Djembe Music Blog

“I’m me and if you know the meaning of
oluwatomiwa it means what gift has God brought to you and that’s why I’ll say I’m a gift and I’m just learning how to use that gift”

Lets Step into the immersive world of Tommy wa with Djembe as he carries us through his journey where the resonance of hard strings and a captivating theatrical rhythm transport you to a planet uncharted sounds and music-a place to lose yourself. What distinguishes Tommy wa is
his unyielding passion for art and his unique creative process, which he likens to assembling puzzle pieces to reveal the grand masterpiece. Through our conversation, he delves into the concept of purpose, the driving force that has
steadfastly quided his artistic journey.

Born in Nigeria and with a heart firmly rooted in Ghana, Tommy wa’s identity is inherently African, forever connected to the soil. He never forgets his origins, using music as a medium to express his innermost self. Tommy’s artistic odyssey began as a poet, a seeker of ways to
articulate his artistry. This pursuit naturally
evolved into songwriting, ultimately culminating in the music we experience today.

Tommy wa is more than just a musician; he is an art explorer, a modern- day Dora or Diego if I must say, navigating through a multifaceted creative realm that encompasses photography, curation, writing, music, poetry, and beyond. What sets him apart is his ability to harness
ADHD as a superpower for creation, drawing inspiration from the most unexpected sources, whether it’s a signboard, a television screen, or a poem- Tommy wa’s creativity knows no bounds.

Tell us a bit about yourself, how was it
like growing up?

I’m Tomiwa, songwriter, photographer, poet and curator, I run a radio show, so these are the things that makes up the cureent tommy wa . I grew
up in Nigeria. For the most part, Born in Ibadan. Spent about 13 years, moved to Abuja and spent 7 years, then moved to Ghana, Pretty simple life.
I stayed at home one year after secondary
school. My parents told me I would be going to Ghana for college and I have been here ever since, I will be a resident of Ghana for 10 years this month. The plan was to go study and whatever comes out of life,its a life lesson. But I think the reason why I stayed back was that I was able I was start to understanding myself in a different way, Understand my purpose and I didn’t want to cut that So, life happened and I stayed back here just to learn and build upon what I was already becoming.

Aside music what do you do? Any
hobbies or activities you do for fun?

It’s so difficult for me to say exactly what I do for fun but I curate Sofar Sounds, Accra, like create shows for them, different artists in Ghana. It’s like a worldwide organization that does intimate shows in different locations around the world in different cities and yeah, Accra is one of them and
I’m the curator. I also host a radio show called Afro-Indie Radio where I basically put together
songs and conversations and dialogues about Afro-Indie soundscape;Which is Indie music,
folk music, blues, soul, Funk, alternative, all of those kind of stuff but done by Africans or people of African descent. I just curate a soundscape that I can, that is radio worthy of songs that you will not hear on your typical radio stations. So sounds that sound similar to mine Or people that inspire me, I just put it into a radio show and then push
it. So, those are the things I do.

Why music?

I’m a very expressive person. So, in order not to let it die, I started to write songs and turn them

Because one of the things I’ve been able to be most consistently passionate about,I started writing as a poet. And then, at the time, I just felt like spoken words or poetry wasn’t solid. There was no avenue to showcase your talent; you couldn’t express it. I didn’t know there were ways to express poetry than they just being in books. And I’m a very expressive person. So, in order not to let it die, I started to write songs and turn them into art.

Just form melodies for the words I had and just started to make music about the words I had. It was just a matter of expression. Let people hear what I have written. Not necessarily because I had a great voice. I did not, I just needed to express myself. And music was the thing. And later on I found photography and photography kind of just captures what I’m also thinking. But at least it can be expressed. And later I found out music is actually a way you can also express poetry without it being written in spoken form. I just transfer my poems into music.

How would you describe your style of music?

Drawing inspiration from a blend of musical genres, from retro-soul to indie and modern folk, I have expertly crafted my musical style. My Style of music tends to be folk like, afro-indie, Yakoyo one of my singles, the process shows my style, I tend to explore alot. For Yakoyo, we were
exploring language and a mixture of local
language and, or dialects, tonality with English expressions. So this was like an experiment,I just explored and then just formed the chords, the guitar chords but it was just like very free. Just wanted to feel like you were in a theater and like it was coming from different years and you were
hungry and you got to go eat after like that
homely feel. That was the whole premise around it. It was like cooking food. So we started with the oil, then added onions and it started coming
together.

What’s your creative process like when it
comes to song writing, getting melodies
and actual production?

Well to be honest, I have not been diagnosed but I kind of have ADHD. So I am like many artists who have those things but I am very experimental because again I might be on a tangent, I might be
like okay I’m good, we’re going on this, we’re going on this and then something switches and we switch to another lane. So for that sake I am very experimental. Also I won’t call this next part
experimental but I am very open. for the
production for this EP that’s coming out and like Roadman. I was open minded for it because I’m working with different people from different backgrounds different like there was a German, there was a Thai lady, Thai guy who was mixing
and mastering, there was a Dutch guy, there was a Ghanaian in the room, there was all those people from different cultural backgrounds and different disciplines and for that reason I had to be open minded.

Have you ever been pressured to changing your sound to suit the general narrative? That is to a more commercialized sound

To be honest, whatever way pressure comes, it really weirdly passes over my head, it’s not Like I
never internalize it. The people saying these things they have a reason to say it,but I think one of the main things I have understood as an artist in the last couple of years has been purpose right, what’s my purpose, why am I doing music? This helps keep me in check

What’s your experience so far being an
independent artist?

I will say I wouldn’t have had it any other way, the kind of music I make, the things I look to establish. With that I’ll say its been great for me only because I know where I’m trying to go and what I’m trying to establish and not just for myself but other independent artistes and those that make my type of music. It’s been great but
there’s alot of figuring out to do everytime, money is always a factor for everything. Once you find ways to replace that label structure you get a good taste of the pie. Re-orienting people on the kind of music you make is the difficult part in being an independent artiste but its not impossible.
I don’t see stuffs as challenges, getting a team is a big deal even when you’re under a label, for me it’s been a challenge. I have learnt alot of things. Who ever comes under Me, it’s easier for them because I have created a roadmap,. I have created this thing called a roadman bible so it’s easier
to get a good team cause there’s already a
structure. I know my purpose so they just have to key in. It’s not necessarily a challenge but again I have been wonderfully stressed by it.

If you were to describe yourself in one
word what will it be?

Just one word, A GIFT, . I won’t even say
unique im oluwatomiwa, I’m me and if you
know the meaning of oluwatomiwa it means what gift has God brought to you and that’s why I’ll say I’m a gift and I’m just learning how to use that gift, how to express that gift and also have people listen to it, and people experience the gift
and with that, it doesn’t have to be shiny, it
doesn’t have to be pop, it doesn’t have to be shiny or be the best rap gift in the mainstream way.

If you were to change one thing about
the music industry in Ghana what would it
be?

I’m not a magician but I’ll say not just in Ghana but Africa, its education. I’m not changing one thing but I’m adding and that will be education. The creative education, its needed for capacity building. A structure for people to be educated. And that’s what I’m trying to add through the things I do like curating, Sofar sounds which creates a platform for artists to perform.

What should your fans be expecting
from you in the coming years and just a
word to them.

I will be dropping an Ep likely in November, we have a couple of shows, a show in Accra, this one is out almost sold out, we have another show in lagos yet to be announced, hopefully a show in Abuja and then the Ep drops but before all of
that, there’s a single coming out at the end
of next month. Damn luck and its a very
interesting single. Chase purpose, that’s all
even for fans and if my music aligns with
your purpose, please listen more.

Listen to Tommy WÁ Yakokyo