A. B. Crentsil putting life into highlife music

If anyone told me highlife music was dead, I’d ask them to think again. Such a statement could only come from someone who had never been to the ‘Highlife Rendezvous’ - a meeting place for highlife exposition in Accra.

The Coconut Grove Regency Hotel, venue for the monthly show, was alive with traditional highlife music last Friday to attest to the fact that one of Ghana’s traditional highlife has not in any way died off.

A.B. Crentsil, one of Ghana’s most prolific highlife artistes, gave patrons a party of a lifetime from the moment his Ahenfo Band struck the first note. Starting off with the Lord’s Prayer, sensational and multi-talented A.B.

Crentsil set the tone for a breathtaking and thrilling night. It was hits galore. “Anyen”, “Moses”, “Adwoa” and “:Papa Samo” were some of his old tunes he entertained the excited audience with. Prior to the event A.B had promised highlife lovers in an interview with Sammy Forson on Citi FM, a time to remenber, which he lived up to.

Even though the pool at the Coconut Grove Regency Hotel was being reconstructed, it did not dampen the atmosphere created by AB’s performance. Hit after hit, the audience danced their hearts out. A.B. Crentsil and his Ahenfo Dance Band were simply fabulous.

Some patrons this paper spoke to commended Citi FM for the professionalism displayed at the event. Ace actor, David Dontoh, said the Highlife Rendezvous brings back a nostalgic feeling of the “good old days”.

He added that as a keen follower of the MOGO Concert, he had no fears that Citi FM could pull off an excellent outdoor event. Theo Ansah, who was on holiday from the UK, said he read of the event on the internet and was elated to have an invitation for the programme. “As a fan of A.B.

Crentsil I accepted the invitation with much alacrity; and I’m happy I was here to witness things for myself”.

At 11:00pm when the curtains were being drawn, patrons were asking Citi FM to make the event a weekly one. Nii–Amah Dagadu, Business and Development Manager (Citi FM), thanked the “ever green” musician for a fantastic performance and assured participants of another thrilling session at the next edition of the programme on September 26th, 2008. The Highlife Rendezvous is organized by Citi 97.3 FM and sponsored by Club Beer.