
As One 1820 is an artist who has gone out of his way – quite literally – in the search for inspiration.
“Every one of my songs reflects my own life and is a mirror of how my society lives,” he tells This Is Africa.
But the singer and rapper, who grew up in a rural village as a member of Guinea-Bissau’s Fula ethnic group, is not just shining a light on modern metropolitan life.
“People have embraced my music because I also include the different dialects we have. It gives it a different dynamic that is appreciated within the different cultural groups that exist in Bissau.”
Although there is great variety of language, culture and tradition, Guinea-Bissau’s relatively small size has also helped As One 1820.
After spending time in Portugal, in 2015 he returned home and went on a tour, while also visiting remote villages to listen and learn.
“I didn’t go with any security or entourage. I went on my own because I felt a need to find out how the local population lived and to discover what music they were into.
“The tour allowed me to discover other styles which enrich my music today in a more in-depth way,” he adds.
The blend of those sounds and styles with modern beats has brought him success both at home and with the diaspora overseas.
“I performed in Paris, Lisbon, Luxembourg, Brazil, French Guyana, Denmark – nearly all the countries of Europe.”
But for As One 1820, home is where the heart is, and he is looking to leave his own mark on the nation’s musical heritage.
“I love traditional music from all the ethnic groups in Guinea-Bissau and I think it’s possible to create a fusion of these different traditional sounds that can create a new style that everyone here can feel a part of.”
You can hear more from As One 1820 on This is Africa this Saturday, on BBC World Service radio and partner stations across Africa.