Amakye Dede Entertains 8,000 Crowd At Obuasi

Abrantie Amakye Dede

The King of Ghanaian high-life, Abrantie Amakye Dede, was at his lyrical best when he and his Apollo Highkings thrilled thousands of miners and the general public at Obuasi Len Clay?s Black Park out of their sleep on the night of Friday, May 28, 2004, with his brand of Highlife.

Abrante?s three hour non-stop rendition of his songs, consolidated himself as a leading highlife musician in the country, at least, for the people of Obuasi.

The occasion was a free open- air concert organised to launch the new company, AngloGold Ashanti. Management of the company had organised the bash not only to announce its presence in the old mining town, but significantly whip up the enthusiasms of the miners, and the communities in the area of the company.

President John Kufuor, who was at the Obuasi Sports Club to launch the company was unable to attend the bash, but his presence in the town also brought thousands of the people to the Black Park, and Christina Love, the young Christian Choral Singer, was also there to support Amakye Dede, at least, for those revelers, who were hooked to Christina?s songs.

The teeming crowd tumultuously mobbed her.

The weather was cold and the rains were threatening on that night, but Obuasi Police confirmed that more than 8,000 miners and people families from the Adansi districts trooped to the 26,000 square feet park to listen and dance to the Abrante?s music.

What made the night spectacular and more interesting was the colorful fireworks which lasted about 15 minutes, organised as part of the celebration.

Mark Bonney, a South African Chinese, a pyrothectics expert, who was flown in all the from Johannesburg to thrill the people, expertly displayed the firecrackers to the extent that almost all the communities in Adansi East  and Adansi West, and even, in Amansie Districts, saw the dazzling colours.