Cindy Thompson Ghana's Cindy Thompson who won the highest award at the First Ghana Gospel Music Awards was the toast of the audience at the International Gospel and Roots Festival held in Cotonou, Benin. Also on hand to make Ghana proud were Soul Winners with their rootsy gospel music presentation and Kofi Agorsor and his folk instrumental band.

Cindy Thompson and the Soul Winners both with ten piece bands, each had three performances during the Festival held at three major venues Cotonou, Porto Novo and Ouidah. In her first performance at the newly built Palais des Congres, Cindy together with three other international artistes from France, Cote d?Ivoire and the USA, thrilled the large crowd that filled the auditorium of the Palais des congres with their brand of music.

When Cindy was announced the applause that greeted her was an indication that her reputation had preceded her. And she did not disappoint her admirers with her wonderful performance. Asking them to bring out their handkerchiefs she fired the auditorium with three songs which got the audience on their feet. If her admirers were disappointed it was because she did not sing Ewurade Kasa which they yelled for time and time again.

Cindy?s second performance at the same venue on Thursday August 15, was another good one and this time her audience had their heart?s desire. She performed Ewurade Kasa to the joy of the large crowd. On the same bill, Deborah Fraser another powerful singer from South Africa, the London Community Gospel Choir from the UK and Avis Bickham from the USA shared wonderful experiences with the audience.

Her last performance was on Friday at Ouidah a province of Benin where a mega concert was held featuring the Golden Gate Quartet (USA), Nicholetta (France), London Community Gospel Choir (UK), Deborah Fraser (South Africa), O?Nel Mala (Cote de Ivoire), Alberta Coleman (USA), Cindy Thompson and Soul Winners (Ghana).

Once again Cindy presented a repertoire of danceable gospel tunes that prompted the large crowd at the beach ( known as the point of no return with a symbolic gate reminding Africans and their brothers and sisters in the Diaspora of the tragedy of slavery and the need not to revisit that episode again ever) to dance while others pasted money on her forehead in appreciation.

The Soul Winners when they appeared were a revelation to the crowd who enjoyed tremendously their gospel hits Only Jesus Can Save and No Jesus, No Life which had the Legend Bob Marley?s lyrics of No Woman, No Cry, replaced by a sermon which thrilled the crowd.

At another Mega show on the forecourt of the Palais des Congres the next day, the Soul Winners in clothes made of the colours of the National Flag, once again shocked the crowd with their presentation which included the rootzy gospel medley Heowe which rocked the foundations of the place.

Then at a command performance for President Kerekou and a cross section of the public they made Ghana proud again with a wonderful performance wearing the same costumes that told all that they were from Ghana.

The Gospel and Roots Festival offers a forum for Gospel musicians as well as their counterparts, who perform secular music, to share a unique interaction expected to help in reconciling Africans in the Diaspora and those on the continent to heal the wounds of the tragedy of slavery.

It is also an opportunity for the Government of Benin to showcase its economic resources in an investment drive. The Festival therefore was one that covered fashion, music, art and the tourist attractions of the country.