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EXCLUSIVE PICTURES: Fans and the Asaase Sound Clash – before, during and after

Both Stonebwoy and Shatta Wale would be nothing without their fans. We spoke to some of them on the sidelines of the Clash2CrushCOVID

The atmosphere on Saturday was electric as fans of both Stonebwoy (1GAD) and Shatta Wale (1DON) sat facing the stage at the Mövenpick Hotel in Accra, waiting for the biggest “lyrical battle” ever to hit the Ghanaian music stage: a face-off between Ghana’s top two dancehall greats, Shatta Wale and Stonebwoy.

The much-talked-about “clash”, the Clash2CrushCOVID, was about to go down.

The event, which was live-streamed across all Asaase social media platforms and on the Asaase Radio app, opened with a solid performance from MzVee. She went through a couple of her hit songs, including “Come and See My Moda”, which features the Nigerian artiste Yemi Alade.

Kamelyeon, another dancehall artist, locked horns with Ras Kuuku, VGMA Reggae/Dancehall Artist of the Year 2020, in an “undercard” battle to show who was more versatile lyrically. Their crowd-thrilling performances heightened the sense of excitement in the audience. The crowd jammed and swayed to the music, enjoying every minute.

Great expectations

Before the event, some animated patrons had spoken to Asaase Radio about who they were supporting and who they believed – Shatta Wale or Stonebwoy – would carry the day.

“I like Shatta, I like Stonebwoy, and all I want to say is this is a blessing. It happened ten years ago at Labadi Beach and it’s a blessing to have this happen again today after ten years,” said SheLuvStonebwoy, a Stonebwoy fan.

“I wish them all the best, but I want Abwoy, aka 1GAD, to win,” she confessed. “When it comes to music, we’ve killed Shatta – we’re now warring with his ghost. And you know, even though ghosts are ascribed certain supernatural powers, they don’t have as much dominion in the physical world.

“I wish them all the best and I love both of them, but my favourite is Stonebwoy,” she said.

Nii Noi, a Shatta fan, refuted this claim. “We came to support Shatta Wale,” he told the Asaase News correspondent. “This is the Shatta Movement and all we do is win. Already we have won the car, and so expect us to win the game.”

Jama’ing for Jamaica

Meanwhile, Stonebwoy fans wearing T-shirts and sweatshirts customised with the musician’s name and the “BHIM Nation” symbol also waved the BHIM Nation flag to show their allegiance to 1GAD fraternity.

Fans of Shatta Wale, of course, were not to be left out. They, too, came clad in “SM4LYLF” customised sweatshirts. They supported Shatta Wale with their “jama songs” – singing and chanting his name to show their support for him as well.

As the evening wore on, gradually ushering nearer the moment everyone had been waiting for, the host for the event – DJ Seani B – brought the roof down with reggae and dancehall tunes from across the Caribbean and Jamaica in particular. His set raised the temperature in the already charged auditorium.

Showdown at the Mövenpick

Soon it was time for the showdown. Representatives from the two camps were called on to toss a coin and set the battle in motion.

And then, amid cheers and enthusiastic chants from his fans and supporters, Shatta Wale opened the series with his “Ready or Not” banger.

Stonebwoy came in next with a freestyle rendition of his hit song “I’m a Hero” to throw jabs at Shatta Wale:

         We are go kill am today ee ee, we go kill am today ee ee.
         Dem a zero, Shatta Wale, you are zero.

Shatta Wale threw shade in turn, calling out Stonebwoy’s posse of guys onstage, calling them “dancers”.

Asaase Sound Clash: BHIM Nation at prayer

The auditorium pulsated with back-to-back music from both artists, 1GAD and 1DON. The rivalry between the two camps lit up the auditorium, with fans from either side chanting songs and accolades for their artiste.

Cars for votes

There was a car to be won for the highest voter in a text-in competition.

Naomi Nelson-Barnes, head of events and communications at Asaase Radio, speaking on The Asaase Breakfast Show the Wednesday after the Sound Clash (17 September), said that the marketing team had worked with the National Lottery Authority to tally the votes and that a winner would be announced that day.

The win would reflect one thing: the participant with the highest number of votes in the predict-and-win texting competition. That was who would receive the top prize of a brand new Mahindra, Nelson-Barnes said.

All’s well that ends well

The fans didn’t anticipate any less from two of Ghana’s finest acts than what they delivered on the night.

Shatta Wale and Stonebwoy brought their A-game to the event and rose to the occasion, showing the world their musical prowess, their dexterity with words, and cementing their place among music lovers in Ghana as two of the all-time greats. They delivered their best and then some.

The Asaase Sound Clash team engaged the services of law enforcers who ensured the safety of all contenders and patrons. The team was also sure to remind people at the event about COVID and the importance of wearing a face mask.

In the words of one patron, “Everything was fine. I like both of them and I think it’s a tie.”

See pictures and watch the recording of the live stream on all of Asaase Radio’s social media platforms as well as on www.asaaseradio.com. Download the Asaase Radio app for a great radio experience. You can watch the Sound Clash video link here.

Nana Abena Boakye-Boateng

* Asaase Radio 99.5 – tune in or log on to broadcasts online.
Follow us on Twitter: @asaaseradio995
#asaaseradio  #TVOL

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