It was classic, stupendous, sententious, gargantuan, magnificent and super duper show to end the yearlong Ghana@50 celebration and Christmas at the International Conference Center Accra where the much taunted and hyped second re-union of Daddy Lumba and Nana Acheampong took place.
THE FIRST TIME IN SO MANY YEARS EVERYTHING JUST WENT RIGHT ESPECIALLY THE SOUND EQUIPMENT AND THE ENGINEER. THEY DID MARVELOUSLY WELL TO MAKE SURE EVERYTHING WENT ON SMOOTHLY TO REDUCE THE HITCHES TO ITS LOWEST EBB. THEN CAME THE COMPERES OF THE NIGHT: - DELORIES FRIMPONG OF OMAN FM, WOFA K AND KOOFORI OF RADIO GOLD FAME, THEY MADE SURE THAT THE SHOW FLOWED AND INTERMITTENTLY CHIPPED IN WITH SOME JOKES WHICH WAS PERFECTLY DONE THAT NOBODY HAD A COURSE TO COMPLAIN. THEY DISPLAYED A LOT OF SPONTANEITY AND GREAT SENSE OF HUMOR THAT KEPT THE FANS ON THE EDGE OF THEIR SEATS THRough out the gig.
The show was supposed to commence at 7pm but trust the “Black man time”, patrons have to wait over two hours or so before the show started, as Paa Tee and his Dancers came to exhibit their dancing prowess and dexterity but will somebody tell Paa Tee that we are further-up with this kind of “dancing act” to change the flavor a bit, we are tired. It was followed by another not-too impressive intricacy of Wulomei.
The well-attended show opened with a performance by bulky Owuraku Micky led the pack of “music executioners” to the auditorium to thrill the fans before he handed over the baton to Antwi Ne Antwi whose act was well received. Then after, it was the turn of Black African New Music Act award winner, Castro, and it was simply “more fire”, sexy Mzbel followed and she sustained the tempo until the arrival of Daasebre Gyamenah who drew spontaneous applause from the enthusiastic audience as he stepped out in his current found new “Yo-yo” dress, naval green shorts with a kind of muffler inside his back pocket over black Lacoste, a hat with black spectacle to march.
He treated the fans to some of his hit tracks from his repertoires to the admiration of all who couldn’t help but to join him to sing along most at the time. Hiplife cum Highlife genre Becca and Nana Quame respectively gave it to the fans the way it should be.
Quame has energy and the will power to carry his fans along with him. He stunned everybody until he made way for Wutah who began in a wrong note but midway through they bounced back to do what the fans were yearning for, Big Dream, and surprisingly they did “Aben Wo Ha remix” to the amazement of gathering, that clearly excited them.
The hour everybody was waiting for finally came. The light went down and the crowd erupted into frenzy and ecstasy. The MC then asked “Y’all ready for the man Nana Ac-h-e-a-m-p-o-n-g. More screams!!! On darkened stage inside the huge auditorium of the International Conference Center, a shadow of a lone middle-aged man sporting all white with black hat and pointed pony-hairdo style emerged. The stage lights came on. He showed a good smile and he bellows in a deep booming sleek voice, “Are you ready”? It was Nana Acheampong. The man has been consistent with his releases and made sure he gave the fans what they wanted.
Straight away he took the center stage with songs from his old albums to the current releases. The songs were carefully chosen and the fans had no option than to join him to sing and applauded him at any given time. The last 10 minutes before he left was a memorable one. He supportively did a free style to introduce Daddy Lumber before he unleashed Anka Ebeye Den and Dancing To the Music which blazed the whole auditorium as if the heavens was going to break loose. It was a well-rehearsed chorographical display, as they exist.
When Daddy Lumba took over, the auditorium was set agog. Most of his fans at the Conference Center who had been dancing in their seats literally sprung up from their seats and surged forward to the frontage to dance, shake hands and to take pictures with their meteoric icon. The security had a hectic time to control the crowd. Lumba had everything going right for him except that this time around he didn’t dress to kill.
Tunes like Bebi Gye Gye wo, Aben Wo Ha, Dr. Panie, among others passed through the tube and when he decided to dedicate his last song to KKD the audience wouldn’t have none of that and as expected they became curious but clearly doesn’t halt the relentless happy-trigged fans from waiting until he swiftly invited Nana Acheampong who emerged from the backstage this time around he wore a red shirt over black trousers and a jacket with black hat drawing chanting and screaming from the fans for the re-union romance. The vigor emanating from the stage brought sharp memories of their good old days when they mesmerizing their fans with precision.
When they did the rendition of Ye Ye’aka Akwentuom it was another classic. The old school set was in full effect. The fans loved it. It’s been a long uphill climb for the psychedelic “Lumba Brothers” who succeeded to get the whole crowd amped amidst fire works. Almost two and half decade have passed since the duo released their self-titled debut, they still look fresh and composed and they have promised their fans of their second album in a short possible time. The show was put together by Ghana Base Management.
