Ghana: Taking stage performance in Ghana to the next level? – ‘Famous 5’

By Peterking Quaye‘FAMOUS 5’ Produced by E-Volution International, and organized by Events and More in collaboration with Peace FM, is an event bringing together 5 of the greatest stage performers in Ghana to perform on one stage on the same night. The event, aims at increasing the standards in stage performance in Ghana by artistes and also afford the various artiste a unique opportunity as well a platform to perform and interact with their fans.

The Ghanaian music industry has face staggering stage performances from good musician in recent times, let alone talk about the time spent performing. Majority of the musician especially hiplife artistes do not stage concerts but rather wait for events organizers to call them to perform from their CD’s, with the current state of entertainment around the world, for Ghanaian musicians to be up to the standard there should be a concerted efforts to take stage performance in Ghana to the next level, but can this new concert –FAMOUS 5, be the solution or just a ‘one day wonder’, l wait to see.

The maiden edition of ‘FAMOUS 5’was launched at the Coconut Groove Regency Hotel, in Accra on Tuesday, February 22, 2011.

The event according to the organizers is expected to the biggest musical event in 2011, “FAMOUS 5”

An initial list of 15 musician chosen by stakeholders in the music industry will soon be presented to, the general public to make their choice .The organizers says they have presented the sole power to the public choose their FAMOUS 5, by texting their favourite 5 out of the 15 artiste on the list to a short code and at the end have an opportunity to party and jam with all five.

The final event is slated for the 22nd of April 2011 at the Accra International Conference Centre.

The New Fylla took to the street to ask people about this FAMOUS 5 and what so they think about think, At Lapaze, a lady interview name withheld, said, this is just another way to exploit Ghanaian,” “we are tire the texting things” ,why text if you can just walk to a collection point and drop your favourite in a box he added. Accra Osu ,Oxford street a when l asked a gentle by name Ben ,have you heard about FAMOUS 5 ,he said no, well hope they will live up to expectation and not have a disappointing show .

From the look of things ,many artiste could not turn up for the launching ,missing in action were Amakye Dede, Kojo Antwi ,Samini,Sakodie ,Kwabena Kwabena, Cecelia Marfo ,Castro ,R2Bees,5Five,Wutah,Daddy Lumba,this could imply a lot of things ,but the few that come to mind are ,they were not interested in the idea, a strong indication of their dissatisfaction of being part of the show early ,improper arrangement by the organizers which may lead to the same behaviour on the main day of the show as well . Which ever way one of these reasons will fit and strong suggested to the organizers to insure that the event live up to expectation.

Also as texting is involve it is in this direction that the texters are given value for money and not leverage on the innocent Ghanaian with this concert.

The selected final 15 artistes include: Amakyi Dede, Kojo Antwi, Ohemaa Mercy, No-Tribe, DL(Daddy Lumba), R2Bees, 5Five, Ruff & Smooth, Wutah, Samini, Kofi B, Sarkodie, Castro, Cecelia Marfo and Kwabena Kwabena. Voting for the FAMOUS 5 began on Tuesday February 22 immediately after the official launch and voting will be closed exactly a month later, on March 22, 2011.

A college of professionals in the music industry namely: Nana Benyin Dadson( Graphic Showbiz Editor), Carlos Sekyi (Musician and Copyright advocate), Diana Hopeson( MUSIGA President), Appiah Dankwa aka Appietus (Music Producer), Fred Darko (Event Producer), Kwasi Aboagye (Peace FM), Whitney Boakyi Mensah (Event Planner and Journalist) and Fiifi Banson (Peace FM) have critically selected 15 of the most prominent artistes based  on their presence, in terms of releases or public performances and how much impact they have made on their  audience within the last 12 months, irrespective of their music genre.

In an interview with Mr. Fiifi Banson, Managing Partner/Communications Director-“FAMOUS 5”,

He expressed the satisfaction so far, and said he expects it to be the, as it is going to be an annual affair after the maiden event this year. He dismissed suggestions that this is might create competition amongst the musicians, and asserted that it will rather challenge them to improve on their stage craft.

So who are the FAMOUS 5 artistes you will love to see on one stage? Your guest is good as my. FAMOUS 5  is sponsored by Peace 104.3 FM, Okay FM, Despite Group of Companies and This Way Chocolate Drink.

Contact Peterking on – peterkingq@gmail.com/peterkingquaye@shout-africa.com