In Ghana, Kakraba Lobi is considered to be the gyil’s spokesperson by virtue of being one of the only living virtuosos to have mastered its vast and difficult repertoire, and possibly the only to have gained international acclaim as a concert soloist and clinician

.He was born in Kalba Saru, in the Lobi and Birifor area of Northern Ghana in 1939. His father is a farmer who is highly skilled in the art of xylophone making and playing, like his father before him. His brothers, too, make and play drums and gyil. As a child, Kakraba watched and listened intently and thus became involved in the family tradition.

When he was old enough, Kakraba traveled south to the city of Accra, where he was invited by many people to perform and he even played out in the streets, earning more than most people with office jobs. He also gave broadcasts for Radio Ghana.

In 1957 Professor J. H. Kwabena Nketia offered him a teaching post in the Institute of African Studies at the University of Ghana.

From 1962 until 1987 Kakraba was a full time member of the staff at the institute. He travels outside of Ghana to teach at universities in Germany, Japan and Scandinavia, and has performed in many other countries, including the Czech Republic, Denmark, England, Hungary, Israel, Italy, Malawi, Mexico, Nigeria, Poland, Russia, Senegal, Sweden and Togo. In addition to his own Lobi and Birifor music, he has learned much of the music of the Ga, Ashanti and Dagara peoples. Ethnomusicologists throughout the world have studied his repertoire and techniques.

According to qualified opinion, Kakraba is the finest gyil player in his Ghanaian homeland, though he is too modest to claim such a title. His art is deeply rooted in tradition and, by virtue of his personality and extraordinary life circumstances, he has evolved into a world-class solo performer.

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