KSM listens and that may be the reason why he went all out to demonstrate his talent in a replay of Afia Siriboe, his latest one-man (or is it one-woman) theatre performance last Friday.
The first run of Afia Siriboe last December had not gone too well and many of his loyal fans in the audience were quite disappointed because the performance was not vintage KSM. This time it was . . . . . and more.
Being the only person who is able to fill every available space at the National Theatre with his performances, KSM could not have chosen a better date than the love-filled Valentine’s Day.
All those who made it to this spectacular performance dubbed How Deep Is Your Love had their money’s worth plus more.
Every bit of the night Afia shared with her audience was full of fun, excitement and unstoppable laughter. As for the issues she discussed they ranged from the meaning of Valentine, romance of yesteryear to that of today, typical characteristics of married men to the mobile phone system in Ghana and how it helps people to tell lies.
Afia Siriboe herself was indeed a complete woman. She first appeared in a nice red alata combined with gold and a pair of red sandals to match, plus a golden weave-on which she kept flipping. This did well to enhance her characterisation.
Her make-up was good and the audience could hardly hold back their laughter when Afia returned after the intermission in her rather yo-yo outfit. Here he, oops, she was in a short jeans skirt and brightly coloured top with a pair of stockings and a pair of red sandals. She was really looking chic and probably succeeded in sweeping some men in the audience off their feet.
Some highlights of the evening were when Afia treated her audience to some good old school music comparing them to today’s hiplife. She said that young people now have a kind of romance that is confrontational.
Her rendition of an ideal version of Kontihene’s Akatasia was superb, little wonder it drew deafening and an unending applause.
For single young women who are dating married men, especially those who have been given the impression that their men have problems with their wives and heading towards divorce courts, Afia’s message is “men love their wives, they will not leave them, their wives are just like their mothers to whom they will return after “fooling” around.”
Then there was the bit about the extent to which some Ghanaians go to survive abroad, even if they have to make it at zoos.
For those who did not know, research conducted by Afia Siriboe revealed that Fanti men are most romantic, Ewe men are the “real” men, Akwapim men are gentle and seductive and Ga men are the most direct (they do not have time to “con” a woman but go straight ahead to ask for what they want.”
The research based on interviews with women also had it that Akyem men are flirts, Dagomba men do not cheat (of course they don’t have to since they can marry as many as they want), Ashanti men are the most domineering but only when their spouses are not Ashantis and Kwahu men are the most unromantic.
Afia Siriboe had an amazing collection of love letters to wrap up the very extensive performance, supposed to have been written by prominent people like His Excellency John Agyekum Kufour, Pastor Mensa Otabil, Kwesi Pratt and Hon. Jake Obetsebi Lamptey. Raps were what!
Afia did not keep the stage to himself but shared it with the likes of K. K. Fosu, Sony Achiba and Toni Manieson who all of who made good impression with their performances. MC Kwaku Afrifa was simply impressive.
Thumbs up to the set designer Sam Essel for the beautiful set with love and Valentine all over (Afia had use for every part of the stage) and make-up artiste Vanessa Mixon for a job well done. Definitely the Sapphire crew and their colleagues at the National Theatre set out to give people a good show.
For those who are fond of going all the way to the National Theatre to see KSM’s shows without advance tickets, too bad. Many people had to just hang outside and leave eventually.
KSM returns as Master Sgt Lasisi on March 6 at the same venue in what he calls Take Cover.
All those who made it to this spectacular performance dubbed How Deep Is Your Love had their money’s worth plus more.