Ghana: Okyerema Asante to tour Denmark at Winterjazz 2026

The tour, organised by Free-Flowing Musik Promotion, a Danish non-profit organisation that works to connect African artists with Denmark’s music scene, will feature performances in Copenhagen, Aalborg, Aarhus, Albertslund, Roskilde and Gentofte.

Asante, born in Juabeng, Koforidua in Ghana’s Eastern Region, comes from a family of drummers and began performing at an early age in royal palace settings alongside his uncle. He later gained recognition for his mastery of the talking drum and for developing an approach that uses rhythm as a form of language and storytelling. The name Okyerema, by which he is widely known, translates as “master drummer”.

Over the course of his career, Asante has performed at village ceremonies, festivals and major international stages. He is particularly known for solo performances in which he recreates the layered complexity of a full traditional drum ensemble using multiple instruments positioned on and around his body.

His work blends ancestral West African rhythms with elements of jazz and funk, producing performances that move between trance, celebration and reflection. Beyond live performance, Asante has collaborated with a range of internationally recognised artists, including Paul Simon on the Grammy Award-winning album Graceland, as well as Hugh Masekela, Miriam Makeba and Fleetwood Mac.

Asante’s recordings, such as ‘Drum Message and Sabi (Get Down), are regarded as influential contributions to Afro-jazz and global percussion music. In recent years, alongside touring and recording, he has focused on teaching and cultural transmission, working to preserve Ghanaian drumming traditions while supporting their continued evolution within contemporary music contexts.