Juule Kay wrote an article for Electronic Beats' new monthly series E-MERGING where "we introduce the people adding to the cultural moment with their creative minds, new ideas and unique approaches."

Text by Juule Kay for Electronic Beats

"The world is changing, and with it, a new generation of trailblazers is taking over. In our new monthly series E-MERGING, we introduce the people adding to the cultural moment with their creative minds, new ideas and unique approaches. It’s a glimpse behind the scenes, a way to dig deeper and look beyond the picture-perfect outcome we’re swamped with every day.

Browsing through OROKO Radio’s website almost feels like a treasure hunt. There are so many new gems to discover from DJs, presenters, collectives and everything in-between. “We generally try to make as much space for artists from the continent of Africa as possible, and always keep an eye on gender representation,” says Kikelomo Oludemi, who founded the radio station together with Nico Adomako and Naëmi Ada. “Aside from this, we pick residents based on the originality of their concept or proposal and if we get a sense that they believe in what we stand for.” For her, it’s less about having a lot of experience than about dedication and potential, which also makes the essence of OROKO Radio: building a community; pushing the people you really believe in and want to see thriving. “The creativity and passion of our radio residents is what makes the radio station what it is,” she puts in a nutshell.

Born in Accra, Ghana, OROKO aims to connect, inspire and empower by shining a spotlight on alternative sounds and thoughts coming from and influenced by the African continent. Besides broadcasting, they also host parties, panel discussions and DJ as well as production workshops. For all of that, the team couldn’t have chosen a more fitting creative hub than the capital of Ghana, known for its flourishing creative scene. “There is so much incredible talent here, I just hope the hype promotes sustainable opportunities, and doesn’t end up blocking locals from their own spaces,” the co-founder continues. “Creatives are now able to own their narratives, and outdated stereotypes about what it means to be an African artist are falling away.”

We wanted to get to know OROKO Radio through the eyes of their residents and introduce some of the brilliant minds in a slightly different way."

You can find the full article here: E-MERGING: Meet the OROKO radio community a different way.