As the authority on who’s next and the voice of emerging African music and culture, iMullar has always been a platform that amplifies the works of creatives with a distinct yet boundary-pushing craft. The team’s commitment to bringing to light the diverse creativity on the continent has propelled it to put together several initiatives and events to platform these creatives.
Operating from Ghana, West Africa, the company launched its event, iMullar Sound System (IMSS), in 2022, aimed at platforming and highlighting African DJs through a well-curated event where memorable experiences are created, energies come alive, and music meets joy. The event centers around amplifying DJs as they display their craft to the beaming ravers, creating a bond between DJs and consumers.
With the event’s birthplace in Front/Back Osu, the event has made several stops across Accra, Nigeria, and other parts of Africa and the Diaspora. With two anniversaries, 12 energy sessions, DJ sets by some of the biggest DJs in Africa and the diaspora, multiple artist appearances and performances, countless memorable moments, and counting, IMSS has become a big name in the realm of events.
Since the event’s launch in 2022, it has seen constant growth in attendance, especially for creatives within the different art fields. The event’s openness to all people beyond just the alternative art space has made it a leading event for music, the arts, and culture. Additionally, IMSS has become a mediator between the alternative space and mainstream through their shared love for music. One is exposed to different art and creative communities that converge at IMSS every energy session to connect, network, and create together. From the music community to film, art, gaming, anime, skaters, and fashion heads, IMSS has created a safe space for all to thrive and connect.
In a period where there is a constant divide between mainstream media and the alternative space, events like IMSS must be applauded for curating not just an experience, but a platform and space where everyone within the creative community, regardless of their field, can feel loved and represented.
To paint a clearer picture of how IMSS has improved the bonding of like-minded individuals within a creative field and people from other creative fields, we speak to some individuals who identify with one creative field or another.
My experiences at IMSS have been great. Well except a few ones(2) where I wasn’t feeling it but we’re not talking about that. I particularly love IMSS because there are so many like-minded people around me, I love the sense of community. Also being carefree like it’s one of the very few spaces where people are enjoying the music, dancing, and being themselves. I could say that at least, for me. I remember attending IMSS for the first time and it was just an electric feeling, just a girl, her friends, and great music. There was pain in the world but not in that room!
At IMSS I’ve met people I only used to see on my socials and in between dancing and sharing drinks I’ve connected on so many levels with such people and it’s been a cool experience. I’m not entirely allowed to mention specific projects that I’ve been consulted to share ideas and give honest opinions on but all I know is it would not be possible if I just stayed behind my phone. Am I calling IMSS events a place of opportunities? Maybe. Oh and lastly a super mega shout-out to the team and the DJs because they don’t know how many times they’ve saved me.
I would say surreal! Every time I go for iMullar, I don’t know how to explain it but somehow life just makes sense again. It’s like an outlet. A reset from the daily stress of life. It’s that deep for me. From the DJs to the music to the people. The people you don’t need to try you just fit in. Like a community where we’re all different but we’re all in tune. If I had my way Imullar would be every weekend. As a content creator, I met most of the people I follow or are mutual on social media at iMullar. A lot of photographers that I know now or have worked with I met at iMullar
So I would say iMullar is somewhere I’ve met a lot of friends and people interested in the things I’m interested in and it’s great to see people enjoy the music you enjoy at the level at which you enjoy it. Another aspect of iMullar I love is the exhibition of how people approach fashion, you see so many ways people put together an outfit and it always sparks a conversation and you get to know what people do, what they are interested in, and what you have in common from just a “wow I love your outfit“ you know.
I think It’s an incredible feat to have such a gathering of talented individuals always ready to answer the call. For me, all it takes is a brief encounter on the dance floor or at the bar and if we happen to strike up a conversation, we discover interesting things about each other and find out we have more in common than we would have guessed. I’ve met creatives in various fields through iMullar. There have been [photo/video]graphers, film directors, writers, musicians, DJs, digital and traditional artists, and fashion designers.
It’s been a wonderful experience so far.
All the memories from the iMullar events I’ve attended are stored in a special place in my mind, where I keep the good memories. I will carry and cherish them for the rest of my life. iMullar has introduced me to like-minded people who appreciate my style, share my taste in music, and relish the moments we experience together. There’s always a moment when I’m jamming where everything slows down. I become hyper-aware of my surroundings—the stage smoke, the way the beats and songs resonate through my entire body, the people jumping around me. In that instant, I realize I’m truly in the moment. I recognize how fleeting life is, and how nothing else matters but me and my friends having fun, living fully, and simply being present—being the moment.
These moments make me appreciate life, music, and everything in between. In that moment, I appreciate how everybody has their unique thing going on, yet here we all are, together, sharing this experience. it is a feeling I have become quite familiar with. it feels like something straight out of a movie. In those moments, I realized how much I love life and how much life means to me. To be able to cherish moments like these sometimes makes me emotional other times super excited- but either way, nothing will stop my reggae!
iMullar is also an avenue where I’m introduced to the different flavors of style in the Ghanaian Alté and fashion scene. iMullar is gradually ushering me into a community of like-minded individuals I love and cherish. I love it, and I love life.
I remember one particular iMullar event that was held at the Freedom Skatepark. Amidst all the chaos of people jamming, there was a small space at the back where a few skaters showed off their tricks. What struck me was when people who had never been on a skateboard before would walk up to a skateboarder and ask if they could “feel” their board. The skaters would willingly hand it over, teaching them how to balance and get a feel for it. Some people didn’t even need help—they just, I don’t know, figured it out on their own. This meant a lot to me because, in my eyes, it felt like the beginning of something new for some of these people. They’d hop on a board and think to themselves, “Hey, I should probably get one and practice so I can be as good as these guys” (because that’s how it started for me). The skateboarders would welcome you with open arms, telling you about when they meet and how you could join their community. The skateboarders are some of the most welcoming people I’ve ever hung out with. They’re open to teaching, having you around, and being another support system. Shout out to Jerrison, Chaze, Ralph, Moen, Hameeda, and the rest of the crew.
iMullar has this unique way of helping me break down barriers and foster connections. Whether it’s through a shared love of music, fashion, or something as simple as a skateboard, it brings people together. It’s about more than just attending an event; it’s about forming bonds, discovering new passions, and finding your people in a world that sometimes feels disconnected. And that’s why, for me, iMullar will always be more than just a gathering—it’s a gateway to community, creativity, and endless possibilities.
Written by Nana Kojo Mula.
