“Rekpete” is the opening track from the self-titled debut EP by Ekowmania & The Rhythmers, a Berlin-based ensemble led by veteran Ghanaian drummer and vocalist Ekow Alabi Savage. With a career spanning over five decades—including collaborations with Fela Kuti, Manu Dibango, Ziggy Marley, and Ebo Taylor—Savage is a central figure in West African music. This latest project brings that legacy into conversation with a new generation of musicians and cross-cultural influences.
Formed in 2022, The Rhythmers includes Ghanaian bassist Kwame Gbemu “Sometimer” (1950–2025), guitarist and vocalist Frank Karikari (son of Noble Kings bassist Ralph Karikari), conga player Thomas Akoto, Brazilian multi-instrumentalist Mauricio Fleury (Bixiga 70, Gal Costa), and French-American guitarist Nick Morrison. Based between Berlin and West Africa, the group blends Ghanaian styles like highlife, kpanlogo, and Agbadza with elements of jazz, soukous, funk, salsa, and desert blues, reflecting the international backgrounds of its members without smoothing over their differences.
“Rekpete” itself is a high-energy tribute to Ghana’s Hedzoleh Soundz—a band known for their integration of traditional rhythms with psychedelic and jazz textures. The track is built on tight, interlocking percussion, cyclical guitar riffs, vintage organ lines, and call-and-response vocals. Morrison’s guitar work channels West African phrasing without resorting to imitation, weaving into the groove. There’s a sense of musical conversation happening throughout: lived, not borrowed.
Recorded at Butterama Studios in Berlin and produced by Savage, Morrison, and Benny Spitzmüller, the track feels raw and immediate. Its production is lean and rhythmic, leaving room for interaction.
The EP is dedicated to the memory of Kwame “Sometimer,” whose bass playing anchors the project with depth and warmth. Morrison’s involvement—also seen in projects like Kilinba and Nativ Afrik—underscores his ongoing commitment to grounded, collaborative work rooted in African musical traditions.
Stream, listen to and get a copy of the EP HERE