EKU EKU EKU (A Call to Death) translated from the Ewe as Death! Death! Death! (A Call to Death) is a Virtual Partner Residency between Ghanaian multi-disciplinary artist Va-Bene Elikem Fiatsi [crazinisT artisT] and HYENAZ, with generous support from Goethe-Institut.

The field recordings and visual materials for Eku Eku Eku (a call to death) were gathered on the 20th of April 2021 at 14:00 CET / 12:00 GMT simultaneously in Berlin, Germany and Kumasi, Ghana. Using a deep listening methodology, both partners spent one hour making a parallel ritualistic and performative journey in their respective cities: Berlin and Kumasi, which were documented by their videographers Onsoh and Sally Dige.

lyrics

Mother mother mother / Na Na na, Naye Nayee Nayee

If you reach the peak of the mountain Agou and hear any voice, you know that I’m the one calling you / Ne do Agou toa nu de maa ne se gbedidia de, nanya be nye le yor wo

Death doesn’t like good things / Eku me nya nu nyui ooo

Death doesn't kill wicked people / Eku me wua amevodi wo

Death doesn't pity poor people / Eku me kpor nublanui ne ame dahe woo

Death doesn't know good things / Eku me nya nu nyui ooo

Death doesn't know beauty things / Eku menya tungbe oo

Death doesn't know wealth / Eku me nya hotsuioooo

Death has caused us a lot / Eku wo nu mi

Death has wounded our heart / Ekue dabi miafe dzi nu

Death doesn't say it will go and come / Eku megblor be me yi ma vao

credits

released September 18, 2021

Eku Eku Eku (A Call to Death) is the result of a Virtual Partner Residency between Ghanaian multi-disciplinary artist Va-Bene Elikem Fiatsi [crazinisT artisT] and HYENAZ through generous support from the Goethe-Institute. Field recordings were gathered by crazinisT artisT and HYENAZ. The songs performed by crazinisT artisT are sung in Ewe and are written by the artist. The collected audio and visual materials were composed, mixed and edited by HYENAZ. HYENAZ were assisted by videographer Sally Dige in Berlin and crazinisT artisT was assisted by videographer Edward Onsoh in Kumasi. HYENAZ wishes to thank Silent Green Kulturquartier for allowing HYENAZ to film inside the Crematorium Wedding. HYENAZ costumes were created by Juan Chamié of EXIT. Va-Bene’s costumes are courtesy of crazinisT artisT studiO.