Thrills Mark Stevie Wonder?s Benefit Concert Launch

Mon, 22 Mar 2004 Source: ghanamusic.com

Steve Wonder coming to Ghana soon Hewale Sounds, an instrumental ensemble based at the International Centre for African Music and Dance, University of Ghana, Legon over the weekend powerfully exposed the beauty and variety of African traditional music and its contemporary extensions.

Performing at a brief but impressive ceremony that marked the official launching of a Stevie Wonder Music Contest, which will culminate in a Benefit Concert that will be held soon in Accra, the group surprised the audience which included the former first lady Mrs. Naa Morkor Busia with authentic compositions that were created solely through indigenous traditional African instruments.

Led by the flute dynamo, Dela Botri, Hewale Sounds treated the invited guests at the Indigo Nite Club in Accra to music that constantly shifted in pulse and intensity alongside rhythms that seemed so complex yet so simple to the extent that it could tickle the most insensitive ear.

The Japanese Pianica player Miho Hagiwagra later joined the group for a brilliant rendition of I Just called one of Stevie Wonder?s popular tunes as atenteben flutes, xylophones, gonjes and an assortment of African drums stripped the flesh off Stevie?s music leaving behind the skeletons in the process.

Fresh from a high successful Independence Day Splash, Africa?s rising reggae star, Rocky Dawuni entertained the crowd with entertained the crowd a pieces from his rich repertoire that sent the audience on a kind of journey into the heart of his recent compositions.

In a short speech, Akosua Busia of the Busia Foundation International (BFI) said proceeds from the Stevie Wonder Benefit Concert will be channeled to deprived communities in Ghana.

She revealed that the BFI intends to set up mobile libraries that will move from town to town with books that are not easily available to pupils and students in deprived communities adding that computers and its accessories will also be made available by the foundation.

Akosua Busia, who is also an internationally acclaimed actress announced a special Stevie Wonder Song Contest which will involve diverse groups playing their own version of Stevie Wonder?s music adding that the winning group will have the opportunity to perform with Stevie during the concert in Accra.

Two young singers, who emerged as winners in a short competition organised at the function qualified for the next stage of the competition which will end in a final selection.

The programme was organised by the Busia Foundation International in collaboration with Media Magique and Research Systems.



Steve Wonder coming to Ghana soon Hewale Sounds, an instrumental ensemble based at the International Centre for African Music and Dance, University of Ghana, Legon over the weekend powerfully exposed the beauty and variety of African traditional music and its contemporary extensions.

Performing at a brief but impressive ceremony that marked the official launching of a Stevie Wonder Music Contest, which will culminate in a Benefit Concert that will be held soon in Accra, the group surprised the audience which included the former first lady Mrs. Naa Morkor Busia with authentic compositions that were created solely through indigenous traditional African instruments.

Led by the flute dynamo, Dela Botri, Hewale Sounds treated the invited guests at the Indigo Nite Club in Accra to music that constantly shifted in pulse and intensity alongside rhythms that seemed so complex yet so simple to the extent that it could tickle the most insensitive ear.

The Japanese Pianica player Miho Hagiwagra later joined the group for a brilliant rendition of I Just called one of Stevie Wonder?s popular tunes as atenteben flutes, xylophones, gonjes and an assortment of African drums stripped the flesh off Stevie?s music leaving behind the skeletons in the process.

Fresh from a high successful Independence Day Splash, Africa?s rising reggae star, Rocky Dawuni entertained the crowd with entertained the crowd a pieces from his rich repertoire that sent the audience on a kind of journey into the heart of his recent compositions.

In a short speech, Akosua Busia of the Busia Foundation International (BFI) said proceeds from the Stevie Wonder Benefit Concert will be channeled to deprived communities in Ghana.

She revealed that the BFI intends to set up mobile libraries that will move from town to town with books that are not easily available to pupils and students in deprived communities adding that computers and its accessories will also be made available by the foundation.

Akosua Busia, who is also an internationally acclaimed actress announced a special Stevie Wonder Song Contest which will involve diverse groups playing their own version of Stevie Wonder?s music adding that the winning group will have the opportunity to perform with Stevie during the concert in Accra.

Two young singers, who emerged as winners in a short competition organised at the function qualified for the next stage of the competition which will end in a final selection.

The programme was organised by the Busia Foundation International in collaboration with Media Magique and Research Systems.



Source: ghanamusic.com