Ghanaian composer Gabriel Abedi shares debut single Asomdwe

The self-produced record, whose title translates as ‘peace’ in Twi, was mixed and mastered by Enrico Pavan. It features accomplished Russian violinist Oleg Bezuglov.

‘Asomdwe’ marries elements of agbadza, a form of music and dance of the Ewe ethnic group, with classical viola and piano parts, alongside electronic production and polyrhythmic textures of indigenous Ghanaian percussion.

According to the musician, the track aims to create a “sonic world where the listener can feel at peace.”

Born in Italy to Ghanaian parents, Abedi, 24, blends classical, jazz and Ghanaian traditional music. Starting his musical journey with the trombone at the age of 10, he shifted his focus to composition, earning international recognition and multiple awards.

A music composition graduate, Abedi relocated to Ghana in 2022 to delve into traditional music. Renowned for his innovative fusion and cultural richness, his work strives to elevate Africa and bridge global audiences with its musical traditions and narratives.

Abedi’s other recent projects include the Ensemble Modern's commission for Oluzayo, as well as a commission from the African Art Music Commissioning Project in Lagos, Nigeria.