Bokoor Band

about

This piquant selection of highlife, afrobeat, and afro-rock from the 70s and early 80s in Ghana puts a personal spin on the history and lore of the legendary Bokoor Recording Studio. Ten years before there was a studio, there was a band, the Bokoor Band, founded in 1971 by a twenty-something British émigré, John Collins, and his Ghanaian guitarist friend, Robert Beckley. Collins had come to Ghana in 1952 when his father began teaching philosophy at the University of Ghana. Later on, in the 80s and 90s, Collins would transform his father’s farmhouse into Bokoor Studio and record over 200 local acts, creating an invaluable record of post-independence popular music in Ghana. This release focuses mostly on an the 70s, when Collins played guitar, harmonica, and percussion, composed songs, and even sang with a variety of groups, but especially the Bokoor Band. Bokoor means “coolness,” and the band’s 12-14 piece lineup—which evolved steadily—encompassed a long list of decidedly cool characters. The Bokoor Band contributes eight of the twelve tracks here, and they lean towards afrobeat in the early Fela mode, local adaptations of Congolese soukous, and that elastic category, “afro-rock.” “There is Time” plugs along with English lyrics and a dash of surf guitar, and “Been To” slips in earnest vocal harmonies right out of the British folk revival. The Bokoor Band’s soukous is raucous and raggedy, at its best on “Money in Bed”—about a man who does not like to discuss finances f

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top songs

albums

Afro-Rock Vol. 1

Bokoor Beats

Ghana Special: Modern Highlife, Afro Sounds & Ghanaian Blues 1968-1981

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Disco Circus 2

Soundway presents Ghana Special (Modern Highlife, Afro Sounds & Ghanaian Blues 1968-81)

Ghana Special: Modern Highlife, Afro Sounds & Ghanaian Blues 1968-81

Afro-Rock, Vol. 1

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Ghana Special: Modern Highlife, Afro-Sounds & Ghanaian Blues 1968-81 pt.2

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Ghana Special: Modern Highlife, Afro Sounds & Ghanaian Blues 1968-1981~

Ghana Special: Modern Highlife, Afro-Sounds & Ghanaian Blues 1968-81

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Afro Rock (Vol.1)

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Afro-Rock Volume 1

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