Oueen Asabea performing at the event
An exhibition of works by Ghanaian musician Kofi Ghanaba was held on July 23, at the Ghanaba African Heritage Centre (GAHC) at New Achimota near Kingsby Hotel in Accra.
The event, organised by the centre to celebrate Ghanaba’s works and achievement on the music scene, brought together a wide range of attendees, including stakeholders in the creative business and music enthusiasts from all backgrounds.
Ghanaba, initially known as Guy Warren of Ghana, was widely respected for his blend of African rhythms and mainstream jazz elements which he termed afro-jazz.
Ghanaba’s work encompasses a wide range of artistic expressions; from large-scale prints to sculptures, video projections, and music incorporated into the curatorial process of the exhibition.
The exhibition was held to highlight Ghanaba, whose work speaks volumes, the organisers said.
Queen Asabea, Bobo Ranking, Local Diamention, Bongofari, Mr Merror, Nutty Rankin, Mavis Atia, Shepus Napata and a host of others, were among the artistes who performed at the event.
They performed their various hit songs, without breaks to entertain fans who attended the event.
The exhibition, which was on the theme, “I am Free Because am Culturally Aware,” was organised in collaboration with the International Afro-Reggae Music Arts Heritage and Cultural Festival (IARMA-FEST).
The management team of GAHF thanked all the creative industry stakeholders who graced the exhibition and concert.
The team announced that it will host the screening of the video of Hallelujah Chorus. The video, according to the team, presents an African talking drum version of Handel’s Hallelujah Chorus as staged and performed by legendary drummer Ghanaba together with Winneba Youth Choir.
Ghanaba’s unique approach mixes elements of African, Christian, and Islamic ritual with formal European concert performance, Ghanaian ceremony, and improvising.
By George Clifford Owusu