Highlife Help: Dec 11, 2011

Flood Relief for BAPMAF (the Bokoor African Popular Music Archives Foundation)

BAPMAF: The Bokoor African Popular Music Archives Foundation (BAPMAF) is a Ghanaian NGO established in 1990 by Professor John Collins. BAPMAF’s function is to preserve African popular & traditional performance and provide a resource centre for arts projects in Ghana and the international community.

BAPMAF archival holdings include 700 photographs, 700 publications, as well as many rare documents, speeches, posters, and record sleeves; 40 videos and 850 hours of recorded music, including 700 highlife songs on shellac 78 rpm records and master-tapes of Ghanaian bands recorded at Bokoor Recording Studio in the 1980’s.

THE FLOOD: Devastation struck Oct. 26 2011 when the BAPMAF building and surrounding area was flooded during heavy rains. Six feet of water entered BAPMAF premises as well as John Collins’ private residence. John’s family narrowly escaped drowning. The building and area are now too dangerous for human habitation. There is a considerable loss of archival holdings, electronic equipment, and personal property.

JOHN COLLINS is a musician, author, producer, recording engineer, and the Acting Chairman of BAPMAF. John has been involved in Ghanaian music since 1969. In the 1980’s he opened Bokoor Recording Studio, Ghana’s first private multitrack facility. He has recorded and worked with many of West Africa’s great musicians, including: Fela Kuti, Koo Nimo, King Bruce, and Kwaa Mensah.

John Collins is currently a Full Professor in the Music Department of the University of Ghana. His books include: FELA Kalakuta Notes, African Pop Roots, and Music Makers of West Africa. Music recorded at Bokoor Studio can be heard on Electric Highlife (Naxos), The Guitar and Gun (Sterns/Earthworks), Vintage Palmwine (Otrabanda).

AFRAFRANTO means Butterfly in the Akan language of Ghana, West Africa. The group features three JUNO award-winning members of the African Guitar Summit: Theo Yaw Boakye, Pa Joe and Kofi Ackah along with Ebenezer Agyekum, Sam Donkah, Marshall, Booker T and Quandoh.

Poet Kwame Stephens will mark this occasion with a new piece, “Highlife’s Journey”.

with promotional support from….
CIUT 89.5FM – radio advertising
African Drums & Art Crafts – printing expenses

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more info: Help the Bokoor House (BAPMAF blogspot)

BAPMAF: Legacy and Loss

an interview on BBC World Service/Africa Today: Saving Ghana’s flooded music archive

Abrantse – Afrafranto: live @ Highlife Help