Mustapha Tettey Addy
African Master Drummer from Ghana

We know and love Mustapha Tettey Addy for his kpanlogo music. He introduced that beautiful Ghanaian drum, rhythm and dance to the West. The growing fan base proves that the kpanlogo drum is a great, less commercialized alternative to the djembe. 


African Master Drummer

Mustapha was born into a family of drummers in 1942 and grew up in Avenor, a village of the Ga tribe in Ghana. 

Ga traditional drumming is probably the most complicate in Ghana. Mustapha learned these rhythms, songs and dances from his father and older brothers as a young child.

Don't Miss! In my interview with Mustapha, he reveals what Master Drummers really are, and what it takes to become one.Skip down to interview

He further deepened his knowledge of traditional music at the University of Ghana and on world tours with Ghana's National Dance Ensemble.

However, it takes more than just a University degree to become a Master Drummer. In fact, the title "Master Drummer" doesn't really exist in the Ga language. A better translation of the African word would be "God's Drummer". 

Recorded Albums

Mustapha spent years touring Ghana and the neighboring West African countries. On these trips, he studied the traditional rhythms, dances and ceremonies of the various tribes. The result is a number of recorded African drumming albums. 

Here's what's special about them:

  • Preserving some of Africa's rich musical heritage
    Without such records, African traditional music may soon disappear.
  • Available to the world for the very first time
    Some of these rhythms are normally only to be played for kings and chiefs.
    Mustapha obtained special permission of chiefs and elders to record them.

Exclusive Interview with Mustapha Tettey Addy

One afternoon, I stepped into Mustapha's living room while he was watching football on TV and asked him for an interview. Mustapha Tettey Addy is an approachable, kind and wise man, who loves to joke and laugh. But when the truth needs to be told, he's not afraid to risk stepping onto people's toes! 

"When you interview me, you have to know I talk hard!" 
And so he did. Some of the things we touched on are: 

  • what being a Master Drummer is really about 
  • why George W. Bush could never be a Master Drummer
  • the truth about fake African drummers
  • the secret meaning of kpanlogo
  • what he thinks of white people playing African drums

Read the interview.

Comments

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