Bossaphonik is back on Friday 16th May and we are overjoyed to welcome back one of our highlights from last year – the contemporary Ghanaian sensation of Florence Adooni performing in her outstanding 8 piece band.
Revered as the queen of Frafra gospel, Florence’s family roots hail from the northern Ghanaian Frafra region, however she was born and raised in the Southern Ashanti capital of Kumasi, the epicentre of highlife music. Surrounding herself with the city's best young musicians, she now uniquely combines the soul of the northern savannah and the highlife sound of the southern rainforest region, fusing the best of both cultures in one unique event. Her journey has taken her from church choir to street restaurant to internationally renowned recording artist, reflected in her exceptional voice possessing a sweetness and power sung in Frafra, Twi and English.
Following a number of successful locally released albums, her collaboration with cutting-edge German producer and Philophon label founder Max Weissenfeldt has catapulted Florence’s music onto the global stage. Her first international hits came as a member of Alogte Oho & His Sounds of Joy and Guy One whilst she worked extensively on developing her own modern fusion. She released a number of singles on Philophon and her debut international LP “A.O.E.I.U. (An Ordinary Exercise In Unity)” was released this February. With its infectiously optimistic and uniquely ebullient sound it is an Afro futuristic highlife odyssey – rooted in tradition but propelled by the cosmic production of Max Weissenfeldt. The albums’s bold fusion of ancestral rhythms and forward thinking grooves is recreated live with her current band, who in 2024 completed a triumphant 50+ date European tour in 13 countries. This included performances at festivals such as Roskilde, Shambala, Down the Rabbit Hole, End of the Road and FMM Sines. Returning now to Europe again in 2025 for the full album release tour, her current band incorporates a line up of horns, synths, guitars, drums and multi-part vocals adding up to a top experience of contemporary Ghanaian dance music and demonstrating why she has become one of Ghana’s most exciting musical exports.
"A significant force in African contemporary music" The Line of Best Fit
Check out Florence Adooni’s album A.O.E.I.U. on bandcamp:
https://florenceadooni.bandcamp.com/album/a-o-e-i-u-an-ordinary-exercise-in-unity
Check out a live video of Florence Adooni and her band performing “Mam Pe’ela Su’ure” at Afrika Festival Hertme:
Check out a recent video of the track “Vocalize My Luv”:
Following the joyful sounds of Florence Adooni’s band is a Bossaphonik club session. This evening, along with Bossaphonik resident DJ Dan Ofer we have Kwassa Kwassa guest DJs - made up of Tom Hilton and Simon Starling, the pair have been running their superb tropical parties in Oxford for over 11 years. With their breathtaking repertoire of vintage music from Africa, Latin America and the Caribbean - the dancefloor will be heated til 1:30am to the sounds of -
Afrobeat * Highlife * Soukous * Funk * Soul * Reggae * Ska * Salsa * Cumbia * Calypso * Hip Hop * Bomba * Soca!!!
Friday 16th May
Bossaphonik Presents Florence Adooni + Kwassa Kwassa DJs
Cowley Workers Social Club, Between Towns Road. OX4 3LZ (Near Templars Square Shopping Centre. Regular buses 1 and 5 from City Centre go up Cowley Road and back til 2:55am, stopping opposite the venue)
8pm–1:30am
Band starts at 9:30pm
**Greater savings on advance tickets**
£15 advance + £1.50 booking fee (wegottickets.com) / £17 student ID on door / £20 door
Hope to see ya there!
Also check out other Entertainment events in Oxford, Music events in Oxford, Dance events in Oxford.
