Akosua is an Oakland, CA based Ghanaian-American composer, vocalist, and guitarist. Northern California’s East Bay Express deems her a “poetic songbird” with “champagne-sweet pipes.” Akosua has been compared to Joni Mitchell, Sade, Seal, Ani Difranco, and India Arie, and still her jazz influenced folk style is in a category all its own.
Born and raised in New York and New Jersey, Akosua journeyed slowly out to the west coast, first stopping at the University of Michigan where she obtained her undergraduate degree and explored her musical talent. Determined to pursue a career as a professional musician, Akosua moved to the Bay Area, confident that the west coast would move her to fulfill her creative visions and dreams.
Since settling in California, Akosua has been featured at a plethora of venues and events including Berkeley’s La Peña Cultural Center and Freight and Salvage (2006). In 2006 Akosua also graced Pontiac Michigan’s Blue Note Café, and her anti-war ballad We Are One, was played on the KPFA morning show. In 2005 Akosua was featured at Berkeley’s Epic Arts. In November 2004, Akosua opened for Sila and the Afro-Funk Experience at the Elbo Room (San Francisco). In February 2004, Akosua was featured at Sacred Grounds (San Francisco).
In addition to her many performances, Akosua also played live on KPFA’s Transitions on Traditions, KALW’s Africa Mix, and KKUP’s World Music Festival. In July of 2005, Akosua performed at New York City’s Performance Space 122, in a mini festival for independent artists. Prior to her trip to New York she received an award for Best Performance of the evening at a West Coast Singer Songwriter’s songwriter competition in Berkeley, CA.
This year, Akosua was featured at Ghana, West Africa’s premier Jazz Club, Jazz Tone.
Akosua is creating new territory for brown girls with guitars. Her undulating voice, introspective lyrics, and self-taught guitar stylings are deeply uplifting and completely unforgettable.
Agooo!! Ghana does it again. History shows we travel, we create, we influence, yet our names are unknown or forgotten. Same planet, new world, so Keep doing what you do because it's different everytime and liberating. Blessings
