| In the great reggae tradition, from
BOB MARLEY to PETER TOSH, to EDDY GRANT, to UB 40, here comes
finally a voice from Africa, for Africa.
RUDI KOFI FRANKI was born in Ghana, West Africa, and has
got in himself the pure roots of the most truly African
sounds, rhythms, and culture: his musical , but also spiritual
and cultural maturity developed in Jamaica, in close contact
with the MARLEY Family.
This is where Rudi discovered reggae, not only in its rhythmic
and musical aspects, but also in its philosophical, religious
and social interpretations.
Its also in Jamaica where the two early Compact Discs
by RUDI KOFI FRANKI, respectively entitled "Kokrokoo"
e "Kelewele For Afrekan Unity", were composed
and recorded, in 1994 and in 1996.
The two albums are a great success in his home country,
where Rudi is today a first rate star, but they have had
only an "adventurous" diffusion in other countries,
among which Italy, even if Rudi has often been on tour and
concerts in several countries, with his own group "The
Lions".
The Ghanaian press has always been talking about the "Rudi
Kofi Franki phenomenon", not only for his huge musical
success, but especially for the depth and intensity of his
lyrics, which face the most crucial problems of the developing
countries, of children, of oppressed women, of social and
economic exploitation.
This new CD "Reggae for Afrika" collects "the
best" of the two previous albums, thirteen songs for
over 70 minutes of music, bound to a more international
diffusion: and this operation starts from Italy , the country
where in this moment the most different races and cultures
seem to be meeting, and hopefully melting.
African musicality has found its best possibility of expression
in the reggae rhythm, which is now a universal musical language.
Lets all then allow ourselves to be cooly carried
away by the music and rhythm of RUDI KOFI FRANKI, without
forgetting to listen to the words, which can make us richly
endowed with feelings, as well as help us to better understand
the global world in which we are living.
In July 1998, for meeting the requests for new recordings
coming from native Ghana, a new album of previously unrecorded
material was released, titled "Basabasa Kitikiti",
accompanied by a full length video, which includes several
interviews by Rudi in different languages, and his interpretation
of his best hits.
The video is available upon direct request to this record
label.
Videotape Amanfoo Kelewele 11V/22V/111/
BUMSHIVA MUSIC
Fax: (39) 02 82 43 705
|