JOJO ABOT – GHANAIAN NYC MULTI-DISCIPLINARIAN ARTIST NOW RESIDING IN JOZI
New York-based Ghanaian multi-disciplinarian artist, singer, songwriter, producer and fashion icon Jojo Abot has just dropped her highly anticipated, brand new single Alime into the South African territory, and she has recently relocated her life to the territory to focus more on an African market.
Already a star with the more outspoken musical audiences, Jojo Abot’s strong sense of self and constant desire to probe the norm in terms of everything from politics to fashion has garnered her the respect of her peers and the musical, socio-political and fashion savvy youth in a very short space of time.
Still relatively new to South African commercial audiences, her performances are wildly aesthetically driven, with a sonic prowess that can only be described as jaw-dropping and highly inspired, so much so that she has effortlessly shared stages touring with the likes of Lauryn Hill, been on the bill of the esteemed Afro Punk line up and held successful performances in the city of Brooklyn.
Exploring a sound Jojo Abot calls ‘psychedelic Gqom’ on Alime, the self-penned and produced track and video is what she personally describes as “a nod of appreciation for the spiritual trance that is South African Gqom, expressed by what a marriage between myself and this sound could create.”
“Alime which means ‘waist’ or ‘in the waist’ is a song designed to celebrate our colourful resilience as a people while serving as a call to exist in one’s power, authenticity and expression – an exercise of personal liberty, will and freedom”, she cites.
Featuring up and coming South African artists Elo and Vuyo, the colourful video to Alime was shot in Soweto, Katlehong and Braamfontein, incorporating everyday spaces with people of the streets becoming the stars of this ‘village sci-fi.’
Always hands on and hands inside her art, Jojo Abot herself produced the music video as well as choreographing, directing and styling it, giving it the authenticity that comes only from an artist so invested and inspired by a space of personal reflection and experience.
Jojo Abot has been booked for a 3-month tour of Australia that kicks off at the end of February – an experience she hopes to embrace and garner even more inspiration from.
Plans for her national South African tour are currently underway.
Image credits: Kgomotso Neto, Liz Maney, Justice Mukheli & Delphine Diallo
