Ghana Music Week rolls out
The opening ceremony was a sort of ‘Our Day’ for musicians and many of them mingled with guests. While the King Shabo Band filled the foyer of the National Theatre with their brash highlife stuff, traditional bands from across the country also delighted seated guests at the front of the theatre with delicate home-grown stuff.
There was a presentation by hip pop artiste M.anifest to depict the chronological development of popular music in Ghana. It traced the history from the early days of highlife to contemporary styles like hiplife and Azonto.
Speaking on the relevance of the Ghana Music Week, the president of MUSIGA, Bice Osei Kuffuor said there was the need to create a platform to promote Ghanaian music and tourism to the world and the Music Week sought to do that.
He noted that music which is an important part of the everyday life of individuals, has not been given the needed recognition in this country.
“I believe this celebration will help Ghanaians to appreciate the value of music, foster unity among us and connect Ghana to Africa and the world through music,” he added.
He appealed to the government and private investors to seriously consider the construction of a multi-purpose entertainment facility to help curb the challenges most event organisers face in finding suitable venues for their events.
The Minister of Tourism, Culture and Creative Arts, Mrs. Elizabeth Ofosu-Agyare who represented the President, declared the government’s commitment to the development of the creative arts industry, remarking that “ I want to reassure stakeholders that the government will solidly be behind them.”
She led a delegation of MUSIGA executives and past presidents including Alhaji Sidiq Buari and Mrs. Diana Hopeson to cut the tape for the commencement of the Music Week in Ghana.
When Showbiz visited the National Theatre on the Second day, stakeholders in the Creative and Arts industry including members of the public had converged for the Stakeholders Dialogue which sought to educate patrons on how to effectively maximize the business potentials of music.
Some members of the public were also seen at the various exhibition stands making enquiries or purchasing items.
Outfits that have mounted stands to display various products and services include Scratch Studios, Essiebons, Airtel and rlg.
Some of the exhibitors who spoke to this reporter said they were expecting good sales at the end of the celebration though the beginning had been slow. There were also some people filling MUSIGA membership forms.
The week-long Ghana Music Week celebration will end on Sunday with an inter-church mass choir and gospel rock shows.
Story by Gifty Owusu-Amoah/Graphic Showbiz
