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ABUSIA SPOTLIGHTS: AMMA WHATT

todayOctober 10, 2025 13

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ABUSIA SPOTLIGHT: AMMA WHATT

Where Soul Meets Spirit in House Music

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 Heritage of Rhythm and Movement

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.

The Howard Years: Finding Her Voice

At Howard University, Amma refined her artistry and found community. There she met vocalist Nicholas Ryan Gant, who recalls:

“She sang Mary J. Blige’s Be Happy and tore the house down. From then on, it was pure magic… I trust Amma musically more than I even trust myself because she’s so intuitive, so gifted. She’s one of my best friends, not only in music but in life.”

Those campus performances built bonds that would ripple outward through R&B, jazz, and house.

From Open Mics to Open Doors

Her voice soon caught the attention of DJs and producers. DJ Paul Howard remembers:

“She used to post these joints on Twitter where she would sing Orisha songs, and I said, ‘Wow, that’s a really good singer there.’ Later I realized she’d done a couple of house joints I loved…I can call her Amma Whatt the Plug—she was the connect!”

DJ Stylus (The Vibe Conductor) of the Sol Power All-Stars adds:

“When I first heard her voice, I was blown away. I thought, I have to make a record with this person. Eventually we did, and the project turned out even better than imagined. Now I firmly plant myself in the Amma Whatt fan club—’cause we out here!”

djKwab (Abusia Radio staff) hears the ministry in her delivery:

“Amma has a way of using her voice to spiritually communicate with her audience—almost like a church sermon. Her voice can leave you in tears or resonate in a way that says she understands what you are going through. It’s nothing short of a blessing and a gift. Ammazin!”
djKwab- URNYC MUSIC
DJ/Producer

Their collaborations—from “Every Time You Move” to stage shows—proved Amma could blend ancestral warmth with modern groove.

Mentorship, Mastery & the Global Stage

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:

“I love Amma—her insights, her wisdom, her worldview. I love her thoughtfulness, her kindness, her fortitude. I love her voice, her writing, her heart. God has blessed her dearly, and I’m excited to bear witness to what she continues to gift us with.”
Ian Friday
DJ/Producer - Global Soul Records

With Nate Smith & Kinfolk: A Decade on the Road

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:

“So Amma Whatt is the featured vocalist on two songs on the album. And she’s also the lyricist for all the songs that have lyrics. I met Amma in 2011… She sang background vocals on a track, and I thought, ‘there’s something about her voice… she writes, she gets to the meat of an idea, in the same way a singer like Jill Scott has that ability. As soon as you hear her, you feel like you know her.’”

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.

“Maybe” and the Making of a Modern Voice

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:

“Her father Kweyao Agyapon was one of my earliest drum teachers. That same disciplined spirit was clearly passed down to Amma… She is a generational talent whose voice, spirit, and creative excellence will continue to inspire for years to come.”

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.

Collaborations Across Continents

Since Maybe, Amma Whatt has expanded her reach as a writer and featured vocalist, contributing to a tapestry of modern soul and house:

She’s also written/performed with Kindred the Family Soul, Blitz the Ambassador, Nate Smith’s Kinfolk, Mark de Clive-Lowe, and Artkestra AfrikaIG post – blending Afro-Caribbean rhythm, house pulse, and jazz phrasing into one living sound.

AMMA WHATT MUSIC

“Amma is a gem! An absolute joy to collaborate with. Every time we’ve created together has resulted in something really special.”

Singer Darien Dean echoes that sentiment:

“Her voice is elastic—she can stretch it and bend it in every way possible, and it’s always effortless. The harmonies are clean and precise. On top of that, she’s just an amazing person. Amma, you deserve your flowers.”

Asante Amin (Soul Science Labs) adds:

“Whenever you’re on stage with us, we feel safe. You handle the music with grace, care, and integrity—and then add your own seasoning to take it higher. You’re a powerhouse and a musical genius whose presence lifts everything around her.”

Carlos “Casamena” Mena offers the collaborator’s view:

“If you don’t know Amma Whatt, let me tell you. She is one of the most amazing collaborators, an amazing songwriter, an amazing singer and performer… It is truly an honor and a pleasure.”
“Collaboration with Amma means one thing: soul meets sound. Nothing but powerful vibrations at times"

Spirit, Family & Purpose

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:

“In addition to her lovely singing is her devotion to her faith. When I was looking to become closer to my parents who had passed, she helped guide me into ancestor veneration. Beyond the music, this is one of the many things I appreciate about her.”

And from a mother’s heart, Amma Oloriwaa!:

“It’s a wonderful feeling to support your kid. Having one who’s genuinely talented makes it easy! Love you, thank you my sweet songbird!!”

Ghana Imani Hylton, owner of Adinkra House tiny concert venue:

“The crowd loved her! Consummate professional, serious about her craft… an incredible singer and songwriter. If she does a cover, you never want to hear it the old way ever again.”

J Swiss on writing together:

“Amma not only has an amazing voice, but a top-notch pen as well. Give her a general direction and she’ll deliver exactly what it needs. She’s a bright light as a person and an artist—and she brings that illuminating presence to any track she graces.”

Where Soul Meets Spirit

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.

Written by: admin-abus

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