From cult mystery to global icon, Ghana’s elusive pop wizard is back — and he’s bringing a sonic storm with him.
In a world of fast fame and fleeting hits, Ata Kak stands as a miraculous anomaly. After three decades of silence, the enigmatic Ghanaian artist is returning with a brand new album, Batakari, due for release on November 7th via Awesome Tapes From Africa. This long-awaited project marks his first new body of work in 30 years — a triumphant moment in a story that began with just 50 cassette tapes and has since become the stuff of music legend.
To celebrate this remarkable comeback, his groundbreaking debut Obaa Sima will also be reissued in a newly remastered 2025 edition, giving new life to the cult-classic that reshaped the global underground. I had the privilege of exploring the cultural soundscape and enduring influence of Ata Kak’s work — music that continues to resonate across generations. I hope this piece brings you closer to the legacy he’s built.
The Man, The Myth, The Music: Inside the Legend of Ata Kak
Born Yaw Atta-Owusu in Kumasi, Ghana, Ata Kak’s early music blended traditional highlife with the pulse of global pop, funk, and hip-hop. But it wasn’t until he migrated to Canada in the early ‘90s that he began forging a revolutionary sound — fusing Twi rap with lo-fi electronic beats and frenetic vocals. That vision birthed Obaa Sima in 1994, an album that landed with a whisper but echoed through the decades.
Originally pressed in a run of just 50 cassettes, Obaa Sima went unnoticed. Disheartened, Ata Kak disappeared from music, unaware that halfway across the world, a US crate-digger named Brian Shimkovitz would stumble upon his tape and become obsessed. A decade later, Shimkovitz tracked down Ata Kak and reissued the album on his label, Awesome Tapes From Africa, in 2015. What followed was nothing short of an artistic resurrection.
“I had no idea the music was still out there,” Ata Kak recalls. “To hear that people were enjoying it was such a humbling experience.”
A New Chapter Begins: Batakari
With Batakari, Ata Kak pens a vibrant new chapter — one that crackles with fresh urgency while preserving the genre-defying spirit that made Obaa Sima a cult touchstone. Set for release across black vinyl, deluxe colour vinyl, CD, cassette, and digital, the album is a magnetic fusion of past and future: ancestral rhythms meet playful electronics, Twi rap meets experimental pop. It’s a sound both rooted and radical — proof that even after three decades, Ata Kak’s creative flame burns brighter than ever.
Each track is a portal — pulsing with intention, bursting with energy, and stitched together by the unmistakable DNA of an artist still pushing sonic boundaries. Case in point: Track Five, “Yasi Town”, which has already been released as a teaser ahead of the full album. The track is a swirling, high-octane burst of rhythm — pairing Ata Kak’s signature rapid-fire Twi flow with glitchy synths, stuttering drum loops, and a bassline that doesn’t quit. It’s a kinetic ode to place and memory, laced with nostalgia yet totally forward-facing, and it hints at the bold textures that shape the rest of Batakari.
Tracklisting – Batakari
Batakari
DJ
Medoba
Osoowa
Yasi Town
Kae
The Iconic Obaa Sima Gets a 2025 Remaster
The 2025 remaster of Obaa Sima is far more than a nostalgic nod — it’s a full-bodied revival of an album that redefined the edges of Ghanaian pop and global underground music. While preserving its original lo-fi charm, the remaster enhances every frayed synth line, rapid-fire Twi verse, and jagged beat with newfound clarity, striking a careful balance between rawness and refinement.
This deluxe edition arrives pressed on limited-edition colour vinyl, housed in a beautifully designed gatefold sleeve that doubles as a collector’s artifact. Inside, fans will discover never-before-seen archival photos tracing Ata Kak’s journey from Kumasi to Canada, alongside a newly commissioned biography by Ghanaian journalist Gabriel Myers Hansen—a thoughtful recontextualization of the album’s cultural impact. Adding even more depth, the release includes a bonus documentary DVD, featuring rare footage and personal reflections from Ata Kak himself, offering a rare look into one of music’s most enigmatic rediscoveries. It’s not just a reissue — it’s a reawakening.
Ata Kak’s return to the stage has been nothing short of euphoric. Since his unexpected rediscovery and the global acclaim of Obaa Sima, he’s transformed from an underground myth into a magnetic live performer — igniting stages at Glastonbury, Le Guess Who?, Roskilde, and The Jazz Café London, among others. His performances are a sonic whirlwind: high-voltage Twi rap, infectious rhythms, and a stage presence that beams with both joy and disbelief. It’s music that doesn’t just entertain — it uplifts.
Now, as the world anticipates the release of Batakari and the remastered Obaa Sima, Ata Kak is once again ready to light up dancefloors across Europe. This November 2025, he hits the road with a tour that promises sweat-soaked euphoria and unforgettable grooves — a rare chance to witness one of music’s most inspiring comebacks, live and in full colour.
Whether you’re a longtime believer or a curious newcomer, this tour is your invitation to step inside Ata Kak’s one-of-a-kind sonic world. 2025 European Tour Dates
06.11 – London, The Windmill
08.11 – Kortrijk, Sonic City
09.11 – Utrecht, Le Guess Who
11.11 – Berlin, Neue Zukunft
12.11 – Copenhagen, Loppen
13.11 – Stockholm, Kulturhuset
14.11 – Helsinki, KULT
16.11 – London, The Moth Club
17.11 – Bristol, Jam Jar
18.11 – Leeds, Headrow House
19.11 – Norwich, Arts Centre
20.11 – Ipswich, St. Stephen’s Church
21.11 – Falmouth, Wanderpsych Festival
Though hailed as a forefather of Twi rap and an accidental pioneer of Afrofuturism, Ata Kak remains grounded. “I’m humbled by the recognition,” he says. “But I don’t consider myself a legend. I’m just doing what I love.”
Still, it’s hard to ignore his legacy. Obaa Sima paved a path that didn’t exist. It blurred lines between genres, languages, and geographies — and it did so before the world was ready.
Now, with Batakari, the world is more than ready.
My Final Thoughts: The Echo Returns, Ata Kak Reclaims His Groove
Ata Kak’s journey is proof that good music — truly original, deeply felt music — always finds its way. His story, stitched together by serendipity, resilience, and undeniable groove, is one of music’s most improbable yet inspiring arcs. Whether you’re a longtime fan who clung to that 2015 reissue like gold, or a curious newcomer drawn in by the hypnotic bounce of Twi rap layered over lo-fi funk, Batakari offers a fresh entry point into the mythology — and the magic — of Ata Kak.
This isn’t just a comeback. It’s a continuation — a celebration of creative spirit undimmed by time, and a reminder that even the most overlooked voices can one day echo across continents. With his voice now firmly planted in the global conversation, Ata Kak’s sound feels more vital than ever — joyous, rebellious, and utterly free.
