Akablay Live In Concert @ Alliance Française

Ace guitarist Anthony Akablay will on Saturday, April 1, host a live musical concert to launch his latest album at the Alliance Française in Accra.

The album launch which is expected to make a huge impact on the Ghanaian music scene will witness live performances from Akablay and some selected acts.

Some of the artistes billed to perform alongside Akablay and his Abiza Band include Trigmatic, Nathaniel Braddock, Funshoe Odengupin and a host of the prominent artistes.

According to the organisers, Akablay and his Abiza Band will treat patrons to unforgettable live musical performances.

Akablay and his Abiza Band have, in recent years, taken the country by storm with a variety of compositions that stand in between tradition and modernity.

He has performed with a number of renowned musicians and bands. These include Jewel Ackah and The Butterfly Six, Amandzeba Brew, Hugh Masekela, Kojo Antwi, Richard Bona, Lokua Kanza, Dela Botri, Opoku Ayim and Sonti Ndebele.

Akablay hit the mainstream music scene in 1991 as the main composer and guitarist of the Western Diamonds, one of the best live bands Ghana has ever seen.

He had paid his dues, taking guitar lessons from highlife legends Koo Nimo, King Onyina, Paa Joe and playing in the bands of Rim Akandoh and Jewel Ackah.

In 2006, he was awarded the best guitarist at the Sunshine Music Awards. In 2010, Akablay won overall best instrumentalist at the Ghana Music Awards and most recently best African guitarist at MIA (Benin 2014). Akablay has played extensively across Europe, including SFINKS FESTIVAL (Bel), Delft Festival & Black African Music Festivals (Nl), Waka Waka Festival (Den) & The African Kiss Festival (Ger).  In 2010, Akablay was the band leader for Miatta Fahnbulley's Nobel Peace Prize Award performance in Oslo.

By George Clifford Owusu