Ghana: Down with Music Music

Bola Ray There are entertainment shows and then there are precious few programmes that transcend even entertainment shows. Such is the case with Music Music-a combination of happy hiplife, highlife, gospel and traditional and folklore tunes and a variety of jokes. Music Music is often described as theatre meets dancing.

Every Saturday night is a night young guys, girls and oldies are either glued to their TV sets or present at TV3 Studio A expecting good music from hiplife, highlife, gospel and traditional artistes. The show is a high-intensity aerial performance that is sheer sensory overload. Music Music has evolved into much more than just a concert massive.

Besides the broad line up of artistes, the variety of jokes from Koo Fori and Papa Sly and promotions, the show, which is being sponsored by Guinness Ghana Ltd and Spacefon areeba, is timed for maximum impact. Because there is no other urban show of this magnitude in Accra, people travel from all over to experience it.

The enthusiastic fans are always ready for a dose of Ghanaian music as they gather in front of the colourfully decorated stage. They scream before the commencement of the show waiting in hush anticipation to see the iconic front man of Music Music, Nat Kwabena Adisi popularly known as Bola Ray with the super soul sister Anastasia Addae better known as Stacy.

Screams of straight hysteria always greet the artistes as they appear on stage. Throughout last year, Music Music was able to parade almost every artiste in Ghana and even some from other countries on stage. Big artistes like VIP, Obour, Batman, Esther Smith, Seth Frimpong, Daughters of Glorious Jesus, George Jaraah, Slim Busterr, Sidney, Tic Tac, Buk Bak, Tinny, Obrafour, Kwaadee, Reggie Rockstone, Borax, Castro, K.K Fosu, Bandanna, Okra, Quata, Kwaw Kesse, Kokovelli, FBS and Okyeame Quame graced the show last year.

Other artistes like Tagoe Sisters, Christiana Love, Nana Quame, Okyeame Kojo Kum, Ofori Amponsah,Sandra Oduro, Suzy and Matt, Kwaku Gyasi, Lady Prempeh, Asuafoo, Etuoaboba, Omanhene Pozo, Frank Mensah Pozo, Akosua Agyapong, Chicago, Josh Laryea, Philipa Baafi, Hannah Marfo, Lucky Mensah, Bak Tyre, Ama Boahemaa, Oboadee, Asaase Aban, 2 Face and Bullet man added flavour to the show.

Recently, Kokovelli?s early set warmed the crowd up for FBS? tremendous tracks and splendid performance. By the time FBS took the stage, the dance floor had filled to capacity. FBS punished the sweaty, ecstatic crowd with their ?Old Man Boogie? track, which features the prolific artiste Tinny. In fact, the spirit of the show remained good-natured throughout the year and there were certainly no complaints about the line- ups.

Even if the show came to an end, the audience kept it going and will keep it going, in denial that it ever ended. In many ways, Music Music is the most politically correct and user-friendly music show in Ghana. Not many shows can attract quite the number and scope of heads as Music Music can. Needless to say, Music Music has left a lasting impression.

Kudos to Bola Ray, Stacy, Paa Kwasi, Willy Ashley, Papa Sly, Koo Fori, producers and organizers of the show. You really deserve commendation.