Mr. Music man Julius Nhyiraba Kojo Antwi went ‘buzzard’ this Christmas during his annual Christmas Eve event at the National Theater on December 24, 2010. The maestro had his fair share of the Christmas craze but this time in a very unfamiliar way.
Kojo Antwi appeared on stage all dressed up like a lady going on a dinner date, with his long dread-locks missing. He was conveyed on stage sitting in an ancient carriage holding a placard with the inscription “Hi my Name is Adjoa Antwiwaa”. The carriage, which is normally carried by a horse, was pulled on stage by about 10 midgets. He got down and took the placard off his face, and there was our own Kojo Antwi in a very big Afro-wig, a straight orange dinner dress and ladies shoes, now turned sister Antwiwaa.
Kojo went out of his way to perform a few seconds of Mzbel’s “Sixteen Years” and Eazzy’s “Wengeze”, but the beauty of the whole creative Feminine idea was almost taken away when the “Dadie Anoma” singer had to change from Adwoa Antwiwaa to the real Kojo Antwi.
He went back stage to change and, for about 2 to 3 minute, the stage was quiet and dark, even though the bands men were set and there was no power cut. So everybody at the much packed National Theater, had to wait for the maestro who finally appeared on stage in his Afro-wig, ash pants without belt, and a purple flower shirt which was half-way buttoned, and wearing brown shoes.
His silky voice got the crowd on at the first stroke of the drums. He held the crowd on their feet with hits after hits from his repertoire and ushered his fans into a festive Christmas, with everybody on, the dancing floor until his last song.
Kojo came on stage earlier than the usual time he comes on stage over the past 19 years of the Kojo Antwi 24th concert, so he obviously left the stage a little earlier.
Another thing which was a bit unlike Kojo, was his interaction with the audience and bandsmen during his performance. Even though his interaction with former first lady Nana Konadu Agyeman Rawlings, Akuma Mama Zimbi, Abeiku Santana, KOD, singer Nana Yaa, Keyboardist Kwame Yeboah and other personalities excited the crowd, it was overdone, and sometimes very untimely.
The only rock singer in Ghana, Jon Germain “The Supremo” had his shine on the night in one of his biggest performances in Ghana after he released his maiden album. The TV/Radio presenter turned singer, performed with a live band and his “In my Head” song got the ladies singing along. He proved to all Ghanaians that his voice is indeed what is on his CD, but Jon’s performance could have been better.
Gospel group ‘No Tribe’ got the already hot National Theatre (full of faulty air-conditioner) even hotter when they mounted the stage. Anyone who was not moved by the “No Tribe” performance must be an alien.
An all-female band, Della Hayes and Dzesi Band (Women of Colour) did what a lot of male musicians cannot do as perfectly as they did on stage. It was amazing to see matured woman play the keyboard, guitar, drums and instruments. Every single melody during their performance was created by the women of colour.
Nima-based Hiplife trio VIP (Vision In Progress), as usual rocked the crowd with their danceable hiplife tunes from “Obaa Sweety”, “Ahomka wom”, to “I Think I Like Am”, “Away” and other popular songs.
All in all, Kojo Antwi’s “Rocking The Planet” concert on December 24 2010 was worth the gate fee.