Africa Is a Country

Azonto Americana

Africa Is a Country Podcast
African Five-a-Side Podcast

Azonto Americana

By
Mawuena Akyea

The Ghanaian dance music craze has finally arrived in the United States after sweeping Europe and the continent. Will it catch on here?

For a couple of years now, Azonto has been the new dance craze that you just have to do, whether you are dancing to Sarkodie or Lil’ Wayne. There have been some imitators and perpetrators, but the real Azonto reigns supreme. Sorry, Naija, but that Alingo stuff ain’t cutting it. Those upright elbows pose a problem in the club.

Azonto has been huge in Ghana and the rest of Africa, obviously. Then, it made its grand entrance to London and the United Kingdom with some help from the British-born Ghana boy Fuse ODG, especially with Antenna. It was cool seeing the London All Stars do their Azonto thing, but I was hoping maybe, just maybe, it might finally touch down here in the US.

My salvation might be from the production company, Level 7. It warmed my heart to see Azonto done right in front of the World Trade Center, the Brooklyn Bridge, and just plain Suburbia Americana. Watch here.

One derivative of Azonto that may take its time to get over here or disappear altogether is known as Alkayida. For some reason, I think it might have some trouble gaining traction here in the US with that name. It may be blasphemous for a Ghanaian to say this, but aside from the fact that the music it’s associated with is boring, the dance is not that good.

There is always something new with dances, whether classics like Zoblazo or a little more contemporary like Cat Daddy or my personal favorite, that chicken noodle soup with soda on the side. I am still waiting to see some really cool dance come from white people, but I’ll just have to settle with this. And this. Your move.

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