TGMA Xperience 2024 - Long, wet but amazing!

It’s the Ghana Music Awards season once again! And while music fans argue about who deserves to win what, the 6th Xperience Concert came in full swing. This time, at Cape Coast.

For those coming from other regions, particularly Accra to Cape Coast, one had to deal with the usual, boring, long journey to the venue, except if you’re taking the trip with an energetic group of people. With that, arguing about the entertainment industry and everything wrong with it while old-school tracks blast away in the background can make four hours feel like two.

But the major thing one notices is the shift in aura upon arrival at Cape Coast; the place is just chill. The weather is so much cooler than in Accra. The people too! With the usual hustle and bustle of the city gone, one can just slow down and take in the air.

Thus, it was easy to smell the anticipation in the air, especially close to the venue. TGMA paraphernalia could be spotted everywhere, as well as sponsor banners. Radio stations kept talking about the Xperience Concert coming up later in the night, and you could see vendors quickly setting up in anticipation of brisk sales. It was evident that something was up. May 11, 2024, was about to get exciting.

But the event was marred when the weather shifted, and the downpour began at 8 pm, right at the time the concert was about to commence. Revellers and organizers had to wait with bated breath as the clouds did their best to empty themselves.

As of 10 pm, the rain let up, and the organizers went back to full swing, cleaning up and resetting equipment.

The shocking thing, however, was that the revellers came back in full force. The rain was not going to dampen their experience.

It was an energetic moment as Andy Dosty and Foster Romanus kept the audience gingered while the artistes geared up.

At 1 am, the show went into full gear. Young artistes based in Cape Coast got the chance on the grand stage to showcase their works and talents.

This was followed by the nominees for the Unsung Artist of the Year category, which saw promising young acts including Keeny Ice, Kasar, Lali X Lola, Seven Kizs, Alaptawan, and Kwesi Amewuga show up to show what they were capable of.

The ever-dazzling Adina was the starting dish for the main course, treating the audience to her best hits.

She was followed by Nacee, who paid a touching tribute to the late Gospel musician KODA before inspiring the audience with his songs, climaxing it with the iconic ‘Aseda.’

Guru banged his way next on stage with the audience rapping along to his banger hits. He later announced his UG SRC presidential ambition.

Following that was the ever-popular King Paluta, who obviously had a massive following in Cape Coast, with the audience singing his recent hit ‘Aseda’ without him even saying a single word.

Ejisu-based rapper/singer Amerado came to prove that he is still a rap king, going on a breath-taking freestyle.

As the climax built up and the tempo increased, the ever-talented Kofi Kinaata popped up. One could not help but sing along with his unforgettable lyrics as he showed why he remains a top songwriter in this current dispensation.

It was 5 am, but the crowd was yet to relent; the moment they’d been waiting for was here.

The iconic Dancehall/Reggae sensation was here, Stonebwoy brought the audience to its feverish pitch as he came on stage with his hit “Bhim Nation.”

He thrilled them with a dozen other hits, including a Mother's Day song for the ladies in the audience.

For those who waited in the cold, risked their belongings, and pressed against other sweaty bodies in a crowded stadium, Stonebwoy's (among others') performance was a much-needed orgasmic experience for the entertainment-starved region and a testament to the influence and reach of these artists, no matter how far away.

In all, despite the wet hurdles, the 25th TGMA Xperience Concert was a well-organized event, showing why Charterhouse, with its team of hundreds, is still an icon in the event-organising industry in Ghana.

Watch the highlights of the show here









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