African drumming, singing, dance and cuisine

Dada Nii Okwabi has been a musician since the age of eight. He is a professional drummer, singer, dancer and teacher and is well-known in his native country of Ghana, West Africa and his new home, Australia.

During his career Dada Nii has worked with the Mantse Mei Cultural Group and some of Ghana's top musicians including Okyrema Asante, Pat Thomas and the late John K. In 1978 he joined Ebaahi Sounds as their lead singer and recorded five albums with the group over twelve years. During this time he performed with Fleetwood Mac in the 1981 film The Visitor. In 1985 Dada Nii worked with the internationally acclaimed group Wulomei and continues to perform with them as a guest artist when he is in Ghana.

In 2000 he joined Nii Tettey Tetteh and his Kusun Ensemble as a singer, drummer, dancer and instructor. During his time with Kusun he performed at local events and conducted drumming and singing workshops for overseas students at Kusun's month-long residential workshops in Accra, Ghana's capital.

From 2000 to 2002 he worked in the UK with the London-based groups Abladei UK, Kakatsitsi and Agido, performing at festivals around the UK and conducting workshops in schools. He also performed with the well-known Congolese singer Koffi Olomide at the Brixton Academy. He returned to Ghana late in 2002 and formed The Damushi Ensemble, a group of professional musicians and dancers who perform traditional and contemporary Ghanaian music.

Since 2003 he has divided his time between Australia and Ghana. In Australia he formed a local version of The Damushi Ensemble, which specialises in West African percussion, and The Dada Nii Experience, an African/Latin dance band. He has performed at dozens of festivals, corporate events and private functions across the country as a solo performer and with his bands. Highlights have included 'The Call of the Wild' at the Crown Casino in Melbourne (2005), 'The Big Day Out' in Adelaide (2005 and 2006) and 'African Journey!" at Adelaide's Festival Theatre (2006).

Dada Nii has taught drumming and dancing to hundreds of children and adults through workshops in schools, kindergartens and community groups. He has also run workshops for new migrants, disadvantaged students, students with special needs and young offenders in residential care. He is an accredited performer in Carclews Playfull program for schools and in 2006 he conducted a childrens drumming workshop for Carclew at Womadelaide.

In addition to his work as a musician Dada Nii has introduced many people to the joys of West African cooking through classes at the Prospect City Council's Neighbourhood Centre. He has also conducted week-long West African dance, drumming, singing and cooking classes at annual textile forums in Orange, NSW and Geelong, Vic, run by the Australia Forum for Textile Arts.

Dada Nii has released five solo albums: Moko Bi Nu (1993), Sophie (1995), Anukwale (1997), Kaawie (2001) and Sea Never Dry (2006).