Time with Koo Ntakra

Perception of African deities changes a lot depending on who’s talking, where, and when. There isn’t one single view.Inside Africa - traditional viewFor many ethnic groups, what outsiders call “deities” are actually:Abosom / Orishas / Nkisi / Ancestors: Forces, principles, and ancestral spirits that govern nature, morality, and community life.Not gods in the “Greek Zeus” sense: Most African...

Discovering talent in Ghana works differently than just scrolling SoundCloud. It’s 60% street/groundwork, 40% online. Here’s how it actually happens:Where talent shows up firstLive scenesBars/lounges in Accra & Kumasi: Front/Back, Republic Bar, Bloombar. Open mic nights on Wednesdays/Thursdays are where producers scout.School events: KNUST, UG, Ashesi, GIJ host “rap battles” and “vocal...

"Spiritually in the music industry" touches 3 different angles people usually mean:Traditional/Spiritual practices artists use for successIn Ghana + globally, some artists use spiritual backing to protect their careers:Prayers & anointing: Gospel artists fast before album drops. Secular artists visit pastors/prophets for direction or “open doors”.Traditional protection: Visiting shrines,...

"Spiritually in the music industry" touches 3 different angles people usually mean:Traditional/Spiritual practices artists use for successIn Ghana + globally, some artists use spiritual backing to protect their careers:Prayers & anointing: Gospel artists fast before album drops. Secular artists visit pastors/prophets for direction or “open doors”.Traditional protection: Visiting shrines,...

Child labor means work that deprives children of their childhood, education, or harms their health and development. Not all work kids do is “child labor” - helping with light chores after school is normal. The problem is exploitative or hazardous work.In Ghana’s context:Where it shows up most: Cocoa farms in Western North & Ashanti, fishing on Lake Volta, gold mining “galamsey” sites, and...

The future for upcoming artists in Ghana looks promising, but it’s also more competitive than ever. Here’s what’s shaping it right now:*What’s working in their favor:*- Digital platforms: Spotify, Audiomack, Boomplay, TikTok, and YouTube let artists bypass traditional gatekeepers. Black Sherif and Amaarae both blew up largely through streaming + socials before major label deals.- Global appetite...

“Modern colonialism” usually means the ways colonial-style control still shows up today, even after most countries gained independence. Scholars often call it neo-colonialism - a term Kwame Nkrumah popularized.*Old vs. Modern colonialism:*| Old Colonialism (15th-20th century) | Modern/Neo-colonialism (Post-1957 for Ghana) || Direct political rule, governors, flags | Indirect control through...

The future of upcoming artists The future for upcoming artists in Ghana looks promising, but it’s also more competitive than ever. Here’s what’s shaping it right now:*What’s working in their favor:*- Digital platforms: Spotify, Audiomack, Boomplay, TikTok, and YouTube let artists bypass traditional gatekeepers. Black Sherif and Amaarae both blew up largely through streaming + socials before major...

Natural and the unnatural death In Ghana, "natural death" typically refers to deaths from illnesses, old age, or natural causes, while "unnatural death" covers accidents, homicides, suicides, or other external factors.In Ghanaian culture, unnatural deaths are often associated with spiritual or supernatural beliefs, and may involve traditional rituals or cleansing processes. The distinction...

Ghana has a few music museums worth checking out. The Gramophone Records Museum and Research Centre of Ghana in Cape Coast is a great place to explore Ghanaian music history, featuring over 18,000 shellac discs and 2,500 vinyl records, including works by legendary artists like Yaa Amponsah and Ben Simmons. This museum is the only one of its kind in tropical Africa