Awesome Tapes From Africa shares a full stream of Obaa Sima, the widely celebrated dance album by Ghanaian musician Ata Kak. With elements of techno, rap, and highlife reminiscent of DIY versions of Michael Jackson hits and Public Enemy's early cuts, Obaa Sima, originally released in 1994, carries a forceful and sheer energy. Something of a passion project, ATFA founder Brian Shimkovitz came across a cassette copy of Obaa Sima at a roadside stall in Cape Coast, Ghana back in 2002. The release went on to be ATFA's very first blog post a few years later. Although readers loved the music, no one really knew who its maker was. Shimkovitz began an obsessive search and eventually discovered that Ata Kak's real name was Yaw Atta-Owusu. Born in Kumasi, Ghana, Ata Kak eventually settled in Toronto where he recorded Obaa Sima with mostly second-hand gear (including a synth with built-in drum effects) in his own living room and bathroom. After a long and difficult restoration process, Awesome Tapes From Africa finally releases Ata Kak's energetic Obaa Sima on LP, CD, MP3, and limited-edition tape. Grab your copy here and hear a full stream of the 7-track album below.
