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Entertainment of Monday, 10 February 2014

Source: Nii Laryea Korley

Afro Moses: The showman returns

He may be small in size but the Australia-based Afro Moses is a huge character in terms of stage presence and knowing how to adequately entertain a discerning audience.

For nearly two hours, he commanded the complete attention of patrons as he sang, danced and played a variety of instruments at the +233 and Jazz Bar in Accra last Saturday.

It was obvious the globe-trotting Afro Moses had grown used to performing for non-Ghanaian audiences, telling by the way he tried to explain the meaning of his songs and capabilities of his instruments.

Competently backed by the Warriors band, the man from Atieku Wassa in the Western Region offered mostly his own stuff clothed in highlife, reggae, blues and Afro-Pop. He also did renditions of material by Bob Marley and Miriam Makeba.

Afro Moses has learnt to communicate effectively with an audience. He told inspirational tales and preached about positivism and the power of thoughts and words.

He tried to woo more of the audience to come forward and dance but most of them seemed satisfied just sitting back to listen and watch him do his thing:

The evening, which was organised by Fullish Art, +233, I.U.B (Is Ur Boy) and Inkfluent, was earlier kicked off by poet Kwame Write. He was accompanied on guitar by Yo Gendra Ahimi.

Guitarist Kyekyeku, backed by a bassist and drummer also rendered some original stuff as well as his own take on FelaKuti’s Lady song. United States-based singer, Lady Talata, also offered three songs.

There were some musicians in the audience who said they were there to appreciate Afro Moses for selling Ghana abroad through his music.

Two of them, Gyedu BlayAmbolley and Atongo Zimba, went up for some short, improvised pieces.

It was, on the whole, a relaxing evening for patrons who got a good insight into what one of Ghana’s music ambassadors was doing to carry the nation’s flag high in international circles.