It’s been a busy time for the Berlin based collective. Having stepped out of the shadows with their debut album Susuma in spring 2022, they’ve hit the ground running, recorded a session for BBC 6 Music, released a live EP and performed various shows through Europe including a recent stop at Groningen ESNS. And to top that, they’ve just confirmed a showcase at the inaugural SXSW festival in Austin Texas this coming March.

Their poly-rhythmical debut album Susuma was built around the West African highlife tradition and the spirit of classic US jazz and soul. Delving into a wealth of influences from across both sides of the Atlantic as well as the Berlin scene – hip hop and jazz – the group’s musical vitality, journeying philosophy and indeed their band name, comes from the energy and spirituality of their take, and on the rhythms that feed the groove. Utilising the musical techniques, cultural context, and spirit of Ghanaian highlife they are as much influenced by the creativity of highlife pioneer Ebo Taylor and Dr. K. Gyasi as they are to the US groove machines of say Charles Bradley or Lee Fields.

The conception of Jembaa Groove happened late 2020, when band leaders Yannick Nolting (bass, composer, producer) and Eric Owusu (percussion, vocals, songwriter) met while picking up their young sons from the local playground. Yannick is from Germany and spent his formative years producing and playing with Lusophone artists in Lisbon.

Eric is from Ghana (although he spent a large part of his life living in Nigeria) and has musically grown as a reputed percussionist working, recording and performing live with artists like Ebo Taylor, Pat Thomas, and Orlando Julius (who he lived with whilst living in Accra).

Comprising seven band members, hailing from various corners of the world, their practice sessions are driven by a wild mix of languages and cultural expression. Listening to Susuma, you can hear Eric singing in Ga, (one of several languages spoken in the city of Accra, Ghana), Yoruba and Twi and pidgin English.

Garnering a smattering of support from the media world like BBC6, KEXP, KCRW, Worldwide FM, FIP, RFI, Rinse FM, WDR Cosmo and enough stations round the world off the back of their debut album Susuma, Jembaa Groove are causing a storm with their hybrid West African meets US soul & jazz sound. 

“Jembaa Groove is all about positive vibes. We try to promote positivity, togetherness and respect. But also try to remind others as well as ourselves that destiny lies in our hands, and that you can’t take things for granted. If you want something, go for it, but respect the people!”

On Tour

Date City Venue Country
07 May 2025 Hamburg Knust Germany
08 May 2025 London Jazz Cafe United Kingdom
09 May 2025 Leeds Brudenell Social Club United Kingdom
10 May 2025 Bristol Strange Brew United Kingdom
16 May 2025 Berlin XJAZZ Festival Germany
25 May 2025 Cape Town Afrodiaspora Connection South Africa
29 May 2025 Berlin The Root Jam Germany
31 May 2025 Johannesburg Constitution Hall South Africa
01 Jun 2025 Mbabane MTN Bushfire Festival Swaziland
13 Jun 2025 Cologne E-Werk Germany
04 Jul 2025 Göttingen Good Good Festival Germany
25 Jul 2025 Harghita Megye Csíki Jazz Romania
02 Aug 2025 Nürnberg Bardentreffen Germany
09 Aug 2025 San Remo Pinha Festival Italy
28 Sep 2025 New York The Sultan Room United States
30 Sep 2025 Austin The 13th Floor United States
01 Oct 2025 Denver The Other Side United States
03 Oct 2025 Seattle Baba Yaga United States
04 Oct 2025 Vancouver Fox Cabaret Canada
05 Oct 2025 Portland Lollipop Shoppe United States
07 Oct 2025 Albany Ivy Room United States
08 Oct 2025 Felton Music Hall United States
10 Oct 2025 Los Angeles Zebulon United States
11 Oct 2025 Joshua Tree Joshua Tree Festival United States
12 Oct 2025 San Diego Casbah United States
24 Oct 2025 Dortmund domicil Germany
25 Oct 2025 Paris New Morning France
26 Oct 2025 Amsterdam Paradiso Netherlands