?Many Rivers To Cross?

If there was one surprise at the just-ended Coca-Cola Ebony Music Festival in Dakar, Senegal, that surprise was Jimmy Cliff. Not only was the sixty-something Jamaican reggae star up on stage singing some of the most beautiful reggae songs ever written, he also demonstrated a stage craft that only a few of the much younger colleagues could match.

Both on Goree Island, a former slave port that lies twenty ferry minutes from the mainland, and at the Demba Diop Stadium in Dakar itself, Jimmy Cliff treated his audiences with a nostalgic string of songs. You Can Get It If You Really Want, Poor Slave, Wonderful World Beautiful People, Under the Sun Moon and Stars.

Sharing the stage with Jimmy Cliff were a good number of artistes, almost all of whom were Francophonie. Youssou Ndour, Awadi, Meiway, Makoma, Diams, Magic System, Viviane Ndour, Rachid Taha, Baaba Maal, MC Solaar, Abdou Seck, Ralph Thamar and Alpha Blondy.The first edition of the Coca Cola Ebondy Music Festival which ran for three days was meant to be exciting.

According to Alex Cummings, President, Coca-Cola Company of Africa, "Coca-Cola has been supporting music, culture and sports alongside a wide range of community activities across the African continent for many years. The Ebony festival epitomises these activities and the values which we believe are fundamental to Africa?s renaissance.

?With the world constantly being inundated with images of what is wrong with Africa-famine, civil war and AIDS, the Coca-Cola Ebony festival is a catalyst for a new vision of Africa.?"The festival is about celebrating Africa", says Mya Padmore, Co-executive producer of the festival. Although it seems to be a difficult concept for some to understand, without highlighting a negative aspect of Africa, this is what makes this effort unique," he said.

The Ghanaian delegation to the festival included four winners of a Coca Cola quiz ran on Joy FM, Frank Assafuah (aka Sheriff), Sidney Aidoo Jnr (aka Chico), Hlorlewu Lotsu Melchair (aka Spirit) and Mary Balakakpier Korpisah who had a wonderful time commuting between their Novotel base and concert venues, sight seeing tours, group lunches and shopping.

The biggest impression made on most members of the Ghanaian delegation was the sustained promotion of music among the French-speaking countries of West Africa. Everywhere one turned in Dakar, there were posters announcing one music event or another ? and the artistes were not only Senegalese.

Again, live music appreciation appeared to be much higher among the French than English-speaking West African. As was observed at the Stadium concerts the enthusiastic audiences cheered, screamed, applauded and sang along with all the artistes they were familiar with.

Thus, a good rapport was created between artistes and audience who urged the artistes to come up with their best. Meiway, Awadi and Makoma will be remembered by many for their energy-filled performances and for visitors who were seeing a performance of Youssou N?dour for the first time, may have noticed the huge respect he enjoys among his people. Awesome!