On the eve of Valentine’s Day, the University of Ghana campus is buzzing with anticipation for Telecel Ghana’s TurnUp, a star-powered music and dance experience set for tomorrow, Saturday, 14th February, to climax Akwaaba Week for freshers.
From the traditional halls to the diaspora blocks, the Legon campus has become a countdown clock as students seem eager for the high-energy music spectacle headlined by Black Sherif, KiDi, and Kweku Smoke.
“It feels like a resounding moment everyone is looking forward to. Black Sherif, KiDi and Kweku Smoke on one stage.
“The hype on campus is crazy because the headline artistes sell themselves already, and students are so excited that their favourites are lined up to perform. I can’t wait,” said Charles, a final year English and Psychology major at the university.
Black Sherif, armed with an arsenal of popular street anthems, is expected to bring his signature intensity to the Athletic Oval of the university.
KiDi, Ghana’s reigning ‘Sugar Daddy,’ is poised to dial up the Valentine’s romance with smooth vocals and crowd-favourite love jams, while Kweku Smoke, a Gen-Z street music firebrand, is ready to ignite the stage with his kind of raw performance steeze.
Exclusive to active Telecel users only, Director of Enterprise Business and Wholesale, Tawa Bolarin, said Telecel TurnUp is a celebration of the partnership with the university and students on the Telecel School SIM.
“Telecel TurnUp is our way of celebrating the strong partnership we share with universities and the thousands of students on the Telecel School SIM. We will give UG students VIP treatment with a world-class party experience and exciting giveaways from Telecel and our brand partners on the night,” Ms Bolarin said.
“We’ve taken this energy to KNUST and UENR in previous years; now it’s UG’s turn to feel the Telecel TurnUp experience. Next year could be your university in the spotlight.”
Telecel TurnUp’s brand partners, including Coca-Cola, Hotwav, Bel Beverage, iTel, Close Up, Didi Shito and Indomie, are activating device giveaways and product freebies to students on the grounds.
Beyond the headliners, anticipation is at fever pitch around the Telecel Next TurnUp Star challenge. The social-media-fuelled talent hunt has seen UG students flood Instagram and TikTok with dance and music entries, all vying for a shot at performing on stage with the top artistes and winning GH₵10,000.
Audience engagement with their video performance entries will determine the final four student performers who step into the spotlight before thousands of their peers to showcase their craft, with the top music and dance act winning the bragging rights and prize money.
For a third-year Political Science and English student, Theresa, tomorrow night is already circled in bold.
“Valentine’s Day on campus is special, but this one has got campus buzzing because of Blacko and Kweku Smoke’s performance on Saturday. They bring the student vibe and energy alive.
“Also, with the Next TurnUp Star, it makes students feel included because they get the opportunity to show their talent and win support. It means a lot to us,” she said.
The Telecel TurnUp experience stretches beyond the main stage.
Telecel’s two-day Cashless Bazaar is already drawing steady foot traffic, with students shopping and dining using Telecel Cash for all transactions.
Telecel Service Clinics are located across campus for SIM registration, swaps, and activations, ensuring no one is locked out of the Telecel-exclusive show.
Since its launch in 2021, Telecel TurnUp has grown into one of Ghana’s most anticipated campus music events, with previous editions lighting up the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology and the University of Energy and Natural Resources.
As the sun sets tomorrow over the Athletic Oval, all roads lead to Telecel TurnUp as it shapes up to be the most electric Valentine’s Day destination in Accra with a collision of chart-topping music performances, Gen-Z energy and campus culture. And if the mood on campus tonight is anything to go by, Legon is ready.
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