Goethe-Institut to host ‘The Spirit of Africa’ launch
It would be a big day for keyboardist, songwriter, composer, singer and arranger, Opoku Mensah, when his seven-track The Spirit of Africa album is launched on January 24 at the Goethe-Institut in Accra.
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Made up of a variety of styles including Afro-beat, Highlife, Soul and local rhythms, The Spirit of Africa collection is the result of countless encounters with musicians from various backgrounds.
What really catches the ears of listeners is that distinctive sound that has characterised his playing in Ghana, Europe, the Middle East and other parts of Africa.
Mensah joined the Vision Band, a resident group of the National Theatre of Ghana in 1999 where he had the privilege of been trained by the late Prof. Komla Amoaku, a renowned musicologist and Ato ‘Red Cap’ Scott-Benin , the acclaimed Ghanaian keyboardist.
During his stint with the Vision Band, Mensah had the opportunity to play alongside several local and international musicians. They included Ebo Taylor, Gyedu Blay Ambolley, Paapa Yankson, Amandzeba, Prof. Komla Amoaku, Prof. Nathan Davies, Jimmy Dludlu, Manu Dibango and Salif Keita.
He has participated in studio recordings for numerous musicians and performed solo piano pieces for visiting heads of state such as the Sultan of Brunei, Queen Elizabeth II and the former United States president, Bill Clinton.
In 2007, Mensah formed a quartet known as Adeshie, which regularly entertained guests and visitors to the Alisa Hotel, the W.E.B. Dubois Centre and the Accra International Conference Centre.
After spending time with some groups in Accra and Koforidua, Mensah in 2008 joined the Hewale Sounds, an instrumental ensemble based at the W.E.B. Dubois Centre in Accra.
He later embarked on a performance tour with the group which took them to Mali, Niger, Togo, Mauritania and Guinea, Egypt, Dubai and South Korea. Mensah is currently planning a tour of some regional capitals in Ghana.