Ghanaian-German sax player Inusa Dawuda drops Waka Waka album

The 10-track collection, Dawuda’s eleventh LP commemorating his 30th anniversary in music, is a crossover of contemporary Afrobeat, Afrobeats, amapiano, Afro-funk, highlife and reggae. It was heralded by the singles ‘One Love’, ‘All I Want Is to Be Loved’ and instrumental piece ‘Bimbia’.

Dawuda says the album’s title is inspired by one of his early compositions, ‘Waka Waka Day & Night’, an Afro-funk composition recorded with his Groove Factory back in the mid-’90s.

“‘Waka Waka Day & Night’ was the first song I recorded live in the studio with my band. It was created in collaboration with my former bassist, brother and friend from Warri, Nigeria, Lisbon Bolowei Simon, who is unfortunately no longer with us.”

Dawuda added: “Each song has its purpose. Some are easy to listen to, and some work really well in live performances because they get people dancing.”

The album includes a fresh version of Lamont Dozier’s ‘Going Back to My Roots’. The album also features reimagined covers of ‘Don’t Look Any Further’ by Denis Eduard and ‘Wild World’ by Yusuf Islam, formerly Cat Stevens.

‘Believe and Feel’ offers a beautiful blend of Afro, R&B, UK garage and soul, while ‘Turn Back the Clock’ reflects on relationships.

Inusa was born in Accra, Ghana, before moving with his parents to Hamburg, Germany, as a teenager. He learnt to play the saxophone during his youth, and he was also actively involved in sports. During the early 1990s, he was a multiple boxing champion in Hamburg in the light heavyweight division. He cites Manu Dibango, Fela Kuti and Grover Washington Jr as his primary musical influences.