Respect | Rass Kwame

Irie Magazine | Respect | Rass Kwame

Rass Kwame

Ghana

Music is life, Reggae is the key.

Kwame began singing at age nine in his neighborhood of Tesano, in Accra, Ghana. By the time he was 13, he was performing original music in his own band. During the Anansekrom music contest in 1977 (which his band Muri Sundiata won), Kwame picked up the drumsticks when the band’s drummer didn’t show and began his journey as a powerful drummer as well as an inspiring and engaging singer.

He has played with internationally known musicians, including Osibisa’s Mark Tontoh, Liberian songstress Miatta Fahnbulleh, Kiki Gyan, the late Kwasi Yobo, Nat Fredua of Black Note Studios, Chief Kwame, Kojo and Kwaff Offei, Highlife fusion pioneer George Darko, the late Jazz artist Stanley Turrentine, and many more.

On tour with C.K. Mann, the Highlife King of Ghana, he came to North America in 1990. In New York City, he played with world beat group Nkossi. As bandleader of Culture Shock, in Washington D.C., he helped make Bukom Cafe a local hot spot. In 1997 Kwame relocated to Minneapolis and formed the Ananse Band.

He has opened for Lucky Dube, Burning Spear, The Wailers, Culture, and many more.

Official Website: RassKwame.com