Ghana’s buzzing beach music festival, Asabaako Music Festival returned the fun and excitement to the village of Busua this December after its debut earlier in March this year. Initially billed as a festival around Ghana’s Independence Day celebrations, the festival will henceforth be held annually during the Farmers’ Day celebrations weekend in December.

The second edition of Asabaako Music Festival, started Day 1 (Friday) on a hip-hop/hiplife tip with several up and coming rappers from within the Takoradi metropolis including Jae Bills, Scurry, Spooky, Ato Sela, Story Tym, Nero, Kofi Kinaata, Sketches and Yaa Pono from Accra. Emerging Ivorian hiphop act, Zepekenio also showcased his unique mix of coupe decale and hiphop.

Day 2 saw more of acoustic jazz and soul music, traditional music and highlife with a pinch of hiplife and alternative rap music. There was a performance from a local brass band earlier in the day which eventually gave way to a series of live highlife and reggae performances from the Rising International Band. The main performances on the night included Nigerian acoustic soul singer, Sistasoul, Lady J and A.R.T, Lil Shaker, Sankwas Bois, FOKN Bois (Wanlov and M3nsa) and others. There was also a spoken word performance by DK Osei.

Day 3 was mostly for DJ mixes and the evening saw a Jungle Party in the forest coast of the Busua Beach. Throughout the festival, there were eclectic mixes of music genres from Ghanaian and international DJs including Kobby Graham, Rita Ray, DJ Sanse, DJ T-Roy, B-Brave, Andy Stoner, DJ Shocka among others. Between these Disc Jockeys, Busua reverberated with hiplife, highlife, afrobeat, house, and electric music to other music genres; and no matter the genre, the people just danced away.  From the youngest Busua resident hoping to experience some excitement on the quiet beach, to the Accra resident looking for a perfect getaway from the chaotic city life, and the foreigner or expat looking to mingle with locals and unwind to the natures of a beautiful and simple  beach line, Asabaako Music Festival had something for everyone.

The beach was also packed with fun activities such as beach soccer, acrobatics, swimming, surfing, cheer singing, rap contests and dancing competitions. The popular Azonto dance seems to have travelled all the way to the coasts of the Western Region, as the young children of Busua and the adults alike showed off their azonto skills.

Certainly Asabaako Music Festival is growing and can only get better with more of such key sponsorships from Africa Cola and Geodrill. Asabaako! One Dance!