Kwame Bediako – Biography Kwame Bediako, the man dubbed “The Afrikan Roots Ambassador” is currently participating in the IYPAD tour (2012 UN International Year for People of Afrikan Descent) with dates including St. Maarten, Chicago, Belize, and Ghana, with his most recent appearance at the 274th Annual Accompong Maroon Freedom Festival in Jamaica where he performed and presented the ancestral libation ceremony to the UN delegation attending from Ghana. Always in the studio recording and perfecting his music, Kwame is hard at work on a new collection of songs and re-issues due for release next year and is seeking label and tour support. His music has been compared to Bob Marley and Burning Spear and keeps a traditional roots reggae vibe with modern sensibilities. Of previous albums, “Forward Ever”, his third CD, co-produced by Georges Kouakou and Vincent (2V) Varco, was released to critical acclaim first in Ghana in 2008. This 8 song collection is roots reggae in nature with upbeat songs and versatile themes. A version of the classic Heptone’s “Book of Rules” is sung in his native language of Twi calling for a return to the source, while another song, “One Man No Dub” remains in hot circulation on Ghana radio and in other parts of the world. The track, “Stepping into Zion” was selected by Putumayo World Music to appear on their 2009 compilation “African Reggae”. Kwame’s second CD “OAU” released in 2004 contains cultural themes following the teachings of Kwame Nkrumah and features Junior Marvin of the Wailers on guitar. This 10 song collection was recorded with the support of Sikafutro Productions a Ghanaian company based in Washington, DC and focused on expanding the reggae base throughout the Diaspora. “How Sweet It Is” released in 2000 is Kwame’s debut CD featuring ten songs most notably the title track “How Sweet It Is” and the freedom anthem “Free Afrika”. Kwame credits his musical upbringing to his elders and the general environment of his home base in Ghana, West Africa, where his roots first blossomed. “There was traditional drumming and dancing, and of course singing. The call was so strong that I found myself in a band after high-school,” says Kwame. He left home shortly after, immigrating to the US in response to the distant drum beating within. “Rastafari became I and the social consciousness thereof and I embarked on the Wan (One) Afrika crusade.” Landing in New York in 1980 he moved to LA after a few years and joined his first band ‘Kwamekazi’ playing in diverse places along the west coast. Following the musical call, Kwame left LA for Chicago in 1985 playing extensively for the next 15 years on the regional college circuit and at clubs such as ‘The Wild Hare’, long considered the Reggae Mecca of the Midwest. In 2005 he had the honor of performing at the Montreal Reggae Festival and that summer toured from LA to Vancouver and all stops in between with Tony Rebel, Queen Ifrika, Bunny Jackson and the Rebel Crew. “The tour was very eye-opening and pushed me into more studio works, says Kwame, with opportunities working with producers Sidney Mills (Steel Pulse) and Georges Kouakou (Alpha Blondy, The Wailers).” Kwame has been the recipient of many industry awards including the Martin’s International Reggae Award two times, one for ‘Best Artist’ and the other for ‘Most Culture Oriented Band’. “To educate and entertain is my mission,” says Kwame. And in keeping with the roots he has had the honor of sharing the bill with notables such as Third World, Mutabaruka, Pato Banton, Sonny Ade, Wailing Souls, and Toots and the Maytals to name just a few. For further information contact Wan Afrika Productions at wanafrika@aol.com.