The toast of most event organizers in the past was nothing other than a show where songs of favorite artistes were performed live. One was sure of a great turnout if the event involved a band at play. The likes of Doctor Paa Bobo and Amakye Dede were but a few of the early missionaries of the art. Time in between and it looked as though what was known to Ghanaians as the best form of entertainment was fading out apparently stemming from the collapse of major bands in the country.
Contemporary times however, have found new ways of reviving and modernizing as it were obsolete Ghanaian art and fashion and today, live bands are beginning to take center stage once again at most events as against miming. Different bands have sprung up in recent times playing different genres of music. However, the dominant known to Ghanaians are those that play native Ghanaian songs.
Nonetheless, the increasing population necessitated by the continuous flow of foreigners into the country plus the springing up of international hotels and leisure centers that serve multi purposes call for the emergence of bands that play not only native songs but also songs of other origins i.e blues, classical, jazz just to mention but few. One band that is showing the way in this regard is the Cedi Clique band.
A group of young and talented individuals with a classical flair. Just as good at they do, it started out on the innovation of a young man, Gazton Kwakye who on April 7, 2016, same day as his birthday formed the group with the aim of providing Ghanaians with an alternative band. The young C.E.O speaks of the band as an inspiration from God as he started it with a zero budget. But what looked like a non-starter months ago is today one of the best classical bands in the country. The group has since its inception played at major hotels in Ghana including the Royal Senchi, Kempinski, Golden Tulip and La Villa Boutique Hotel in Osu, Accra.
They were spotted recently at the La Villa Hotel playing at the ‘’Cooking for charity’’ event, organized by the owner of the facility, Nii Amaa Ollennu, who doubles as Vice President of the Italian Business Association of Ghana. The programme which was organized primarily for Italian business men and women in the country sought to raise funds for the New Horizon School in Cantonment and Me We Don Bosco Children Village in Ashaiman. It saw in attendance the Italian Ambassador to Ghana, Mexican Ambassador and a host of other important dignitaries from the business circles.
Mr. Olenu was full of praise for the Cedi Clique band as he described them as the best he has ever worked with.
Source: Priscilla Dwirentwiwaa Asiedu
