Fireworks at the national theatre as highlife Old-timers thrill fans

Accra, Dec. 7, GNA - Ghana's number one platform for celebrating authentic Ghanaian music, Music of Ghanaian Origin (MOGO), chalked yet another success at the weekend with several local musicians thrilling hundreds of fans to good entertainment at the National Theatre in Accra. MOGO, organized by an Accra radio station, Citi 97.3 fm, has since its maiden edition four years ago, been telling the story of where Ghanaian music comes from, by lining up carefully selected artistes whose lyrics and instrumentation are etched in the history of Ghanaian music.

MOGO has profiled and featured true music icons like the world-acclaimed Osibisa, the evergreen Ramblers International Band, the legendary Agya Koo Nimo, one of the pioneers of original Ghana highlife, as well as stars like C.K Mann, Papa Yankson, Ben Brako and the Lumba brothers. This year's event gave music lovers a taste of different worlds as it featured classic highlife from Ramblers International Band and Jewel Ackah; burger highlife from Lee Doudo, as well as exhilarating individual acts from Ben Brako, Oheneba Kissi and Bessa Simons.

Ramblers International Band was first to come on stage followed by Oheneba Kissi who put up his very best to warm up the audience. Then came Jewel Ackah who took the crowd by surprise as he exhibited some sensational stagecraft that got the whole auditorium cheering. There was laughter when he took some Aki and Porpor dance steps. Jewel Ackah did a song called Sawa Sawa Sawale, which is not his own song, but he made it sound so good the whole house could not keep themselves in their seats.

Bessa Simons came on stage with a wonderful intro of piano works which were just breathtaking. He introduced a new kid on the block, Eric, who also possesses a wonderful voice, and even though he is not a known face, the crowd received him well. Together with Bessa, the duo did a wonderful job. Ben Brako took some amazing formation dances with his hot dancers on stage and the crowd was truly fulfilled, after Lee Duodu hit the room by storm with a touch of burger highlife. Talking to Bessa Simons, who had been away from the country for a while, he said it was truly magical and fulfilling to see that people still loved highlife.

He said highlife was acknowledged worldwide by renowned musicians such as the late James Brown and others.

Bessa Simons said musicians of today were not threats to highlife, as he believes most of them were taking up after their seniors, mentioning artistes like Obour, Kwabena Kwabena and Obrafour.

He urged females to get involved in highlife music and acknowledged Lady Talata who is doing pure highlife in the country now. Bessa Simons also advised new artistes to desist from profanity in the music industry and showcase pure talent instead of doing just anything they think can fetch them money.

He said he would love to collaborate with Obour and Kwabena Kwabena. 7 Dec. 09