In full flight, the Accra-based Tripe-Afri Ensemble charms audiences with its ear-grabbing rhythms and energetic dance movements.
Led by multi-instrumentalist Kpakpo Azumah Zumstar and started in 2013, Tripe-Afri Ensemble has always embraced Ghanaian and African motifs in its performances and is set to showcase its dynamic repertoire on the first leg of a West African tour that will take them to Togo, Benin and Nigeria.
Tripe-Afri Ensemble relies on rhythms from various parts of Ghana. They then blend those patterns with stuff from across Africa and the African Diaspora. That sort of rhythmic enhancement has earned them praise in Ghana as an exciting live act.
Each member of the group plays more than one instrument so the flexibility is always there to extend the music into all sorts of fascinating terrains.
“We are itching to let others in the sub-region experience what we possess. We are a versatile bunch that creatively incorporate delightful Afrocentric elements to thoroughly entertain our patrons,” says group leader, Zumstar.
He is an extremely confident artiste who started honing his skills early in life. He was born into a musical family and his mother was his first instructor as she imparted traditional songs and their significance to him from infancy.
Zumstar is a skilled player of a variety of African drums like the Dzembe, Kpanlogo, Fontomfrom and Osrama in addition to different customized bells and rattles.
He delightfully infuses his assemblage of instruments into the Highlife and other African grooves played by the Tripe-Afri Ensemble on instruments like the one-string Kologo, Xylophone and Atenteben.
Drawing inspiration from giants of African music like Ebo Taylor, Fela Anikulapo Kuti, Kofi Ghanaba, Okyerema Asante, Manu Dibango and Osibisa, Zumstar and his band have played at several high-profile official and private events.
At all times, Zumstar resolves not to let the bar down in their bid to offer first-rate performances.
“I like to always maintain a high level of musicianship and that permeates through the rest of the group. That’s why we leave a positive impression wherever we go,” says Zumstar who has at different times shared stage with prominent acts like Rita Marley and Ras Bullet.
Apart from their catchy stage appearances, Zumstar and the Tripe-Afri Ensemble are also teachers and their workshops have benefitted social clubs, schools and different community groups interested in first-hand appreciation of Ghanaian and African arts.
It is Zumstar’s belief that as they push on with their culturally unique shows, their exciting flavours have to be tasted by more people around Africa and the rest of the world.
That’s why the upcoming tour to Togo, Benin and Nigeria means so much to them and they will hit the road as dates are confirmed soon.
