Brighten The Corners Presents Ghanaian afropop pioneer Ata Kak at The Church on Thursday 20th November 2025.

With Janani.fx & DJ Tom Greig

“Its positive shine, relentless energy, and alien earworm choruses feel like a portal to an alternate reality, where the sounds of South Africa’s Shangaan electro, Mali’s Balani Show, Syria’s dabke, British grime, and Portuguese kuduro all sweat together” - FACT

• Event Info

  Time: 7.30pm - 11pm
  Venue: The Church, Ipswich
  Tickets: £15+bf
  Supports: Janani.fx & DJ Tom Greig

  Age Restrictions: 14+ (14- 17s must be accompanied by an adult)

• Artist Info

  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.”

  Janani.fx (ஜனனி.fx) is fronted by Eela Tamil creative, Janani A. As a Tamil person with roots in Jaffna, born in Berlin and later living in Norwich and London, Janani’s sense of displacement forms an integral role to the music that is produced. The powerful set incorporates experimental soundscapes with gritty vocals and lyricism. Just like Janani’s boundless array of influences, the holistic music cannot be abruptly defined. Simply put, it is one of the ways Janani communicates to her ancestors.