King Ayisoba

King Ayisoba is a Ghanaian kologo player from Upper East, Ghana, born in 1974 in Bongo Soe in the Bongo area near Bolgatanga. He grows up in a village setting and takes his kologo with him while tending the family sheep and cattle. Before moving on to larger cities, he plays at markets, local bars and funerals in his home region.

Career and collaborations

His first major collaboration is with the late Terry Bonchaka, a hip life artist from Accra. After Bonchaka’s early death, he works with recording engineer and producer Panji Anoff, a partnership that leads to his first cassette and CD, Modern Ghanaians, in 2006. The release combines modern hip life influences with his traditional style. Its single I Want to See You My Father becomes a major hit.

In 2007 he is named king at the Ghana Music Awards Festival at the National Theatre, during Ghana’s 50th anniversary celebrations. His second album, Africa, follows in 2008 on Pidgen Music and includes electronic, beat-driven tracks alongside traditional songs such as the hit The Whole World.

International activity

In 2005 he is invited to a project in Chicago, USA. From 2009 he appears regularly in Europe, including invitations through the Sababas project from Denmark and performances on the WOMEX festival caravan. He later returns to Denmark and also performs in Germany and Switzerland.

In 2012 he tours the Netherlands, Belgium, France, Switzerland and Germany with Dutch artist Zea. At the end of that tour, plans are made for an LP of his best songs, also titled Modern Ghanaians, released on Zea’s Makkum Records. The compilation receives strong reviews across Europe.

In 2013 he appears in Russia and later returns to Europe with his own band from Ghana to promote the LP and to present kologo music from northern Ghana to wider audiences. This is followed by a tour of more than forty concerts across Denmark, Sweden, the Netherlands, Belgium, France, Spain, Switzerland, Germany and the Czech Republic. In 2014 he tours Europe again with a full band of musicians and dancers, including dates in the UK, and appears at festivals such as Roskilde Festival and Fusion Festival. Around that period, his album Wicked Leaders is set for release on Makkum Records.

Awards and nominations

He receives a nomination in December 2012 for best traditional song at the Okura African Music Awards in Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire.