(Not too long ago,) Okayafrica was put on to “I am An African” by Papa Ghana (thanks Spoek Mathambo!), the Ghanaian-rooted, Gandhi-quoting, Dutch musician whose influences are just as broad as his audience. Papa Ghana takes An African Minute to tell us about his single, the message in his music, and what we can look forward to next.
1.Who are you (besides “An African”)?
My name is Jefferson Osei a Ghanaian born and raised in the Netherlands. I’m 23 years of age. Student, football player by heart, 1/7 of the creative collective Daily Paper and 1/3 of L’Afrique Som Systeme.
2. How would you describe your music and its audience?
First of all I want my music to be approachable for everyone in the world. People should start smiling when they play my music, no matter what colour of skin or religion. I’m influenced by many cultures therefore I use a variety of styles and genre in my music such as afro-beat, coupe decale, kuduro, grime, dubstep, electro and hip hop. So if I were to discribe my music in one word I would say: Diaspora Beat, yeah I know you have never heard of it. It’s music made by people whom are away from their established or ancesteral homeland influenced by other cultures. I would describe my audience as people of all kinds of race whom are not stiff in the hips.
3. Who/What/Where are some your biggest music influences to date?
I have a broad taste in music. Fela Kuti, Michael Jackson, Bob Marley, Marvin Gaye, Stevie Wonder, 2Pac, DJ Premier, Kanye West, Salt ‘n Pepa, Aaliyah, R. Kelly, Lil’ Wayne, Daft Punk, Dizzee Rascal, Magic Som Systeme, Buraka Som Sistema, D’banj, and Sarkodie. As you can see I have been influenced by many Artists whom made different types of music.
4. You just dropped a video for your single “I Am An African,” why did you choose to debut with this song?
This song has a message to all people in the world. We need more unity in the world. Africa is the homeland where it all started a long time a go. I want people to remember this, cause no matter what colour or religion we are all Africans.
5.What’s next for Papa Ghana?
My first priority is my bachelor degree in school and launching the first Daily Paper clothing line. I’m also working on The Mandingo EP, my new EP with various music styles. It should be released somwhere in the summer, on African time.
6. We noticed that Papa Ghana is sounds similar to “propaganda.” If Papa Ghana were to spread propaganda, what would it be?
Be the change you want to see in the world.
Check out more OKA’s African Minute interviewees- folks whose work reflects a new perspective of Africa:
Congolese superstar rapper Hugo Million
South African fashion designer Gareth Cowden
Nigerian songstress Zara Gretti
Zimbabwean celebrity hair and make up stylist Jackie Mgido
Kenyan comic artist Chief Nyamweya
Rwanda’s fashion designer House of Tayo
Oli Benet and Senegalese skaters
Zimbabwean self-taught illustrator/activist Sindiso Nyoni

























Okayplayer Audio: Q-Tip x Juan Epstein On G.O.O.D. Music + New LP ‘The Last Zulu’
Okayplayer-for-life Q-Tip called in to Cipha Sounds & Peter Rosenberg’s Juan Epstein radio show on Hot97 this morning to speak about his signing to Kanye West‘s G.O.O.D. music label, which was officially announced yesterday. Tip ran down his behind-the-scenes involvement with Kanye projects like Watch The Throne and My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy, collaborations which naturally lead, he said, to the new partnership. He also confirmed that he will have tracks on the G.O.O.D. music comp in the works and revealed that the name of his forthcoming LP (slated for 2013) will be The Last Zulu.
Interestingly, he says the name was inspired by a DNA test his manager arranged that traced his roots to South Africa–results that seem (?) to contradict the on-camera DNA test he did with Okayafrica and AfricanAncestry.com, which place his genetic origins with the Djola people of Guinea-Bissau, video of which you can watch above.
Of course (to get technical for a sec) OKA tested Tip’s maternal DNA and it’s always possible that he’s referring to another test tracing his paternal DNA. Generally, when doing our African Ancestry series, Okayafrica tests someone’s maternal DNA lineage to find African roots, as paternal lineages often provide surprising results (guess what? you’re white!). In addition, it would be rare to find an African American with Zulu heritage based on the patterns of the slave trade. African Ancestry president and founder Gina Paige explains:
All of that does nothing, of course, to change Tip’s so-so-real legacy as the most visible face of New York’s very own Zulu Nation, founded by the legendary Afrika Bambaataa. And if The Last Zulu is going to carry that spirit into the realms of pop radio Kanye is currently owning, it can’t drop soon enough. Get your Zulu beads here and listen to audio of the full interview below.
spotted at NR