By Benjamin Xornam Glover
Sizzling hiplife musician Nana Ekua Amoah, popularly known as Mzbel, was in Bolgatanga last weekend alongside Wutah Kobby, Reggy Zippy and Andy of TV3 Mentor fame to quench the thirst of music fans in the metroprolis who had not seen some of the best-known names in contemporary Ghanaian music perform live for a while now.
With ‘underground’ artiste Redtimba also on the bill, the artistes rocked the ever- popular Kofi Charlie floor at the Bolgatanga Catering Rest House not only to demonstrate their musical prowess but also to help launch an ambitious project being undertaken by an entrepreneur to launch an all- female band.
The band is being initiated by businesswoman, Mary Bozobil through her non-governmental organisation (NGO), Women Awareness Centre to encourage women to exhibit their inherent talents.
The NGO has been operating in the region and promoting skills acquisition in dressmaking, hairdressing, textile design, carpentry, masonry and other vocational activities targeted at school dropouts.
For a start, the NGO has acquired music instruments including a set of drums, lead and bass guitars, microphones and other necessary equipment to help train the ladies to be recrcruited into the band.
The foray into the musical project happens to be the second of its kind in the history of the region. The first was the Uppers International Band established by the late A.A. Ampofo, a.k.a. Kofi Charlie, the then Upper East Regional Administrative Officer during the regime of the late Gen. I.K. Acheampong.
The artistes put up their best at the show and the patrons, who were alreay in a celebratory mood because the region was marking 50 years since its creation, were extremely receptive to the performances.
Mzbel, backed by a posse of three female dancers, delivered on their trademark waist-gyrating acts to the admiration of the crowd who congregated around the stage with some occasionally invading the stage to dance with the hiplife diva.
She, at a point, threatened to leave the stage if the harassment did not stop and it took security personnel deployed to the venue a hard time keeping the audience away from the stage. Similar reception was accorded artistes such as Reggy Zippy and Kobby of Wutah fame.
The Municipal Chief Executive for Bolgatanga, Epsona Ayamga who was the special guest at the show, encouraged women to take advantage of the opportunity but cautioned against the composition of profane songs as they impact negatively on the youth and hence influence negative tendencies and behaviour in the society.
The CEO of the Women’s Awareness Centre, Mary Bozobil, acknowledged the challenges associated with the initiative but said with determination and commitment, she was optimistic that some talents would be identified and honed by well- trained instructors to bring out their best.
Alongside the musical performances, there was a fashion show of fabrics and designs produced by trainees of the centre.
Among the patrons of the night was the Regional Police Commander, ACP Bright Oduro and other Heads of Departments.
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