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When “Elegua – The Opener” dropped on Tribe Records, it did more than move the dance floor. Written and performed by Amma Whatt and produced by Zepherin Saint, the track became a devotional anthem—its Yoruba refrain and rolling groove evoking the crossroads where ancestral rhythm meets modern soul. For the global house community, it marked the moment a new spiritual voice stepped fully into view.
A proud Brooklyn native, Amma Whatt was born into artistry. Her father, the world-renowned musician and master teacher Kweyao Agyapon, instilled in her the discipline of rhythm and respect for sound. Her mother, Amma Oloriwaa!, is a celebrated singer and dancer—Executive Director of Egbe Iwa, a member of the Council of Elders for DanceAfrica, and one of the pioneers who helped shape African dance in the United States. It was through that vibrant dance world that her parents first met, setting the stage—literally—for a daughter who would inherit both movement and melody.
Only recently did Amma’s family learn that her grandmother—now more than 100 years old and the family’s matriarch—has long held a quiet gift for song. She had never spoken of it until now. The discovery felt like a puzzle piece falling into place, revealing that Amma’s own musical gift was part of a deeper legacy quietly carried through generations.
At Howard University, Amma refined her artistry and found community. There she met vocalist Nicholas Ryan Gant, who recalls:
Those campus performances built bonds that would ripple outward through R&B, jazz, and house.
Her voice soon caught the attention of DJs and producers. DJ Paul Howard remembers:
DJ Stylus (The Vibe Conductor) of the Sol Power All-Stars adds:
djKwab (Abusia Radio staff) hears the ministry in her delivery:
Their collaborations—from “Every Time You Move” to stage shows—proved Amma could blend ancestral warmth with modern groove.
Guided by legendary mentor Vinx, Amma sharpened her songwriting and stagecraft. Under Ian Friday’s Global Soul Records, she explored house music as a spiritual conversation—balancing dance-floor energy with reflective grace.
Her artistry soon reached world stages: Carnegie Hall with percussionist Pedrito Martinez and Lincoln Center with Asante Amin. Each performance affirmed her crossover power between world music, jazz, and soul.
Ian Friday reflects:
Vocalist and songwriter Amma Whatt was a core creative force in drummer Nate Smith’s acclaimed Kinfolk project, contributing writing and vocals to both of its celebrated albums—Kinfolk: Postcards from Everywhere (Ropeadope Records, 2017) and Kinfolk 2: See the Birds (Edition Records, 2021). She co-wrote “Don’t Let Me Get Away,” performed by Stokley Williams of Mint Condition, and spent nearly a decade touring the world’s premiere jazz festivals—from Montreux to North Sea to four consecutive years at the Newport Jazz Festival—where her voice became a defining part of the Kinfolk sound.
In a 2017 interview with NPR affiliate WVTF, Nate Smith reflected on her artistry:
With Kinfolk, Amma performed on NPR’s Tiny Desk Concert Series, appeared on NPR’s Jazz Night in America, graced the stage of the Blue Note Jazz Clubs in both New York City and Tokyo, and appeared at the Montreux Jazz Festival, where the group performed in honor of Quincy Jones’ milestone birthday. Her contributions helped shape the ensemble’s early identity—melding jazz virtuosity, soul, and spiritual storytelling into one timeless sound.
Her debut EP Maybe showcased a fearless range—bridging jazz, soul, and pop while preserving her devotional core. Tracks like “Soul Kitchen Maybe” and “You” unveiled a writer capable of turning reflection into resonance.
Kofi Osei Williams, Executive Director of Asase Yaa Cultural Arts Foundation, recalls:
Longtime producer and musical director Shawn Lucas has also tapped Amma repeatedly for both live and studio projects since 2008, valuing her versatility and precision as a session vocalist and arranger.
Since Maybe, Amma Whatt has expanded her reach as a writer and featured vocalist, contributing to a tapestry of modern soul and house:
Elegua – The Opener (Tribe Records w/ Zepherin Saint)
One More Time (Vick Lavender feat. Casamena & Carlos Mena)
Anew (Mark de Clive Lowe)
A Wish (Solo project collaboration – ill Clinton)
Good for You (solo project: Maybe Ep)
She’s also written/performed with Kindred the Family Soul, Blitz the Ambassador, Nate Smith’s Kinfolk, Mark de Clive-Lowe, and Artkestra Afrika—IG post – blending Afro-Caribbean rhythm, house pulse, and jazz phrasing into one living sound.
Mark de Clive-Lowe says:
Singer Darien Dean echoes that sentiment:
Asante Amin (Soul Science Labs) adds:
Carlos “Casamena” Mena offers the collaborator’s view:
Offstage, Amma lives the message she sings. A mother of two, she uses music and mentorship as vehicles for healing—teaching children vocal expression and rhythm while championing social justice. As a board member of Egbe Iwa, she helps guide youth through cultural and spiritual rites of passage, continuing the legacy begun by her mother Amma Oloriwaa!.
DJ Applejac (Omo Obatala) captures her essence:
And from a mother’s heart, Amma Oloriwaa!:
Ghana Imani Hylton, owner of Adinkra House tiny concert venue:
J Swiss on writing together:
Whether on stage at BAM’s DanceAfrica festival, behind the mic at a late-night session, or teaching a young vocalist to trust their breath, Amma Whatt embodies the sacred union of rhythm and reverence. Her music doesn’t just make you move—it makes you remember.
She is, in every sense, the sound of soul meeting spirit.
