DESCRIPTION
Ghanaian Afro-funk pioneer Ebo Taylor returns with Yen Ara, an album the maestro himself considers perhaps his finest work to date. At 82 years old and with more than six decades in music, Taylor continues to evolve his signature blend of Afrobeat, highlife, jazz, and konkoma, this time infusing it with a modern disco pulse and razor-sharp percussion.
Recorded live at Electric Monkey Studio in Amsterdam and produced by Justin Adams (known for his work with Tinariwen, Rachid Taha, and Robert Plant), Yen Ara — meaning “we” in Akan — is a call to unity and cultural pride. It features Taylor’s Saltpond City Band, a tight-knit ensemble that includes two of his sons and a collective of skilled Ghanaian musicians. The album feels energetic, fresh, and deeply rooted in traditional rhythms, presenting a bold yet respectful reconceptualization of Taylor’s sound for the modern era.
From the gritty groove of ‘Krumandey’ to the riot-inciting rhythms of ‘Mumudey Mumudey’, the album delivers dancefloor fire while maintaining Taylor’s message-driven spirit. Tracks like ‘Mind Your Own Business’ and ‘Aboa Kyirbin’ throb with Afrobeat urgency, while the horn-driven beauty of ‘Ankoma'm’ recalls Taylor’s past classics like Love & Death and Come Along.
This is Ebo Taylor in full flight, combining the wisdom of age with the vibrancy of youth, bridging past and future. Yen Ara is not just a continuation of his legacy, but a fresh chapter — potent, passionate, and full of life.
TRACKLIST
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Poverty No Good
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Mumudey Mumudey
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Krumandey
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Aboa Kyirbin
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Mind Your Own Business
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Ankoma'm
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Abenkwan Puchaa
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Yen Ara
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Aba Yaa