Destination Accra
Inside story

We chatted to Moses Ssebandeke, one of the filmakers on the project and Assistant Visualisation Producer, 1Xtra about Destination Accra

What is Destination Accra?

It’s an interactive video featuring Mobo-award winner and no. 3 on BBC Sound of 2015 poll, Grime artist Stormzy, BBC Introducing producer Jay Vades, and Ghanaian singer Jojo Abot. The trio headed to Ghana, a country they all have links to, to collaborate on an exclusive new track for BBC Radio 1Xtra.

How do you get to interact?

The film starts as the three artists are rehearsing and are told to take a short break. I don’t want to ruin the story, but they end up heading out into Accra and you can click to follow each one of them as they explore Ghana’s capital city in their own unique way. After this you can watch the Live Lounge session and switch between the camera angles to watch the gig they way you want.

So you get to be the director?

Exactly! You can also just sit back and enjoy the Director’s Cut.

So why is this so special?

The trio, had never met or worked together before, started work on the track over the internet. They met up in Accra at the beginning of March to write and record the track together. The recording was Track of the Week on 1Xtra from the 16th of March and is in the BBC Introducing slot of the 1Xtra playlist.

Is it different from what you normally do?

Completely. I rarely get to travel to another country to produce content. It was also really exciting to work with new artists collaborating on the 1Xtra track. Most of the time I work in the radio studio so it was definitely a once in a lifetime opportunity.

Has it been a chance for you to learn new skills?

Destination Accra uses technology that the BBC’s piloting that requires the person watching it to click and make choices. It was tricky as it was the first time I’d used it, but I think it’s a really exciting tool. You have to think carefully about how the person using it will interact with the story.

And what do you think people will think of it?

I hope it shines a light on the Ghanaian music scene. I think that the interactivity makes it fun and the song, Mivado, which means “We’ve arrived”, also adds context to the story.

That and it’s a great song.