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Barefoot on the stage of the Hasard Ludique, a Paris-based venue, where the Fokn Bois played at the beginning of March, Wanlov the Kubolor aka Emmanuel Owun-Bonsu, looks very relaxed. The gifted mixed-race artist, born in Ploesti, Romania, sings and raps, armed with a guitar and bells. His acolyte, M3nsa aka Bondie Mensa Ansa, the band\u2019s vocalist and keyboardist, introduces the songs in English, while distilling here and there sentences in French. Beside them stands Hungarian talented keyboardist Andras Weil \u2013 the <\/span>obruni<\/span><\/i> (for \u201cwhite\u201d in Ghana\u2019s Twi language). <\/span>Akwaaba<\/span><\/i>, \u201cwelcome\u201d to the world of Fokn Bois! The term has two meanings: <\/span>\u201cWhen your grandmother calls you \u2018foknboi\u2019 it means no one could expect anything from you,\u201d<\/span><\/i> says Wanlov. <\/span>\u201cOn the other hand, when it comes from one of your friends, it is a way of saying that you are cool!\u201d<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n The Fokn Bois adventure began as a schoolboy prank: \u201cWe met each other when we were boy scouts in the mountains,\u201d<\/i> recalls Wanlov. But the real meeting took place in 1997 at Adisadel College in Accra. \u201cWe realized we liked the same music\u00a0\u2013\u00a0Fugees, Busta Rhymes… We would skip the same classes together. The school did not stimulate us as much as rapping\u201d. The two friends, as much crazy as creative, had to get along: \u201cI’ve always listened to a little bit of everything,\u201d says Wanlov, \u201creggae, hip-hop, Ghaneian high-life, but also classical music for cartoons, gypsy music from the Balkans\u2026\u201d<\/i> M3nsa, the duo’s \u201cbeatmaker\u201d, has been living in the UK for almost 20 years. Growing up in Ghana, he literally wrecked his brothers\u2019 decks, who were record collectors, as well as jazz and hip-hop fans: \u201cMy father is a filmmaker and a musician. My grandfather is also a musician. It was not strange for me to take this orientation.\u201d<\/i> In 2010, the Fokn Bois founded this odd tandem, by signing the music of King Luu\u2019s musical Coz Ov Moni<\/i>, in which they hold the leading roles. Two years later, they released their debut album FOKN Wit Ewe<\/i>, and in 2016 paid tribute to their country with their Ode to Ghana<\/i>.<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n With the Afrobeats LOL EP, the Fokn Bois switch to an international scale, without losing their eternal sense of self-mockery. Their Facebook page states that they play \u201cporn gospel\u201d… The title, \u201cAfrobeats LOL\u201d, falls into this unconventional sense of humour: \u201cWe were not sure what the word afrobeat meant,\u201d admits M3nsah. \u201cWe are big fans of Fela Kuti. Over the years, afrobeat has become a music with a more prominent sound. Today, the artists claiming this movement are lighter, more romantic and true fashion victims. With our satirical proposition, we wanted to make fun of this trend. The joke is that we are not afrobeat artists at all: \u2018Afrobeats LOL\u2019. We made an afrobeat album with much seriousness, well produced and designed… that you shouldn\u2019t be taken too seriously!\u201d
\nThe school of the silver mic
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\nAfrobeat LOL<\/b><\/span><\/h6>\n
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