The National Theatre was filled to the rafters as music band Nkyinkyim stunned the audience with some breathtaking Highlife melodies. From the opening melody to the closing ode, the show fulfilled its promise to provide authentic and immersive Ghanaian music while celebrating living legends of the highlife genre, including Lucky Mensah and Naa Agyeman.
Lead singers of the band, backed by a choir, set the tone with soothing old gospel medleys from classics, including Daughters of Glorious Jesus, Nicholas Omane Acheampong, and Nacee.
The audience sang along to familiar tunes, creating an atmosphere of celebration and worship, during the introductory set.
Follow-up sessions saw the band perform their original compositions while paying tribute to departed public figures, including former First Lady Nana Konadu Agyeman Rawlings, Daddy Lumba, Daddy KD, and Apostle Kwadwo Sarfo. That was after composer and spoken word artist Kwame Brenya delivered his mesmerising and soulful piece titled “Eda Owuo Be Wu” (If Death Won’t Exist).
He was admired for his eloquence, command of the Akan language, and sense of humour embedded in the act.
Comedian Lexy De Comic added a dose of laughter with his witty commentary on a variety of topics while interacting with fans in the giveaway session.
Nkyinkyim Band dedicated a special set to 100 years of Ghanaian highlife music, diving into the repertoire of Dr Paa Bobo, G-Man, Lee Doudo, Daddy Lumba, and other top legends.
The fusion of old-school and new-school flavours reached a peak as the “Kwahu Bepo” crooner, Naa Agyeman, and the “Come Back” hitmaker, Lucky Mensah, had the youthful audiences singing along with enthusiasm.
A Terry Bonchaka look-alike and a team of young female dancers brought additional spark to Naa Agyeman’s set before Lucky Mensah got into his element with tunes such as “Bottom of My Heart”, “Loneliness,” Wote Akoma, “Nnongbo” and others.
The momentum continued with non-stop hiplife hits from the early 90s to the 2000s, culminating in the band’s catchy single “Ye nam Kwan So”. Seth Kpodo, a lead member of the NkyinKyim band, expressed gratitude for the massive turn out, promising to stage similar exciting shows in the future.“We have done this for four years and it can only get better…This year’s edition was amazing and we are grateful to everyone for giving us the much-needed energy.
“Highlife is alive and we will continue to celebrate it in grand style…there is more to celebrate in the years ahead. We thank all our sponsors, media partners and all the new and old members of the Nkyinkyim family,” he stated.
The fourth edition of the concert was themed; “The Evivi Edition – Ghana’s Rhythm, Our Legacy.” Nkyinkyim Band has, over the years, carved a niche with their dynamic and versatile performance of immersive Ghanaian music. The band’s original recording includes titles like “Where We Dey,” released in 2022, and “Ofie Kwanso”, released in 2024, all telling melodic African stories.
