DNA: Ah, yes the proverbial whip/cane…it has painted quite a scene on my backside over the years. All jokes aside, my family did have a difficult time initially coming to grips with the idea of one taking their Harvard education to “Hollywood” so-to-speak. But shortly before I graduated from college my parents decided that while they did not understand my career path, they would support me in my choices. It was a battle to begin with, but I think they were ultimately convinced by seeing me work hard, excel in my artistry and use it as a tool in bettering the lives of others. Today they are my biggest fans.

“There is no reason why we can’t do well by doing good; and there’s no reason why doing good can’t feel great”

MyWeku: What would you say is unique about Soulfège’s music?

DNA: Soulfège makes music that is rooted in a series of Afro-Atlantic musical traditions including Hip Hop, Reggae, Highlife & Rock. The rhythmic core of the music is built on the interaction between Hip Hop drumming & traditional Ghanaian percussion. On top of that are overlaid melodic, harmonic & lyrical structures that draw from three corners of a Trans-Atlantic Pan-African triangle. The result is a unique sound comprised of heavy grooves supporting beautiful vocal harmonies. The first mission of this band is to make great music. The second is to make it meaningful. So when you hear Soulfège whether you’re listening to what we’re singing or “how” we’re singing it, you will always find both beauty and meaning.

MyWeku: “Sweet mama” was the first song I heard from Soulfèze by chance I have to add. I liked it enough to ask you to add the video to a face book group a group of us run – Connoisseurs of Contemporary African Art – which you kindly did. Little did we know that a couple of years later, you’d be making worldwide headlines articulately explaining Obama’s health care plans, dare I say better than he could and establishing Soulfège as a force to be reckoned with – To that we say Ayekoo (congratulations). What has your musical and activist journey in the last couple years been like? What have been the high points and the low points?

“Africa’s future is much brighter than the world has yet to admit and it is in our hands to realize that future”

DNA: It has been an amazing journey with both significant highs & lows. Some of the challenges have ranged from personnel changes in the band, to dealing with problems with partners on the “business-end” of the music biz, to realizing the depth of our capacity to have an impact on others & accepting the responsibilities therein. At the same time we have been blown away by the ways in which our friends, fans & perfect strangers have taken our art and ideas to a global audience with a speed and magnitude we could not have imagined. Today we find ourselves at an amazing place where we have both the opportunity to reach a massive audience and also the freedom to choose our own creative & entrepreneurial path.

MyWeku: Many people believe that President Obama’s world view is strongly influenced by his cross cultural upbringing and experiences. Similarly, you were born in Ghana, grew up in New York, Saudi Arabia and Qatar and now based in LA. What is your world view especially how it relates to Africa in the fields of technology, economics, business and youth culture?

DNA: My worldview is heavily influenced by my globalized upbringing. I have had the opportunity to live among many different kinds of people and I believe it has given me a deeper appreciation for people with different beliefs and values. I believe Africa has a lot to offer the world in all the arenas you mentioned, in part because of our wealth of human resources at home & in the Diaspora, but also because many of the opportunities for economic, social & political growth in Africa have yet to be fully explored. Because of this Africa actually has the opportunity to be a leader, particularly in technology & business if our social and intellectual resources are properly applied.

MyWeku:MyWeku.com is very proud to feature voices of the new generation in Africa and elsewhere. Our aim is to showcase emerging and established Africans and non-Africans with a connection to Africa, across a range of areas. We hope that they in turn through their achievements will showcase Africa in all its glory. As a political activist, entrepreneur and singer-song writer what three things will you, if you had a magic wand, change for the better on our continent?

DNA: I would want better infrastructure & sanitation to reduce the scourge of Malaria and other infectious disease. I would want more capital invested in the private sector particularly in technology, to create legitimate and sustainable engines of domestic growth. I would like to see robust and world class cultural industries, particularly in music, television & film in order to change not only the perceptions of Africa in the world, but more importantly to change the perceptions Africans have of our own power & possibility.

MyWeku:It is rare to find somebody who has excelled academically, in entertainment and who happens to be socially responsible and proud of their roots. Do you have any words of wisdom to the new generation of Africans and African diasporeans who are ready to take on the world?

DNA: Making the world a better place is not a chore, it’s an opportunity. There is no reason why we can’t do well by doing good; and there’s no reason why doing good can’t feel great. Africa’s future is much brighter than the world has yet to admit and it is in our hands to realize that future. So shoot high, and live a life worth remembering.

“May future generations tell the story of we who changed our world for the better”

  Soulfège will be hosting a LIVE INTERACTIVE CONCERT on Wednesday 16th December 2009. Find out more here EVENT DETAILS! For those Soulfège fans in France and other places, there are futher details here: MORE DETAILS. Word has it, that the group will be making a major announcement, so be there, join and check out thier FACE BOOK FAN PAGE for updates and a reminder!