Onipa is a London based collective. Born out of deep collaboration between long-time friends KOG (Kweku of Ghana of KOG and the Zongo Brigade) and Tom Excell (MD, guitarist and writer of acclaimed jazz/ soul afrobeat pioneers Nubiyan Twist), the 4 piece live show features KOG on vocals, balafon and percussion, Tom Excell on guitar, percussion and electronics, Dwayne Kilvington (Wonky Logic) on synths and MPC and Finn Booth (Nubiyan Twist) on drums.

According to the press release, ONIPA means ‘human’ in Akan, the ancient language of the Ashanti people of Ghana. It’s a message of connection through collaboration: from Ghana to London, our ancestors to our children, Onipa brings energy, groove, electronics, afro-futurism, dance and fire!

In 2020 we introduced them with the debut album. We No be Machine. Now they are back with a new mixtape called Tapes Of Utopia which is out now via Boomerang Records. On the mixtape, Onipa offer the following “Tapes of Utopia harks back to a time of African cassette tapes sold on street markets, a reimagination of mixtape culture, blending genres from analogue tones of Afrobeat, Highlife and Soukous to Afrofuturistic rap and electronics. Tapes of Utopia symbolises a time when technology was decentralised, a vision of utopia where humans are liberated by safe technology that benefits the people not the elite.”

Check the full streaming below.