Not even a heavy downpour that got most parts of the capital choked with wastewater, debris and thick traffic could stop Ghanaians from trooping to the Tang Palace Hotel in Accra to celebrate a music legend.
In their numbers, they defied painful hours in traffic to the venue on Wednesday to mark the 20th anniversary of – ‘Pae Mu Ka’ – one of the biggest albums to be released in Ghana. It basically changed and shaped the hiplife genre.
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To many, Obrafour’s epic 10-track (eight songs, an intro and outro) album laid the strong foundations for their careers and love for music.
These were the testimonies proclaimed by attendees at the launch of activities to mark the 20th anniversary of the life-changing album.
From the many who mounted the stage to speak, it was evident that their lives had been touched and changed by par excellence of an album.
Even Sam Okudzeto Ablakwa, then Vice President of the Scripture Union, was touched by the ‘Pae Mu Ka’ album.
Now a Member of Parliament for the North Tongu Constituency, he confessed that, “I was Vice President of the Scripture Union and so you know what we used to say at the time about hiplife music we thought it was ungodly and we should not associate but when ‘Pae Mu Ka’ was launched even for Chrifes (born again Christians) Scripture Union executives we could find solace in ‘Pae Mu Ka’.”
He highlighted and linked some verses in the album to the parables of Jesus Christ. He noted that “Obrafour has emerged as a towering figure in the entertainment industry…and he is such a standout.”
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Mr Ablakwa stressed that it was time to project Obrafour as “the quintessential role model that other artistes should look up to.”
The woman who inspired the ‘Pae Mu Ka @20’ celebration, Yvonne Nelson recounted how she decided to walk to school and not eat so she could save up enough money for a week just to buy the cassette.
“There was this day, I don’t know if you went to the studio, there was this studio in SSNIT Flats, and I saw you in a car passing and I was screaming your name…I love you so much…you inspired me so much…I love hip-hop and hiplife all because of you,” an emotional Yvonne Nelson said while sharing the stage with her idol, Obrafour.
Several artistes, including Sarkodie, M.anifest, D-Black, E.L and Pappy Kojo, who also spoke at the event, celebrated Obrafour for inspiring them to become what they are today.
They highlighted the key lessons they have learnt from the rapper, also known as the ‘Executioner’ or ‘Rap Sofo’, and thanked him for being a pillar to their careers.
The event witnessed intermittent performances from Obrafour, CY Lover, Sarkodie, M.anifest and others.
The launch, which was emceed by KOD, was attended key industry persons including Hammer of the Last Two, Abraham Ohene Gyan, Yaw Sakyi, Andy Dosty, Ashis and a host of others.
The ‘Pae Mu Ka @20’ celebration also saw the launch of the Obrafufuornti Foundation. Mr Ablakwa accepted to be on the Board of the foundation and donated GH¢10,000 for the cause.
