In Ghanaian Akan mythology, Santrofi is a very rare, brightly colored bird with four wings. It symbolizes prosperity, beauty, and the power of song. It’s no surprise then that the band Santrofi has chosen this name. Santrofi plays vintage highlife, funk, and afrobeat and is a collective of well-known young musicians from the Ghanaian music scene. The eight-member band was founded by bassist and producer Emmanuel Ofori, who made his name with Ebo Taylor, Pat Thomas & Kwashibu Area Band, and Gyedu-Blay Ambolley. Santrofi’s mission: to put highlife back on the map—not just for the world, but also for Ghana.
After already bringing their energetic discography to over a hundred shows across Europe, Santrofi now returns to Amsterdam with new music. Their brand-new album Making Moves is both a celebration of Santrofi’s roots and a leap into the future of highlife. On the album, the band collaborates with several artists from the afrobeats and trap scenes in Ghana, such as Kofi Jar and Ara.