ATA KAK

Ata Kak
The Crescent, York
Saturday 22nd August, 7.30pm
Tickets are £15 (+ b/f) in advance and available from See Tickets.

*This is a standing show*

Ata Kak, the Ghanaian artist behind the cult classic Obaa Sima, crafted a singular blend of highlife, hip-hop and funk in the early '90s that went largely unnoticed until decades later. Born Yaw Atta-Owusu in Kumasi, he moved through Germany and Canada, developing his sound using basic home equipment and sheer determination.

Initially released as a DIY cassette, Obaa Sima fused Twi rap with lo-fi beats and Afro-futuristic flair. It vanished into obscurity until 2002, when musicologist Brian Shimkovitz found a copy in Ghana and later reissued it in 2015 via Awesome Tapes From Africa. The internet lit up.

Despite late fame, Ata Kak remains grounded. "I don't consider myself a legend, I'm just doing what I love," he says. His global touring debut came well into his 50s, electrifying festivals across Europe with his infectious energy and joyful sound.

Once a mystery, now a pioneer of Twi rap and Afro-futurism, Ata Kak continues to write and record at home. "Music is like water," he says. "Once it flows out, it can go anywhere."

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zW28iwIikq8

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pw0OfOShSIY

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=abnF2ddiOrM

Once a mystery, now a pioneer of Twi rap and Afro-futurism. 

Ata Kak, the Ghanaian artist behind the cult classic ‘Obaa Sima’, crafted a singular blend of highlife, hip-hop and funk in the early 90s that went largely unnoticed until decades later. 

Born Yaw Atta-Owusu in Kumasi, he developed his sound across Germany and Canada, using simple home equipment and sheer determination. 

The DIY cassette Obaa Sima vanished into obscurity—until it was rediscovered in 2002 and reissued in 2015 via Awesome Tapes From Africa, sparking a global cult following.

Today, Ata Kak electrifies audiences across Europe with his infectious energy and joy.