SK Kakraba

Ghanaian musician SK Kakraba is a virtuoso on the gyil, a unique instrument with a mesmerizing tone: fourteen wooden slats hang above calabashes, while spider silk covers the small openings in the gourds, creating a distinctive humming effect. The music is ecstatic and plays an important role at funerals, accompanying the souls of the deceased to the afterlife. Kakraba, who hails from a musical family, now lives in Los Angeles, where he has recorded several albums. His fast and energetic playing is captivating. Musical jack-of-all-trades Sam Gendel was also enticed to join Kakraba on his latest album, Mman Gyana. At Bozar, a second gyil, drums, guitar, bass and flute add to the music’s complex rhythms and resonant bass lines.