Cover Story
Ghana
performs with such confidence
and authenticity that she could
have been groomed at Fela’s
Shrine.
Of her type of music, Jojo says
she doesn’t believe it is yet
commercially viable in Ghana.
People want the kind of music
that is popular on the radio
and on MTV Base. To be a top
musician you have to master
Azonto, or sell yourself as an
R’N’B crooner. She admits
that there is nothing wrong
with this but it is simply not
her mien. She wants to make
what she calls vintage music.
Classic music that will last for
generations like her idol Fela
Kuti.
“I thank God for people like
Asa. If she didn’t exist I would
be in major trouble. If there was
no Fela...,” she smiles shaking
her head. Jojo believes that for
her music to shine in Ghana
she would first need to gain
acclaim in Europe.“It is almost
like you have to be validated
elsewhere first before people
will appreciate you in Ghana,
” she says.
For now though she is happy
to be able to create and be
inspired at home. While she
looks forward to touring both
within and outside of the
region, Ghana is where her
creativity is at its best at the
moment. So she is happy to be
here despite the odds.
“My life’s mantra has been to test
my own will. When I do something
then I am satisfied in knowing that
I did that. As far as what comes out
of it, I don’t expect anything. If I get
a platform to share my culture and
music with people it would be great,
but for me the best reward is being
able to do what I want to do."
“My life’s mantra has been to
test my own will. When I do
something then I am satisfied
in knowing that I did that.
As far as what comes out of
it, I don’t expect anything. If
I get a platform to share my
culture and music with people
it would be great, but for me
the best reward is being able
to do what I want to do."
It is this will power, this
self belief, that fuels Jojo’s
passions. Besides a growing
career in music she also has
love for repurposing vintage
clothes and accessories. Just
two months ago, she and her
partner launched a vintage
clothing startup. They had
their first pop-up shop at
Republic Bar & Grill in Osu.
“I love reconstructing things
based on up-cycling, and
recycling,” she says. Vintage
GH is the sum total of all of
Jojos artistic manifestations.
She hopes that the company
will be able to employ young
Ghanaians who want to learn
to make cool clothes and art
with their hands. The plan is
that they’ll get a space to stock
42 GOWOMAN SEPTEMBER|2013
their pieces, to play the music
she loves, and to promote a
classical traditional space for
the African arts.
“We will curate something
like the Niyurican cafe in
New York, a creative space
where people will free, and
comfortable. To me Vintage
GH is more than just fashion.
It is inclusive and allows me
to have ownership in all that
I do.”
near future, Jojo is just as
happy powering her music
dreams by her own might.
Jojo is a GoWoman, she will
make a stage where there
isn’t one. And oh what a stage
it will be.
: /JojoAbot & /VintageGH
And yet Vintage GH almost
didn’t happen. She had
planned to go into partnership
with two potential business
partners and it just never
panned out. Instead of letting
that get in the way she simply
co-opted her partner to join
in. Together they explore their
passion to not just share
vintage music, but a fully
vintage lifestyle.
As for the music, there’s still
no pageantry. Jojo does it all
on her own. She is singer, song
writer, producer, manager,
curator, set designer, and
conductor. While she hopes
that this will change in the
GOWOMAN SEPTEMBER|2013
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