“If love had a sound…this would be the sound”……. (akua naru)
There’s an orchestral intro- a contusion and profusion of strings, melodic keys, long notes, mellow strokes on guitars before a charge, a bolt of electricity, a zebra light show and the tightest of beats proclaims the arrival of the legend akua naru.
It takes a moment before we realize that she has been rapping out of sight offstage, and suddenly, there she is—majestic and beautiful. The force of her undeniable stage presence hits us hard, as if to restart our hearts, adrenaline flowing. Let us offer you a snapshot.
Joy; a jazzy keys intro, a sound smooth, syrupy and sweet waves over us before akua and her deep, rich voice, its mellifluous tones blending effortlessly with her talented keys player and vocalist begins her evening promise of soulful lyricism and potent energy to all lucky enough to be in Camden’s Jazz Café tonight.
The audience know her and love her, their attention totally hers long before she has given us a glimpse of her fabulous leather jumpsuit or a flicker of her magisterial command. Her outrageously brilliant drummer understands her groove like it’s second nature, effortlessly blending elements of funk, jazz, and soul into his playing. He lays down a beat as solid as any reinforced concrete foundation, holding down the backbone of Joy with steady kicks and snares, before breaking out into dazzling fills. He uses the full range of his impressively comprehensive kit, so much the master of the percussion and the owner of the beat that he is able to look at the people around him, to connect, to challenge, to celebrate the performance.
I’m not an avatar—I love to write about love, sex, intimacy, relationships.”
There’s a segue into Sugar (Honeyicetea), the lyrics showcasing her often introspective and thought-provoking political stance, touching on a wide range of social and political issues naming Chomsky’s aim of empowering the oppressed, maximizing communal decision-making and cooperative activity for all. A huge glitter ball quivers above the pulsating crowd, the mood elated, the infectiousness of akua’s insight and inspiration pervading the audience. Akua is barefoot, dancing and improvising and jamming with her band as the music builds to an overwhelming crescendo before snapping back to that controlled beat, the technical prowess underpinning the enormous emotion and expression.
It’s a poetry thing."
A pause gives way to a guitar solo so insistent and way down low there in the boots of the bass that the buzzing reverberates sexily through us, connecting us in its thrumming intensity and urgency.
Her honeyed voice, her fluent rapping style and intricate wordplay reminds us of Madvillain’s ‘Figaro’ as she performs ‘Run Away’.."
akua shouts out to all single mothers “…like my mother…”. Her honeyed voice, her fluent rapping style and intricate wordplay reminds us of Madvillain’s ‘Figaro’ as she performs ‘Run Away’, the narrative of socio-political realities of survival raising children on your own seamlessly blending with jazz, soul, and spoken word, creating a rich and dynamic sonic experience. The crowd wholeheartedly agrees- they click their fingers softly to say “this really resonates with me”- something deep has touched them, they feel what she is saying. It’s a poetry thing.
We feel we are part of something special- we belong to her, we are chosen by her."
There’s a palpable sense of passion and authenticity in the Jazz Café; akua changes the mood by calling out, “Y’all did not come here to stand still- you came to move, to be loud…tonight it’s all about love!” akua forges an instant connection with the people here tonight and as the night progresses, we witness just how powerful this becomes. We feel we are part of something special- we belong to her, we are chosen by her. The sharing of anecdotal moments about her childhood, her mama, being a mother- the stories of love and loss establishing the most formidable bond and the euphoria swirls and weaves around us intoxicatingly.
akua tells us, “I’m a poet first” (before a hip-hop artist), and this resonates strongly; after all, we were lured here by the beat. She uses vivid imagery, unconventional syntax, and a ‘free,’ almost stream-of-consciousness style of beat poetry to explore themes of liberation, social justice, and spiritual enlightenment. She combines this with the finest wordsmithery, clever rhyme, assonance, and dissonance, as well as social and cultural issues, to convey socio-political resistance and artistic expression. Her music is authentically her—she tells us as much tonight, saying, “I’m not an avatar—I love to write about love, sex, intimacy, relationships.”
Somebody Mama changes the mood again with its slow, contemplative start—a sonic love letter to the power and beauty that is motherhood. This is a testament to her artistry and musicianship. From the infectious grooves and hooks of her band to the impassioned delivery of the lyrics, this song embodies what she is all about—sharing intimacy, vulnerability, and ultimate strength through poetry, jazz, connection, and jamming. I think now you get the groove?
bell hooks comes to mind of course; and her writing and work (best known on intersectionality of race, feminism, class and gender). akua’s album “All About Love- New Visions” is clearly inspired by hooks’ work of the same name. If hooks were alive today and had such a thing as a playlist, akua naru would surely be on it.
The evening was a sonic balm to those who understand the power and urgency of love – a cathartic and energising experience where poetry, conversation, passion and story were combined with a mesmerising heartbeat and stellar musical experience- a cultural, spiritual, magical journey.
We felt the love tonight, the abandoned, neglected and outcasts assembled felt the love tonight, even if it was ever so fleeting we felt the love.
akua naru played The Jazz Cafe, London on 25th April 2024
Support from BREIS
