TOUCH A BREAST – SWAGILICIOUS AZONTO AT THE RED LIPSTICK CONCERT

Jeremy: By the power invested in me as the MC of this show, every man should turn to the woman sitting beside him and a touch her breast!

The Red Lipstick concert was a dinner to delight the palate: females proving themselves in phenomenal ways through the art of music and dance, remembering social responsibility by raising awareness and funds for breast cancer, Azonto the theme of every performance, discovering child wonders, marriage ceremonies on stage, arguably, Ghana’s greatest band performing with Kwame Yeboah (Celebrity instrumentalist for great performers like Stevie Wonder, Craig David and our very own Kojo Antwi), inconceivable vocalism and even commemorating Qaddafi. The list could go on and on. What a night!

The concert, which is the very first of its kind, was held at the Dome, and had a full room of music lovers and fans. MCs for the night were Jessica of Citi FM and Jeremy of Y FM, dressed in red. Red was the colour of night which simply set the tone for blazing, fire and electric performances that would leave its audience with still stinging. To commence the night was Maame Esi, winner of Talented Kids, to show that a little body can have a big resonating voice. She sung a number from Celine Dion and distinguished herself by translating and singing it in Twi. The roar that followed this remarkable voice and strong spirit of innovation was deafening. One could also not help but notice that her movements and mannerisms were similar to Becca’s, who she confessed was her role model. Good choice!

Jessica and Jeremy then set the stage for azonto. Jeremy suggested they do a few azonto moves for their audience. Surprisingly or not surprisingly, Jeremy, who was talking a mile a minute, could hardly perform. Jessica did it so well, with her own calm swag, Jeremy stopped to watch her and of course, the audience appreciated. After this, any azonto, or attempt at azonto that night was wildly cheered. The concert should probably have been called “Red Lipstick – Female power through the Azonto”. Azonto was pouring out of every place, coming from everywhere, even all the way from Nigeria in the form of St. Riya who was the next performance.

St. Riya

Dressed in a white navy jacket, short shorts, complete with a Mohawk, St. Riya started her performance off with a very appropriate theme to the night: Beyonce’s “Run the World (Girls)”. She did a remarkable, move for move dance to the song just as it had been done in the video clip, spiced with a few robotic moves. She danced so well with so much energy she was out of breath when she began singing. Highlight of her performance was when she announced that she had learnt to dance Ghana’s current most popular dance, the azonto, and proceeded to show us. And boy, did she azonto! She added her own swag and new moves but kept the core of it. People were definitely taking down some notes on her new swagilicious additions.

The dance group, Reckless Dolls, had people screaming’ “Wo y3 reckless ankasa”, dressed in short tanks, black tights and showing off their waist beads and flat tummies.

Becca was the very first major female icon to perform and what better way to usher one of Ghana’s rising international stars than incredible instrumentals by the Ohia bey3 ya band. She swept up on stage looking like a goddess in a shiny gold dress that clung to her deep curves and stopping mid-way on her smooth thighs and color matching pumps. She proceeded to tell her audience in the old school jam “I feel good”, and why shouldn’t she, sexy and talented as she is?! She and the band explored variable, almost unfeasible reaches of sound, rhythm and music ability, playing with her voice and their instrumental ability. Their performance was simply Music (to stress Meyuuuusic!!!)  The drummer (Kwame Yeboah’s junior brother), other drummers on the African drums,  keyboardist and at times guitarist (Kwame Yeboah himself), background singers and Becca were so in sync, the beauty they hoped to create was not just achieved but recognized by their audience. Even though one may not understand why, there was this powerful sense that something phenomenal and one-of-a-kind was happening on stage.

The stage was then converted to a speakeasy; hazy, smoky atmosphere, dim red lights, and a sexy blues singer in the form of Becca, when the band switched to playing the theme song of Pink Panther. This switch ushered yet another Ghanaian international star, Samini, for a powerful duet. Performing “Fire”, Samini and Becca proved an unmatchable duo, Samini dressed in a red outfit with a black jacket. This song was followed up by her popular singles, “Daa Ke Daa”, and “Push”. Becca then proceeded to engage her audience in an interesting discussion about how fickle men are to the women: Mr. Perfects when they first meet you, then horrible and mean when you’ve fallen in love with them. This discussion was right up the alley of many of the ladies present and they vigorously agreed. Spirits were raised so high it became quite dangerous to be a man sitting in that heated crowd of scorned women. Kwame Yeboah saved the men by also highlighting that women also lie, then began interesting adlibbing between Becca and Kwame Yeboah. Becca sang, “Men, they lie to us’, and Kwame Yeboah replied, “Women, they lie to us”. Soon they had the audience singing along with them, guys singing along with Kwame Yeboah, and females singing with Becca. Talk about engaging your audience! With the attention of her audience, Becca asked her audience to join her in recognizing some great Female musicians who inspire, and singing, “Jailor”, “Patapata”, she paid her respects to Asa and Mariam Makeba.

Becca then ushered on an 11-year old wonder called Adele, singing Alicia’s “Noone”. When this girl opened her lips, attention turned 360 degrees from Becca to her. The audience started whistling long before her performance ended. And when it did, the audience became witnesses for the most heartwarming and fairytale wedding ever staged on a Ghanaian Stage. Singing “Forever”, assuring her man (whom we were yet to see), that she was his “Superwoman and he was her Spiderman”, Becca returned on stage in a lovely wedding gown, and a short, stylish veil on her short Afro. Singing emotionally, while a video on the background screens showed her preparing for her wedding, complete with a bride’s blush and happiness, Becca made an awesome bride. And who was her Prince Charming who actually came on stage, in a sharp grey suit and white flower in his blazer pocket, to hold her in his waiting arms, kiss her a few times and sweep her off her feet? John Dumelo! And here the bitter, jilted girls are, swearing heaven and earth that that kind of chemistry is a falsitude sold in cheesy romantic novels. But the whole act was kind of cheesy, but sometimes…we enjoy cheesy!

Becca and Dumelo enjoying marital bliss

The concert, which was already starting to prove that it could be quite phenomenal, continued with Bino, in black and white, and much flipping of hair and winding of waists. Azonto be what! The beautiful Raquel followed up in a short Afrochic dress, showing off her great vocal talents. There is a reason why she rose as an artist so soon and so fast. Her spotlight was powerlessly stolen by Sarkodie when he came up to perform their collaboration and hit song, “Sweetio”. Raquel and Sarkodie broke it down on stage, grinding their hips to rhythms they created. The audience was being fed good food, dishes upon dishes of nutritious gourmet meals enticed down their throats, and there was no way they could get stuffed! Because after this splendid performance, next on the bill was the nightingale, Irene. 

Irene

Following her switch from the secular to gospel, Irene proved that with God behind you, everything you touch can be a blessing. Her voice, her song, her plea, and prayer to her audience touched every person present. The Dome was turned into a typical black church in the South of the United States. Irene then performed the first song she made when she became solo, “Runaway” – and then the audience promptly switched to love mode. “Runaway” was an emotional duet between Irene and Kwame Yeboah’s guitar. The syrupy sound which just slid like honey down the ears, forced one reaction: closed eyes, and slow-moving heads. Hyper others who could not take it this calmly screamed and whistled as they were arrested by her voice. Then came an incredible play with the pitches her voice can reach, and a sort of sing-rapping in the part of the song where Asem rapped. That section had the audience up on their feet. This was a Moment, one of those rare times when the masses can finally see beyond the fluff and pomp, to recognize true talent.

Akosua Adjapong and herr dancers

The electrical energy was maintained and sent to dangerous highs when Akosua Adjapong took the stage by storm with her dancers dressed in red and yellow suits. Akosua Adjapong, yet another artiste who switched to gospel, was not there just to perform but had a whole choreographed act. Performing “Frema”, Akosua Adjapong’s energy was crazy! She danced as energetically as any of her dancers and even more. They mimed an Azonto dance competition, with no declared winner. Akosua Adjapong did a lot of leg twisting, robotic moves, and her azonto was so on point, it got people on their feet trying to copy her moves. A brief mime about discovering red lipstick, and putting it on, using the audience as their mirror, drew a few laughs. Besides the azonto, rich Ghanaian dance was celebrated. Akosua Adjapong, in the industry for about twenty-two years, is an embodiment of a Phenomenal Woman. Power radiates in her very body, and it is not of a hostile kind. It is kind, warm and engaging.

Miss Ghana Canada 2001 used the Red Lipstick stage to premier herself on the Ghanaian market. She chose to dress up in a black Arab costume, to “mourn Qaddafi”. This proclamation instantly got her attention. Ohemaa Mercy, who was next on the bill, turned the Dome into an As)re proper, prophesying presidency and rich husbands on her audience. Bertha, in a style that was very similar to Efya’s, commenced her performance with “Faithful”, with Okyeame Kwame on stage supporting. Then she did something she has never done on any stage before – she played a guitar, singing Kojo Antwi’s “3mfa me nko h)”. It was so soulful it drew goose bumps, and painful memories of broken hearts. Hands were reaching out to her and waving.

Jeremy, in a lovely voice, introduced Efya on stage by singing a bit of “Little things”, the crowd was up on their feet before the Voice Enigma stepped on to the stage. Hyped and energetic Efya started off on a high, rockish note with “Sexy Sassy Wahala”, theme song of Shirley Frimpong’s “Adams Apples”. In a purple long sleeved dressed with a strong A-line skirt, a heavy purple bead necklace, and matching purple pumps, she looked gorgeous as always. The jazzy “Cigarette” followed, telling her ‘man’, “you are my high.” Then began some crazy adlibbing and playing with her voice. Damn! Some great vocals there! Then came the song everyone was waiting for which Jeremy introduced nicely, “Little things”. The girls in the house were positively brimming with love, using Efya’s voice to sing to their loved ones.

The Three Divaz: Eazzy, Mzbel and Efya

Eazzy temporarily turned off the love mood to azonto mood with her hit track, “Wengeze”. Another romantic performance, “One girl”, with Richie was staged. Though it was nowhere near as sizzling as Becca and Dumelo, it still had girls singing along with emotion. After this, the audience was sent to Northern Africa by Sherifa and they could not help but soak, appreciate and dance to the rich, hip-swinging rhythms and powerful accents. She looked herself like an African princess, dressed in beads and her ever present Mohawk. Combined with very enthusiastic dancers, who stole the show at some point, Sherifa proved herself a talented international star.

Mimi’s performance was probably the worst of the night. Dressed in a costume that showed too much flabby skin around her waist, it got people whispering “Ei”. Unfortunately, she lost her voice in the middle of her performance. Though no fault of hers, it was a clear sign to wrap up and say goodbye to your audience while it’s still good. However, she continued and it was horrible, leaving a bad taste of her in the mouths of her audience.

Mzbel was the penultimate performance. For once, Mzbel looked gorgeous and decent. Dressed in a yellow dress, with sleeves shaped like bows and a ponytail shaped like a bowtie, complete with red half-gloves, she looked like Minnie Mouse. Unfortunately, due to the late start of the program, her performance which began around 2am met a tired audience.  She misread this as her audience not being as engaged because she was dressed decently. She asked, “Why…is it because I’m not wearing a bikini?” hmmm…interesting.

Tiffany concluded the night with even more azonto tracks, “Fake London Boy”, “Shashiwowo” with Stay J, and “gigologo”. There was also a surprise collaboration with Castro. She was the one young artiste who did not go beyonce-ish with long hair and killer-inch pumps but she looked equally hot with her boyish swag outfit, made up of a black top, black shorts and black, unlaced foot.

On this great note, the concert ended around 3am.Notice the male-female collaborations:

Bertha and Okyeame Kwame

Raquel and Sarkodie

Eazzy and Richie

Tiffany, Castro and Stay J.

What does this say? Men and women, no matter how bitter it gets sometimes, need each other.

Funds were raised, people were happy, music was celebrated, yet there were those little poor boys who had been commissioned to make sure they stay and sell all their goods before going home. I met one who was so tired he almost gave me all his money without noticing. Organizers should start concentrating on following time schedules and ending on time. It helps everyone connected to the program. Mzbel did not feel her audience because they were tired (and not because she dressed skimpy!).

Meanwhile kudos to Hype Records for executing this wonderful concept of joining powerful female voices to contribute to society!