5Five and their Executive Producer Lawrence Nana Asiamah Hanson, better known as Bulldog, punched the air with excitement and seemed not to know what to do with themselves when invited onto the stage to receive their second award at the 9th MTN Ghana Music Awards 2008 ceremony held at the National Theatre on April 25.

They were perhaps responding to Kwaw ‘Abodam’ Kesse who got the evening going with a performance and asked the audience if they were ready to go crazy. The answer was a big ‘Yes’ though their ‘craziness’ was only shown by singing along with the performing artistes and often standing to dance the night away.

The five-hour well-attended show saw patrons eager to be part of what has almost become the biggest event on the country’s entertainment calender.

Musicians, producers, music enthusiasts and other stakeholders in the music business all trooped in expecting some good fun and they had that, courtesy of MTN and Charterhouse, the event organisers.

The decision by members of the Ghana Association of Phonographic Industry (GAPI) and the artistes under their control to boycott the event went virtually unnoticed by the audience who appeared ready to celebrate with whoever was present.

Samini took a bit of time to adjust into his role as a Master of Ceremony alongside Doreen Andoh of Joy FM. He eventually eased into it but the performer in him still had to surface and he performed some of his songs.
 
DJ Black maybe forgot he was not playing in a club as he usually does and pushed up the volume controls on his equipment too high sometimes.

It was hard hearing Kwaw Kesse’s raps at the beginning of the show though his warning that he had brought a basket along to the venue to fill with awards manifested in four trophies.

It was, without doubt, one of the most momentous days in his life as the audience showed him love and coped with his ‘Abodam’ antics.

Ghanaian audiences, especially the young ladies, are so up-to-date when it comes to what foreign artistes are up to. They beautifully sang along with Ja Rule from the United States, Keisha White from the United Kingdom and P Square from Nigeria.

Nameless from Kenya is not very much known here but he can be assured that some people can sing along with him next time he is here.

Irene and Jane are good singers but one is wondering what went on in their minds as they were booed when they came on to receive their award for Best Female Vocal Performance. That was the only moment the audience did not seem to flow with the award winners.

Some in the audience did not also seem to understand why 4x4 brought on those bum-shaking girls. The sad thing with many of our acts, as reflected in the videos as well, is that there is very little grasp of good dancing and we mix that up with unrequired bum-shaking.

It was not necessary for a whole Minister to honour Ja Rule who had charged full fees to come down to perform.
And how could we say we were giving Ja Rule the responsibility to take Ghanaian artistes to the international stage? Such a role can be better played by Youssou N’Dour or Salif Keita and not a hardcore rapper from New York.

A welcome message from Charterhouse, the event organisers, in the event brochure said this year’s awards event got a big boost from MTN by the telecommunication company raising their involvement to title sponsors.

The message added that MTN Ghana Music Awards has become a growing platform for other artistes from Africa and beyond to get a feel of Ghana’s music industry and form a basis for inter-cultural exchanges and collaborations.

The Minister of Chieftaincy and Culture, Mr. S.K. Boafo also in a goodwill message to the organisers of the event, urged them to enhance the programme content with authentic Ghanaian flavours to add more colour to the overall presentation of the event.

He said the Ministry will continue to support their efforts to promote hardworking and decent Ghanaian artistes to achieve international fame.

Two days earlier, it was a big Y’ello party in the name of music when musicians, producers, music enthusiasts, the media, representatives of the corporate world and other guests gathered at the La Palm Royal Beach Hotel for the first item on the three-tier MTN-Ghana Music Awards 2008 Festival programme.

This was the Industry Awards Gala Night at which six awards were given out. Veteran musician, Kwabena Yamoah was given the MUSIGA Merit Award for his meritorious contribution to the development of highlife.

Trumpeter Osei Tutu got the Instrumentalist of the Year award and the Oklibone Cultural Group from Somanya in the Eastern Region were adjudged Traditional Artistes of the Year.

The other award winners at the Industry Awards Gala Nite were Mad Time Entertainment for Record Label of the Year, Solid Productions for Best Music Video Directing of the Year whilst the Best Lyricist award went to Chemphe.

The Sappers Band dished out some sparkling highlife music on the night. There were also performances by Adane Best, Michael Dwamena and No Tribe.

The Ghana Music Awards were instituted in 2000 with the main aim of helping to improve and project the image of the Ghanaian music industry to new heights.