The Black Star Line Festival
By Nana Ameyiwa Asmah
Detty December
The last itinerary on most Ghanaians' bucket lists to complete their Detty December was the Black Star Line Festival. It’s a festival that most Ghanaians and those from the diaspora have longed for. Most concerts sell tickets, but this one was free. The musicians on the line-up were considered great artists, so maximum attendance was expected. The concert was supposed to start by 2 p.m., but most Ghanaians are aware of the phrase "Ghana man time," so it started around 5 p.m. I arrived at the checkpoint for the concert around 6 p.m., and that side was not a pleasant experience. The individuals in charge of that area made it a tiring experience for anyone who came within the time frame of 6 p.m.–10 p.m.
Source: https://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-64200871
The first artist to perform was Manifest; his performance was outstanding. Every individual there could sing along to his songs, and the organizers of the program also made sure there was water and coconut available at no cost. The second performance was from the Asakaa boys. They portrayed the Asante culture in their performances, thereby giving reverence to where they started from. Before the next artist's performance, various DJs and dancers were given the platform to showcase their talents.
The next performance was by Toby. This was a new artist to most Ghanaians, but his ability to engage the crowd was impressive. He had more than the usual time allocated to the various artists. It took a while before the next artist came to perform. Vic Mensa was the next artist to perform, and his performance was beautiful. After his performance came the famous Sarkodie, whose performance was what almost everyone in the audience was waiting for. His performance was magnificent; he performed songs from the early 2000s and from his current album. I can say he moved the crowd and stole part of the show. After Sarkodie’s performance, I decided to call it a night, but the show didn’t end there. King Promise, T-Pain, and Chance the Rapper also gave Ghanaians concert-goers a wonderful performance. The last days of my Detty December were well spent.