun Ensemble
• Yousou N'Dour
• Toumani Diabate
• Atongo Zimba
• Bernard Woma
• Congo Square
• Treme
• Katrina
• African drummer
• Ghana drummer
• Ga drummer

[immabeamazing]

whoaaa mind blown. my name is addy and I have a HUUUUUUUGE crush on a guy named Jacob and if you put a y in front of his name its pronounced yacub, so yacub addy lol. 'omg xD

sorry that ^ wasnt about the video. they sound really good!!! great music, great sound, I really like it :D

[PREKESEGhanaMedia]

Impressive. Keep it alive.....Africa is proud of U....

I am a drummer based in NYC .......I am available at the weekends to perform with the group.