The huge floodlights of the Ohene Djan Stadium last Saturday night beamed some of their brightness across to the Independence Square, rightly spreading the prevailing soccer euphoria to the crowds streeming into the big open space for the Go Africa concert.
The MTN-sponsored show which was a pre-tournament jam for the 26th MTN Africa Cup of Nations (CAN) Ghana 2008, was a perfect meeting point for football and music. Many of the performers made reference to soccer and the audience, most of them wearing colourful Ghana 2008 gear, cheered and danced to the music.
Produced by Charterhouse, the line-up of artistes included Phillipa Baafi, Kwaku Gyasi, Lenny Akpadie, Praye, Kwaw Kese, Tic Tac and Samini from Ghana, King Nii from Togo, Don Metok from Benin, Orentchy from Cote d’Ivoire, Blu 3 from Uganda, 2Face from Nigeria, Malaika from South Africa and Steel Pulse from the United Kingdom.
The low gate fee enabled hordes of people to get in and be part of the fun while looking forward to the big kick-off the next day. The expectation, as the show started, was therefore for good fun and subsequently, high-calibre soccer.
The wonderful thing about crowds on such occasions is that they are rearing to party, no matter what comes through the giant loudspeakers.
The mood was appropriate for that last Saturday night and though a few people opted to take it easy and obverve proceedings from the stands, majority vigorously shook off the cool night breeze dancing to the gospel, hip hop, hiplife, highlife, zoblazo, R&B and reggae flowing from the huge yellow stage.
Rivalry was submerged at the concert as MCs Bola Ray and Sammy B’s calls for nationalities of the participating countries to show up saw the same crowd gleefully responding to each call.
Ralph Casely-Hayford and his crew must be cited for the superb sound delivery. They have proved countless times that they can measure up to gigs of any magnitude and their regular partnership with Charterhouse, who also keep showing they have the brain and brawn for big shows, is commendable.
