British Council Brings Different Shades Of Music
It has been 65 years of active work in Ghana and the British Council intends to celebrate that with a satisfying night of different shades of music at the National Theatre on Friday, November 21.
The director of British Council Ghana, Moses Anibaba, announced at an interaction with the media in Accra that the world-acclaimed London Community Gospel Choir (LCGC) led by Rev. Bazil Meade, will headline the concert which will also feature Kwaw Kesse, The Pan African Orchestra, Irene Logan and Jane Awindor, Gonje and the Megastar Band.
A high point of the concert is expected to be a collaborative performance between the LCGC and Kwaw Kesse.
Anibaba said at the press interaction that the concert is just a launch pad for all the other things his outfit has lined up for the next four to five months to celebrate their 65 years in Ghana.
Rev Bazil Meade and his choir are said to be excited over coming to Ghana again. The South London-based choir, which has often been described as controversial, professional, energetic, inspiring and spirit-filled, was in Ghana last year to participate in a programme at Elmina to commemorate the 200th anniversary of the Abolition of the Slave Trade in the United Kingdom.
They sang in the Elmina Castle and at the forecourt of the castle and their music was well-received. They said later that they had enjoyed being in Ghana and would love to come back at another time for a big concert.
British Council's anniversary celebration has brought an opportunity for the choir, known for its funk-flavoured gospel flair, swing-beat, R&B, traditional and soulful arrangements, with invigorating choreography and vocal gymnastics, to return and show more people their eclectic approach to spreading the gospel.
The LCGC has recorded with Paul McCartney, Elton John, Westlife and Madonna and has been travelling and performing worldwide for more than two decades.
No wonder Rev Meade said: “We are known as the choir that performs with so many different artistes”
The choir expressed a desire to collaborate with Ghanaian artistes and that will happen with Kwaw Kesse.
The 'Abodam' man was at the meeting with the press and sounded upbeat about the upcoming work with the London choir.
“I have heard how they sound like. They have their class and I have my class so it will be an interesting evening.
I bet you I'll take them along some exciting paths.”
The Pan African Orchestra's last public performance was in May and they have developed new repertoire since then. It has been around since 1988 and is devoted to playing new forms of African classical music. It has performed on big stages in Europe and America.
Gonje draws its material from across the country and listening to them is like going on a journey into world music. Led on kalimba, bamboo flute and vocal by Boateng Kodua Acheampong, Gonje's music traverses many musical classs and is great stuff for discerning ears.
Irene Logan and Jane Awindor were discovered through Charterhouse's Stars of the Future contest and they represent a new phase on the popular music scene with their brash hip hop and R&B class. They have international exposure.
The British Council Ghana director felt sure the selection of artistes for the anniversary concert reflected his outfits attitude to its tasks when he said: “We are not a static organisation. We are dynamic and we believe in changing in line with what people actually want. We want to reflect the old and the new, the modern and the traditional.”
It remains to be seen how the varied music on show at the National Theatre on November 21 supports his claim. The anniversary concert is managed by Heritage Development for the British Council Ghana.