Ghanaian artist Alogte Oho’s career has now taken him and his band all over Europe, with major festivals such as Roskilde and Le Guess Who at his feet. But that wasn’t always the case: his career initially progressed in small steps. Neither the first cassette from 2007 nor the follow-up album from 2010 brought the hoped-for success. And if things had gone on like this, Alogte Oho might have given up.

But his life took a dramatic turn: one day he was riding his motorcycle through Ghana’s capital Accra and dreaming of a possible better future. He was suddenly hit by a car and suffered serious injuries that almost cost him his life. His first clear thought in the hospital bed connected with a melody and the resulting song became a hit: “Mam Yinne Wa” (God, you love me so) made Alogte Oho a top Frafra gospel artist overnight. Yet his music remains so wonderfully unobtrusive – the vocals literally nestle into the ear, the rhythms are light as a feather and intricate, the brass sections are funky – and together everything transcends to something higher – very much in the spirit of gospel.

In collaboration with the ex-Munich-based Max Weissenfeldt and his label Philophon Records, an internationally acclaimed album was created, the follow-up to which will soon be released this year. Now Alogte Oho & His Sounds of Joy are coming to Hanover for the first time. We are looking forward to a wonderful evening.