PlanIt Event Review - Ghana’s 53rd independence Day Celebration at The Troxy, East London.

In attendance: V.I.P, Ruff & Smooth, MOBO award-winning rapper - Chipmunk, Kojo, Richard Blackwood, Eddie Kadi. Key People: Ghana's DJ Abrantee (Choice FM), Alordia, Bola Ray (Joy FM).

When we got on the London bound flight from Accra for the Independence Day Celebration in London I had a lot of expectations. It was going to be a great night and I was so hyped up that even the rude immigration officer at Heathrow did not ruffle my feathers.

Fast forward to Saturday night, 6th March 2010, 11pm at the Troxy, London, and PlanIt Event Review was prepared to have a blast. First impressions? – stage set up could have been better. I would have put in more colourful backdrops focused on Ghana. And why was the show still not started at 11pm when we were told to be there at 9pm? What is it with Ghanaians and not being on time??

The show started off at a snail's pace and the first music acts did not really excite the crowd. I was beginning to get bored when a UK artist (what’s his name again?) took the stage and livened things up with some smooth renditions. By the time he left the stage I was in real ‘party mood’ and the crowd was ready for the next great act.

The comedy acts that came up afterwards had the crowd in stitches. Kojo started it off with what to do to keep your girlfriend away from Terry with the best three minutes she’s ever had. That guy was really good and I was teary with laughter after his act. For me, the best comedy act though came from Richard Blackwood. His mere entrée was all it took to get the crowd started and he delivered a rich act of comedy that left the crowd shouting for more.

Bola Ray of Joy FM ushered Ruff N Smooth on stage next with my personal favourite - “Swagger”. I love that song but I think they missed a fantastic opportunity to deliver some of their other not well known songs rather than just singing Swagger over and over again. It got tiring after a while. Bola Ray asking the crowd to pause for Ghana’s National Anthem gave the program a nice twist.

For me, VIP (Vision In Progress) topped the whole show and I absolutely loved their performance. The crowd went wild when they stormed the stage with their new song – If your boyfriend no dey do well…papampam…AWAY! Their new single “I think I like am” had the crowd thrilled and dancing and I wish they had done a few more songs.

Overall, the show was okay but could have been better. The acts were too short and left the crowd empty just when they were beginning to fill up. The mood could have been better. It was a good night out though.

Credit: Gloria Buckman Yankson, PlanIt Event Review – planitghana.com