The Kete Warriors

KOJO BOAKYE - drumkit, atumpan. Boakye hails from Ankaase in Ghana's Ashanti region, and was introduced to the adowa and kete styles by the legendary Dr. K. Gyasi. He played professionally with Nsuase Kete in Kumasi before moving to Accra to join the Kete Warriors.

KWABENA BONSU - kete drums, vocals, dance. From Offuman in Brong-Ahafo region, Bonsu played drums from an early age, and started his career as leader of the Mayor of Kumasi's Kete and Adowa group. The group toured in Germany during the 1980s before Bonsu joined the Kete Warriors in 1994.

NANA AMA DAAKUWA - vocals. Nana is the Queen Mother of Gyema in Brong Ahafo. She started singing at the age of four, and she so impressed her father, who was Paramount Chief of Offuman, that he asked her to entertain his guests whenever there was a gathering at the palace. She was introduced to Mac Tontoh by Kwabena Bonsu, her nephew.

JOHN 'NAJIB' NORTEY - keyboards, percussion. Raised in Washington DC of Ghanaian parents, Najib is steeped in jazz, R&B and reggae as well as the musical traditions of Ghana. Moving from DC to Accra in 1999, he has recently worked as a session keyboardist with prominent Ghanaian musicians such as Rocky Dawuni and Kwadjo Antwi. With the Kete Warriors he also plays xylophone and percussion, and he works as an arranger and composer in his own right.

JUSTICE OBENG - congas, vocals. From Trede in Ashanti region, Obeng was voted the best traditional drummer in Atwima district at the age of fourteen. He is now acknowledged as one of the premier exponents of adowa songs in Ghana today.

VIDA OWUSUA - percussion, vocals, dance. Born in Accra and schooled in Asaman in Ghana's Eastern Region, Owusua started her singing career with Efritete Cultural Group. During the Kete Warriors' UK tour 2000 she thrilled British audiences with her graceful adowa styles.

GODWIN QUAO ('KOFI RED') - percussion, petea drum, vocals. Defying his father's wish for him follow in the family tradition and become a goldsmith, Kofi started drumming at school in Kumasi before moving to Accra where he was a member of the cast of 'King Lion's Law' before joining the Kete Warriors.

IDRIS RAHMAN - saxophones. A rising star of British jazz, Idris fronts his own band, the Soothsayers, and has worked with artists such as Junior Delgado, the Stereo MCs and Rico Rodgriguez.

JOE SANGER - keyboards. A native of Norwich, UK, Joe became involved with the Kete Warriors when producer Mike Swai was looking for musicians to work on the recording of the group's forthcoming album. Joe visited Ghana in 1999 with Mike to rehearse and gig with them before joining their UK tour in 2000.

KOFI YEBOAH - percussion, vocals, dance. Kofi started to play traditional drums and percussion whilst still at school in Akim Oda, Ghana, and since joining the Kete Warriors has developed his skills as a vocalist and dancer.

GAUTHIER WILLIAMS - bass. Born in Accra, Williams started playing the bass professionally at the age of 15. Before joining the Kete Warriors in 2001 he was playing on the international hotel circuit in Accra with artists such as Ramar Brewks.

Email: info@mactontoh.com