SAMINI FLOORS SHATTA WALE AT GUINNESS ERUPTION CONCERT

Rising music sensation, Shatta Wale left many of his fans livid after he failed to live up to the challenge of the durable Samini at the Guinness Eruption Concert Saturday night at the Accra Sports Stadium.

Recent developments between the two dancehall musicians had turned the high energy event meant to outdoor Guinness’ new packaging into an unvoiced Dancehall "Who is Who" on the local front, and when it mattered most, it was Samini who, like old wine, tasted better.

The two were the last two performing acts on the night that also featured the silky-voiced Akon, Big Sean, Wande Coal, EL and a couple others, with the period preceding their performances witnessing Shatta’s fans out-shouting their ‘opponents’ in response to MC, Bola Ray’s calls for who the fans wanted to see perform.

‘Shat-t-a Waleeee! !!’ they had responded, with some even suggesting Samini should be side-lined for the night.

But when he mounted the stage, Samini was his masterful self, blending and transiting his acts through one music genre after another - highlife, reggae, rap, hip-hop and all. He deliberately taunted his compatriot, sending Wale messages to bide his time, show respect, focus on himself and measure his competition.

And he had an enterprising stagecraft, as usual, to boot as he wriggled his way through songs like Time Bomb, Linda, Sweet Mistake, Where My Baby Dey, Body Flame, Odo, Gyae Shi and Adult Music.

When it was time for Shatta to take the stage, he did it with a big bang, choosing to be ‘forklifted’ from among the stands onto the stage while riposting “we’re nat fear them”, responding directly to Samini’s taunts in a manner that forebode some unease.

He proceeded to sermonise about how he is not going to walk in anyone’s shadow; why he has no beef with anyone, and while he loves all and prays God’s blessings on all who love him, it is bumbaclot for all haters. He even enlisted his fans to repeat the ‘curse’, setting the stage for what was to be a fierce performance to outdo Samini.

That expectation was never met, for Shatta spent too much time responding to Samini's taunts, which also followed somewhat a delayed appearance, and by the time he started playing game, many were exiting the stands, disappointment engraved on their foreheads.

But the faithful stuck with him – singing and jumping along – with some proposing he would be better off focusing on his career than taking on Samini, whose live band style performances always endear him to any occasion.