Ghana to host Ebony tribute concert

19 Mar 2018 - 12:09

A concert in remembrance of the late Ghanaian artist Ebony will take place on 23 March. The songstress, who was born Priscilla Opoku Kwarteng, passed on after a road accident on 8 February.

Several Ghanaian stars will perform at the Ebony tribute concert. Photo: Rufftown

At the concert, which will take place at the Trade Fair Centre in Accra, several Ghanaian popstars are expected to perform in Ebony’s honour. They include Stonebwoy, Sarkodie, Samini and Kofi Kinata.

The groups VVIP and R2Bees will also put in a performance, as will the artists Yaa Pono, Feli Nuna, Ras Kuku and Brella, who appeared on ‘Hustla’, one of Ebony’s last singles to be released before her death.

Prior to the announcement of the forthcoming tribute concert, a one-week memorial was held, and that event was broadcast live on Ghanaian television, with a host of famous guests in attendance.

Ebony’s Tribute Concert, as the event is tagged, has a gate fee of 10 Ghanaian cedis ($2). Musicians performing at the concert, however, are seemingly to appear without charge to the event’s organisers Rufftown Records and Midas Touch Inc. For the concert, both establishments are supported by Musicians Union of Ghana and Ghana Music Rights Organisation and Ghana’s Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture.

Much of Ghana’s media portrayed Ebony as controversial in life. Perhaps in accordance with her life, her tribute concert has sparked some controversy regarding performance fees.

Although several Ghanaian acts expressed sadness at the death of one of their colleagues and some got together to record a tribute song, Ebony’s manager Ricky Nana Agyman, also known as Bullet, has said he is unhappy with the behaviour of some unnamed artists.

“Some of our Ghanaian artists are hypocrites,” Bullet wrote on social media platform Facebook. “You came to Ebony’s one week observation because the numbers were there and again it was being telecast live on air so some of you came there to use the platform.

“Now you’re asking me to pay you for her tribute concert. I thought you loved her as you claimed on stage at her one week. This is pure hypocrisy. Big thanks to every artist who has decided to support us. We are grateful.”

Asked about the identities of these artists on a radio show, Bullet said, "I don’t want to mention names now. I will do that after the show and the funeral."