PERSPECTIVES ON THE PAST
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Transcript of Audio Clip
Obo Addy, Master Drummer
I was born in Accra a village called Avena. Accra is the capital of Ghana. And I was born, I was raised among 55 brothers and sisters. My father married ten women. And my father was a medicine man who performed ceremonies with drumming, dancing and singing. And through that, I became a musician.
In 1972, me and my brothers were invited to come to the Olympic Games in Munich, to perform there. And after the Olympic Games, we met an agent who took us to England and we stayed in England. We came on tour in the United States.
Here I am now in the United States with two bands, two groups. One is a traditional group ø music and dance group. And the other is a band using American musical instruments.
Most of the things that brings us down, or get us away from what we should be doing, traditionally, is money. When people started getting money, they forget about what they have to do. They forget about their culture. But to me, I think you can make money with everything you want to make money with — but one thing is — donÕt forget where you come from.
IÕm writing it for the world, and whatever they think it sounds like ø all I want is for them to enjoy it. If they enjoy it, good, just call my name and IÕll call my fatherÕs name to it.
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