DJ Katapila, the Ghanaian producer who started out DJing funeral parties before amassing a cult behind his innovative albums and marathon sets, died Sunday, January 28, after a brief illness. Awesome Tapes From Africa, the label that helped break Katapila internationally, reported the news. The post described Katapila as an “inimitable producer, disc jockey, and mobile party-starter,” noting that “he leaves behind a loving family including his young daughter and son and his 92-year-old mother.” He was 50 years old.
DJ Katapila, who was born Ishmael Abbey in Accra’s Jamestown neighborhood, moved into production in his mid-30s, using simple Fruity Loops software to construct bracing, often high-energy tracks that mixed early house and techno influences with rhythms and vocals from Ghanaian dance music. He often spoke and sang in Twi, English, and Ga over or between tracks, complicating the beats with dextrous live drum pads. He released three records on Awesome Tapes From Africa, starting with Trotro, before his final EP, Techno Africa, came out on Club Yeke in 2022.
In his Instagram tribute, Awesome Tapes founder Brian Shimkovitz wrote, in part:
Source : Pitchfork
