Words Helen Jennings
We have Brian Shimkovitz’s blog Awesome Tapes From Africa to thank for bringing Ata Kak to the world’s attention. He discovered a seven track release called Obaa Sima by this little known 1980s Ghanaian highlife artist in 2007 and since then he’s become something of an internet sensation.
House forums are in awe of this enigmatic artist's before-its-time four to the floor beats and right-minded people everywhere can’t help but fall in love with his lo-fi synth rhythms and squeaky vocals.
But it’s YouTube where light has really shone on Ata Kak. Some bright spark used the tape’s best track Daa Nyinaa as the soundtrack to a 1989 clip from DanceLine Flashback, Detroit’s version of Soul Train. Ata Kak’s awkwardly wonderful tune melts like electric butter to the fancy footwork of a succession of shoulder-padded, stoned washed denim-wearing boogie addicts. If this doesn't put a smile on your face and a spring in your step, nothing will.
Watch, listen and dance:
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