When Hiplife musician Okyeame Kwame announced some weeks ago that the tickets for his ‘Flaunt Your Lover’ event were being sold for GHc 500, GHc 400 and GHc 250, many were probably the critics who thought the pricing was a bit on the high side.

But as it turned out on Friday when the event finally came off at the plush Alisa Hotel at Ridge, Accra, many are now applauding the musician and his wife, Annica, for pulling off such an experience and charging less.

From the amazing food and drinks served, to the spectacular music performances, to the colourful ambience, to the wonderful guest prizes, to the intimate interactive sessions that punctuated the night’s experience, one cannot shudder to think of the event as probably the best Val’s Day event this year.

With a décor setup that blended tradition into sensuality, the organisers successfully transformed the poolside of Alisa Hotel into an epic ambience that did not only set the mood for a memorable evening, but also signalled to arriving guests the unlimited possibilities they had signed up for.

The night, however, would not start without the guests taking turns to pose for the camera with the Rap-Dacta (and in some case, his wife) at a specially-designed photobooth sited at the entrance to the venue for the event. The requests of camera-shy patrons who called for privacy, were also respected.

As the guests were ushered to their seats and served some wine, water and bars of chocolates, Okyeame Kwame, sporting an all-red suit, gave a brief welcome address to kickstart the event which lasted for four hours.

Music Performance

Starting the activities for the night was a performance by Okyeame Kwame and the Patch Bay Band, followed with another sterling performance by the songstress Alamisi.

The MC for the event, the ever-interesting Kabutey Ocansey, also added his bit to the musical broth when he, as part of his introductory remarks, gave an astounding rendition of the late Highlife legend, Paapa Yankson’s song, ‘Tena Me Nkye.’

But that was not all; the tall list of performers included contemporary Higlife singers Akwaboah, Kuame Eugene, Kidi and Kwaku Afro. To say that these performances drew the guests onto the dancefloor, would be an understatement.

Kuame Eugene’s ‘Confusion’ and ‘Angela,’ Kidi’s ‘Odo’ (a.k.a 30 million) and ‘Say You Love Me’ and Kwaku Afro’s ‘Awulaa’, simply got many of the guests sweaty.

Okyeame Kwame’s concluding performance, in which he delivered some of his hit songs like ‘Faithful’, ‘Small Small’, ‘Anaa,’ and ‘Medo Mmaa,’ also caught many couples dancing the night off.

Buffet

Adding to the experience was the two-course dinner which saw the guests serving themselves from the incredible list of wines and healthy dishes prepared by the Group Executive Chef of Alisa Hotel, Mr Livingstone Asikoye.

For instance, on the menu (for starters) were offerings such as sumptuous seafood salad (a.k.a Be Mine), refreshing mix green garden salad (with pita bread), darling oriental chicken (with noodles salad), cosy assorted breads and dressing, ravishing continental salad bar, ‘I Miss You’ condiments and crudités, and ‘most beautiful’ sauces and dips.

Two kinds of soup were also served; namely the heartfelt sea food bisque soup, and the intriguing traditional goat light soup.

For the main course, guests had the opportunity to serve themselves the following: alluring chicken and vegetable jambalaya, affectionate coloured jasmine rice, charming spicy homemade jollof rice, dazzling rosemary sautéed potato, ecstatic crispy pan seared grouper (with basil tomato sauce), pretty tossed beans and carrots (with sweetcorn), gorgeous penne pasta, and forever fresh pepper tomato sauce (with shito).

Added to these was an active station that served ‘passionate’ soft fried kelewele, valentine fried yam, rosy barbequed tikka chicken, goat kebab (a.k.a I’m Yours) and exotic roasted guinea fowl.

For the dessert, the guests were treated to delicacies such as fresh fruits platters and kebabs, ‘kiss me’ red velvet cake, beautiful black forest fruit cake, sparkling assorted tiger nuts pudding, lovely ‘nkate’ cake and ‘kube’ cake, as well as a ravishing chocolate mousse obsession.

It was simply a romantic sight to behold as some male guests took the trouble to serve not only themselves but their female partners, in the spirit of the affectionate love that valentine’s day epitomises.

Prizes

Some couples also won amazing prizes from a draw which their tickets entered them into.

For example, the management of Alisa Hotel, represented by the Managing Director, Mr. Samson Masha, awarded a couple with weekend stay at the hotel, and another couple with a night stay.

The CEO of Galaxxy Perfumery (in the Accra, Achimota and A&C malls), Dr Asante Appiah, also awarded a guest, Ms. Uche, with a designer perfume. The management of Total Fitness Health Centre (inside A&C Mall) also awarded some guests with some free months’ subscription at their state-of-the-art gym.

Interactive Session

The night, perhaps, would not have been complete without the interactive session which the MC, Kabutey Ocansey, led the guests into.

Amidst laughter and surprises, the event saw some guests answering questions about their partners which they least expected, as some male guests also received plaudits for rendering love poems and acapellas for their partners.

For instance, questions such as ‘what is the bra size of your partner?,’ ‘what colour of dress was your partner wearing when you first met?’ and ‘what was your partners’ nickname at senior high school?,’ elicited interesting answers which set the night agog.

Testimonials

Some guests who spoke to this reporter after the event could not hide their delight and satisfaction.

“In all honesty, I thank my wife for buying the ticket and bringing me here. Even that, I almost didn’t come because I am not the outing type. But I think Okyeame Kwame and his team have done well by giving us this incredible experience tonight. Hopefully next year, I will be the one buying the ticket and pulling my wife along,” Mr. Kwame Baah Acheamfour, a Deputy Director at the National Communications Authority (NCA), said.

Another guest, Mrs. Gloria Afare Quist, a staff of the Cocoa Processing Company, added: “I have really enjoyed tonight. It was awesome; great settings, great music, great food. I feel good to have come and to associate with the event.”

Background

‘Flaunt Your Lover’ is an exclusive annual dinner and music event started last year (2017) by renowned musician Okyeame Kwame and his wife, Annica.

According to Okyeame, the rationale behind the event was to re-orient the minds of lovers and couples about the celebration of Valentine’s Day.

“I and my wife realised that the conversations around Val’s days were becoming more of sex, condoms and Viagra use. We, therefore, decided to change the narrative by asking couples to now flaunt their lovers in a much positive way,” Okyeame explained.

The maiden edition was held at the Silverbird Cinemas & Lounge inside Accra Mall, which also registered a huge patronage of both married and dating couples. This year’s event was organised by Okyeame and Annica in collaboration with Alisa Hotel. Other partners included EIB Network Ghana, Galaxxy Perfumery, Total Fitness Health Centre, Santeshair, Biegya Bitters and Mefscuisine.