Canadian-Ghanaian 'Poetronica' Artist Ian Keteku's 'Love & Lumumba' LP
Ian Keteku's sophomore album Love & Lumumba is a narrative soundscape of poetry caressed by futuristic electronic melodies. As a first generation Canadian born to Ghanaian parents, Keteku explores the idea of African identity through his own reflection on past history and present struggles in his mission to imagine a new future worth fighting for.
In an e-mail with the self-coined 'poetronica' artist, Okayafrica was able to receive some insight from Keteku on the inspiration behind his new project and the meaning of the LP's title: "As humans, we all know what it is like to fight for an idea, a goal, someone. Sometimes this fight takes our whole lives, sometimes it takes our life. Much like [Patrice] Lumumba who was murdered as a result of his passion for his country and Africa. The album explores what it means to be African today, the fights we fought the battles we still struggle with. But I believe the 'war' is best fought with love."
"Proxima Centauri," the first single from the LP, was released alongside some stunning afrofuturistic visuals directed by Keteku and Jason Hennessy & Paul Janicki (Redlight Productions). This 'poetronica' sound-piece is a beautiful mixture of meditative, stream-of-consciousness lyricism and soft electronic ambiance. Watch the video for Ian Keteku's "Proxima Centauri" below. Love & Lumumba, is out today via Nocturne Records, and available on Bandcamp.