Highlife ‘floors’ hiplife at Akosua@ 25

Those who say highlife music is dead should come again because that genre reigned supreme last Saturday when the Accra International Conference Centre hosted the Akosua Adjepong @ 25 celebration.

It was a ‘battle’ of  the old skuul and new as highlife legends such as Nana Kwame Ampadu, Papa Yankson, A.B Crentsil , Rex Omar, Amandzeba, Ambolley floored hiplife artistes- Sarkodie, Edem, MzVee at the concert. 

The performances of the highlife gurus was beyond expectation.  A.B Crentsil started the show around 9:30 pm. Backed by the Immigration band, A.B perfomed songs such as  Juliana, Atia to the delight of the patrons. 

Papa Yankson followed with  Okukuseku and  Awo Twen. Although he performed only two songs, he had the audience on their feet through out his performance.  

When it was the turn of Rex Omar, Ambolley, Nana Kwame Ampadu, Amandzeba and Ekow Micah, they did not fail to dazzle the audience with their performances.

They sent patrons down memory lane and it was fun and more fun as they dipped into their repertoire and dished out hit after hit.

And when the new skuul came on stage at various stages of the concert, it was surprising how they could not hold up their own.  It was as if the audience wanted nothing but highlife only.  

Sarkodie, who usually work, up his audience into a frenzy was not on point  with his performance and kept on  complaining that his regular DJ was not in town and had to make do with the one provided on the night. Although he performed Original and a couple of other songs, he did not really move the crowd. 

MzVee was also not impressive on the night. Her hit songs, Borkor Borkor, Natural Girl and  Harmattan, failed to do the magic for her this time around.

Edem, however, managed to get a little attention from the crowd when he performed Koene, and Over Again. 

 Other acts, Becca, Stephanie Benson performed and comedian DKB was also there to support. 

Actress, Nana Ama McBrown, surprised everyone with her performance on the night. Dressed in military attire, she got everyone applauding when she performed Akosua Adjepong’s Kokooko.  Akosua Adjepong who was also dressed in military outfit later joined her on stage. The well-rehearsed performance from the two was a delight to watch.

At about 1 a.m, the woman who was being celebrated occupied the stage. And truth be told, Akosua Adjepong did not disappoint at all. She showed why she is still relevant after 25 years in the music scene.   

Together with her dancers and backed by the Immigration Band, Akosua  entertained the audience with an hour of good music and dance. She performed Frema, Born Again, Kakyere Me, Meye Obaa, Meni Otawo and Asiwa. 

Another interesting moment of the night was watching Akosua and ex husband, Amandzeba, perform their classic, First Time. The two belted  out the song so well. 

The six-hour Akosua @ 25 was a good show. Perhaps, the only disappointment of the night was patrons were denied the nolstagia of watching NAKOREX made up of Rex Omar, Akosua Adjepong and Amandzeba perform together. Although they were all there, they performed individually.