Asa Baako Festival – a weekend of music and parties on the beach and in the jungle

The annual Asa Baako Music Festival took place for the 4^th time on Ghana’s Independence Weekend 2014, once again taking the Western Region by storm in one of the most unique events currently taking place in Ghana.

Featuring a range of live musicians and DJs from around Ghana and around the world, the festival was held over two days on Busua Beach, one of Ghana’s most popular beach spots. Here, not only did revellers enjoy the live performances and parties on the beach by day, but also danced the night away at the festival’s famous jungle party, held just outside Busua, deep in the bush.

The weekend began on Friday with a huge beach party, with DJs T-Roy (UK) and Bbrave (USA) playing azonto, house, hip hop and everything in between, to an audience of people from Busua village and around the world dancing side by side.

Day two saw live music from both local and pan-African artists, starting with locals, the Mag2 Army Band kicking off the day with a mix of reggae and highlife as people watched on the beach. Busua resident Lawmaker brought the audience together, before Veronny Odili, a festival favourite, brought her soulful sound to a beautiful African sunset. Captain Ghana mixed things up with his acrobatics and magic, before Lord Caliba brought his reggae vibes. Teddy and Kyekyeku kept the crowd hyped, before Atongo Zimba gave something completely different with traditional griot music.

To the audience’s dismay, the rain came down and stopped the highly anticipated performances of MzVee, festival advocates the FOKN Bois, and Nigerian Afro-beat fusion band, Villy and the Xtreme Volumes. However, that didn’t stop the audience from hitting the jungle party, where T-Roy (UK), Bbrave (USA) and Sanse (FRA) were joined by DJ Nyce (GH), West (GH), and Max le Daron (BEL). DJs played all through the night in what guests were calling one of the most unique party locations they’d ever experienced.

Asa Baako continues to go from strength to strength, with its first jungle party held in Greater Accra in December, in Berekuso, near Aburi. Organiser, Kofi Debrah, said:

“We always try to make Asa Baako different to any other event, in Ghana or anywhere around the world. Creating a unique vibe through the location, music and diversity of people. With a team based in Ghana and London, we’re passionate about using Asa Baako to bring the world to Africa and Africa to the world, through music, arts and culture.”

Asa Baako started in 2011 in order to help raise the profile and expertise of Ghanaian musicians, now it attracts over 2,000 people to Busua annually.