Christmas in Kumasi; overview of the events in the city and how the stars and others shone

By Kwame Adinkrah and Dr. Afia Asare
 
The ‘Night with the Stars’ at the Rattray Park this Christmas was a precious heirloom presented to the people of Kumasi. Ostensibly, it was my first time experiencing a ‘night vigil’ with the Stars, and it was truly unforgettable.

In music performance, the energy dissipated during live or lip-synced is just as taxing and draining, but the performances of all five main artists—Akwaboah Jnr, Kojo Antwi, Kofi Kinaata, Kidi, and King Promise—at the Rattary Park were exceptional.

Akwaboah Jr. started off the night with his nostalgic hit songs before paying glorious tribute to his father’s hit song, “Awerekyekyere.” The atmosphere became solemn as the audience sang along to honour his late father, Kwadwo Akwaboah. Moreso, his rendition of Daddy Lumba’s “Aben wo ha,” Sarkodie’s ‘Can’t let You Go’, and other Ghanaian artists songs made his performance flawless.

I must admit that it was my first time witnessing Kidi perform live, and I realised that I had mistakenly attributed some of his songs to other musicians that inherently belonged to him. His performance was classic and impeccable, with well-planned theatrical antics and synchronised DJ music.

The Multiple Award-Winning Sound Engineer, Dan Bassey, was overwhelmed by the performance of Kidi. Truly, Kidi is a golden boy in Afropop.

I had some doubts about whether the Maestro, Kojo Antwi, would be able to attend the show due to his annual 24th Night Show in Accra. Nonetheless, he showed up, though a bit fatigued, which I presumed could be as a result of the ‘Antwified’ show. As Celine Dion once said, ‘there is no such thing in aging but maturing and knowledge’. The Maestro is still ‘Mr. Music Man’.

The crowd resonated with every song he sang, embracing their loved ones with his love songs. The ‘twerkers’ he invited on stage gave him a little breather and brought more energy and sunshine to the show. The BET Award nominee demonstrated an outstanding level of ingenuity and creativity.

Next up was Kofi Kinaata, known as the ‘Fante Rap God,’ who never disappoints. He received a warm welcome from the crowd and delivered an amazing performance, as always. He confessed that he skipped his yearly 25th concert in Tarkoradi out of a strong affection for Kumasi. Thank you, Kinaata.

King Promise also shone brightly among the stars, delivering back-to-back hits that made for a wonderful night until almost 5 a.m. when he closed off with “Terminator.” I must express my admiration for the MCs and DJs of the evening who, despite a minor disruption caused by a power outage, managed to keep the audience engaged in lively dancing and singing when power was restored.

THE SAMINI EXPERIENCE 3
Just before ‘Night with the Stars’ was the ‘Samini Experience Concert 3’ at the Ridge Condos on December 24. The setup at the Ridge Condos was exquisite, providing comfortable seating arrangements unlike typical funerals metal and plastic chairs.

The ‘Boys to Men’ capitalized on the occasion to display their affluent social-standing by ordering pricy drinks. Despite the loud sound, every tone was crystal clear. Samini, undoubtedly the best Dancehall artist in Ghana, was energetic and gave a superb performance, showcasing his artistry with a variety of songs.

The highlight of the ‘Experience Concert’ was Samini’s last set of songs, particularly ‘Linda,’ which set the entire floor on fire. Certainly, the next Samini experience ought to be held in Kumasi. Mr. Kofi Nti Hammer and NY DJ have both affirmed their steadfast backing to the cause.

THE LEGACY NIGHT
The ‘Legacy Night’ at Miklin Hotel on December 29 also featured Champion Lover Nana Acheampong at the peak of his game. His energy, artistry, and unfiltered voice captivated the audience which had missed him dearly. Fameye and Amaredo also entertained the new generation with their popular tunes.

The highlight of the night was Abrantie Amakye Dede’s performance. Despite devoting fifty years to live music concerts, he showed no signs of exhaustion or fatigue on stage and remained magnificent. 

Well, after attending all these shows, I reflected on why headlined artists always perform last when patrons are tired from supporting artists’ performances, DJs’ repertoires, and MCs’ screaming overlays.

The ‘Night with the Stars’ attempted a little variation but going forward, organisers should consider that most people attend these events primarily for the headlined artists. If a show is advertised to start at 8 p.m., there should be no reason for the main act to appear on stage at 3 a.m.

Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed attending these shows and look forward to another December filled with amazing talents in Kumasi.