Emmanuel Owusu-Bonsu, known as Wanlov the Kubolor, and M3nsa make up the rap duo FOKN Bois. In Ghanaian Pidgin, ‘fokbois’ traditionally refers to someone considered a good-for-nothing by older generations, yet among the youth, it can evoke admiration or disbelief, a sign of a rebellious spirit. M3nsa’s musical journey began with playing piano in church, later influenced by hip hop and jazz introduced to him by his older relatives, while Wanlov brings an experimental style that encompasses genres such as highlife, reggae, Afrobeat, and hiplife. While FOKN Bois playfully describe their music, infused with tongue- in-cheek humour and occasional controversy, as ‘gospel porn rap’, it also consistently challenges societal norms through sharp satire and spirited performances, addressing pressing political and social issues. Their breakthrough work, Coz Ov Moni (2010), is claimed to be the first Pidgin English musical in film history and its soundtrack was released as the duo’s debut album. For the exhibition Forgive Us Our Trespasses / Vergib uns unsere Schuld, the music video for ‘BRKN LNGWJZ (Broken Languages)’ (2011), from M3nsa’s 2010 album No.1 Mango Street, is screened. Featuring hip hop-inspired beats and minimal bass, the track is propelled by a deep clapping sound that is complemented by melodic synthesizers layered on top. This piece highlights FOKN Bois’s unique style of exploring the complexities of African identities in a politically incorrect way.

Work in the exhibition: BRKN LNGWJZ (2011), 1-channel-video. Directed by FOKN Bois & Jay Hill Courtesy of the artists