There are homecomings, and then there are Homecomings; the kind that don’t just mark a return, but announces a resonant, full-circle evolution. On the Tuesday evening of January 6, 2026, the Underbridge Annex in East Legon morphed into a pulsating epicenter of that very energy. Amaarae, the prismatic voice redefining the contours of Alte and Alternative Pop sound, shut down Accra with “The Blackout” Homecoming Concert, and in doing so, staged a masterclass in visionary execution and communal celebration.
Defying the weeknight odds, her devoted community, adhering to the dress code and fully clothed in black, materialized in full, defiant force, a testament to the magnetic pull of an artist who speaks their fluid, forward-thinking language. Amaarae arrived with a clear directive: to translate the premium, live experiences she has meticulously curated across global stages back to her roots in Ghana. The result was a production of immersive, top-tier quality, a seamless blend of auditory precision and atmospheric allure that started and ended with a punctuality as refined as the production itself, before spilling into the after-party at ARIA.
The sonic backbone of the night was iMullar Sound System, orchestrating a curated journey through dynamic DJ sets. The selectors, Afrolektra, TMSKDJ, BIGBADSOUND, Kofi Kay DJ and DJ OJ, along with MC’s Influence and Michael Nichols built the foundation, culminating in a potent back-to-back set with Amaarae herself. Yet, the crescendo of collective spirit peaked during the iMullar SoundSystem x Amaarae community set. This segment was a historic cipher, a spontaneous gathering of Ghana’s vibrant new school and revered stalwarts. The stage saw revelatory guest appearances from the likes of RCee, Free The Youth, Asakaa Boys, Gyakie, and the legendary Sarkodie; a mosaic of talent that mirrored the inclusive, boundary-less ethos Amaarae champions.
In the palpable afterglow of a night that proved the unwavering vitality of Ghana’s alternative scene, iMullar caught up with Amaarae. We sought to unravel the thoughts behind the spectacle: the inspiration behind the concert, her favourite moments, and partnership with iMullar SoundSystem.
Eight years in the making. How does it feel for you? How fulfilling is it?
It’s extremely fulfilling, Chale. I feel like Alté is alive.
I like the fact that you were able to bring your own fan base. I was in the crowd and I’m like, wow. Everyone had a single song that they jammed to and you were able to satisfy everyone.
I knew, I believed in my audience. I knew they would show up and I knew what they wanted to hear so I made sure to be prepared for that. And you know what? I was really surprised at their reception of the “Black Star” songs because I opened with that. I could see that the “Fountain Baby” set was their most tense part but I was really impressed by how they responded to the “Black Star” songs as well.
In regards to the partnership, why did you choose iMullar SoundSystem?
I’ve known about iMullar for a long time. I’ve known Maxwell. I know Pho is a new partner. Shout out Maxwell. iMullar started as a kind of a blog that was posting the Alté cats. iMullar posted almost everything I do. When it became a sound system that was curating sets for an alternative crowd, I was like,”Wow”. As a musician creating music, I feel like myself, iMullar, and Free The Youth are kind of three pillars where I represent the music, Free The Youth is fashion, and iMullar represents the culture. To me, collaborating was a no-brainer. It’s been a brand that supported me since the beginning, so to me, bringing this now, they were the only people I could think to call.
What was your favorite set or your favorite part of the show?
My favourite to perform is “Starkilla”. The “Fountain Baby” set honestly, it’s spiritual. No matter what country I’m performing in, I see people jam to it. I can see how “Black Star” sets up for the “Fountain Baby” set, and when it starts, it surprises people because they don’t expect it. I’m really starting to see how much of an impact that album had.
Thank you for a good show.
Thank you so much.
Written by Frederick Adjavon | Interview by Edwin Quartey.
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