On May 4, 2024, Fofoo Attiso, CEO of African Dance Rhythms, led a dynamic West African dance class at Fit4Dance NYC, located at 21 Snyder Avenue in Brooklyn, NY.
The event offered participants an immersive experience in traditional dance, music, and culture.
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Fofoo Attiso has been instrumental in promoting African dance and rhythms in New York City. In a recent post, African Dance Rhythms expressed eagerness to collaborate with promoters and management for an international tour, highlighting their commitment to sharing African cultural heritage globally.
The International High School at Lafayette, situated at 2630 Benson Avenue in Brooklyn, serves as a hub for cultural exchange and educational excellence. Established in 2005, the school focuses on project-based learning for new immigrants, helping them develop English language skills while embracing diverse cultural backgrounds. Students hail from over 30 different countries, creating a rich tapestry of traditions and perspectives.
African Dance Rhythms is a cultural organization focused on preserving and promoting the diverse and energetic dance forms of West Africa. Founded by Attiso, the organization offers educational programs, performances, and workshops that teach both the technical aspects of dance and the deeper cultural significance behind it.
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Attiso’s leadership has been instrumental in establishing African Dance Rhythms as a reputable source of cultural exchange and education, with a mission to connect people through the universal language of movement.
Ghanaian musician Emperor T-Jiga has added another major international honour to his career after winning Best Diaspora Afrobeat Artist of the Year at the 2026 Ghana Music Awards Europe in Düsseldorf, Germany.
The recognition comes after years of creating music that blends Afrobeat, highlife, hiplife, hip hop and other African musical influences while connecting audiences in Ghana and the diaspora.
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For Emperor T-Jiga, the award is a reflection of a musical journey that has produced a catalogue of songs including Kilode, Yeloi, Sugar, Super Star, Pretty Jeniki, Saka Saka and Fine Fine Lady. His music has continued to showcase his versatility as a singer, songwriter, performer, drummer, producer and teaching artist.
One of the records that has played an important role in his recent recognition is Super Star, featuring Bepor Keddi and Cabrinny Gh. The song previously earned Emperor T-Jiga the Hiplife and Hip Hop Song of the Year award at the 2025 Ghana Music Awards USA, giving him another major milestone within the Ghanaian diaspora music community.
His catalogue, however, extends beyond Super Star.
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Kilode, featuring Young Freezy, became another important record in his career and won Best International Collaboration at the 2022 Ghana Music Awards USA. The song also received a nomination for US Based Afropop Song of the Year.
Yeloi, featuring Kotey Another and Nii Funny, further demonstrated his ability to work across different sounds and collaborators. The song was nominated for Best Music Video of the Year at the Ghana Music Awards USA.
In 2023, Emperor T-Jiga released Sugar, a record influenced by the sounds of African music pioneers including Osibisa and Fela Kuti. The song was subsequently nominated for Afropop/Afrobeat Song of the Year at the 2024 Ghana Music Awards USA.
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His more recent work has continued to expand his musical identity. Awula Feefeo has been featured among his recent releases, while his official YouTube catalogue also includes Fine Fine Lady.
Beyond his recordings, Emperor T-Jiga’s musical background gives further context to his sound. He is also an accomplished drummer, dancer, producer and music educator, with a career that has involved African music and cultural education in the United States. His work with the Akwaaba Ensemble has also allowed him to combine performance, education and cultural preservation.
That combination of musicianship and cultural identity has become an important part of Emperor T-Jiga’s artistic journey. His music does not simply seek to entertain but also draws from African rhythms, experiences and influences while presenting them to audiences in the diaspora.
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His latest achievement in Düsseldorf therefore represents another step in a career that has consistently crossed geographical and musical boundaries.
Winning Best Diaspora Afrobeat Artist of the Year at the Ghana Music Awards Europe places Emperor T-Jiga among the artistes helping to carry Ghanaian music and African sounds into international spaces.
As the celebrations continue, the award adds another significant chapter to his story and provides further momentum for an artiste whose music, performances and cultural work continue to reach audiences beyond Ghana.