NAR finals: ECHO tops it all

NAR finals: ECHO tops it all Website
The search for replacement for the reigning Nescafe African Revelations Traffic came to an end at Kanda Kawukudi Park in Accra last Friday, and the atmosphere at the venue was that of excitement and anticipation. After several weeks of touring Ghana and searching for musical talents the NESCAFE African Revelation (NAR) team emerged with eight outstanding groups with interesting names like MP3, KOWPOW, AHENFIE, ECHO, TOO NATURAL, KETE, KICHEN and 3AM. According to the organizers, NESCAFE as a brand, exemplifies the qualities of youthful exuberance and has identified music as the most effective tool to reach out to the youth. The programme that took off at about 10pm that night had audience trooping from various parts of the regions to support their fans. The side attractions were interesting like the human statues that changed positions from time to time and the well choreographed afro girls. Artist billed for the night also added splendor to the event from Mzbel to Wutah then Ghana’s most wanted artist Tic Tac, the craziest dude on the block Kwaw Kesse, finally, the down to the boogie down boys from Nima VIP. The eight contestants battled it out in two segments, one segment requiring a creative song about the brand Nescafe; the other, their own musical work. The fact that each group had the opportunity to be in the studios with their mentors was a plus for the organizers. With enough hot coffee to keep everyone awake, the show went on non-stop till almost 2am the next morning and that was when a winner had to be crowned; that winner was entitled to a fully furnished apartment for a year, a recording contract, several other prizes and as usual the bragging rights. What your exciting Chronicle’s entertainment train driver observed was that all the contestants were equally good but the winners for the show ECHO were exceptional by using the live band to perform instead of miming. Judges for the night included the queen of the airwaves Doreen Andoh, Peace FM’s unassuming Akwasi Aboagye, the ponytail man Charles Amoah and also Fred Kyei Mensah a. k. a. Fredyma – a pioneer sound engineer.