On Saturday night, September 27, 2025, the Baba Yara Sports Stadium became the center of Ghana’s entertainment world.
Thousands of fans gathered for Sarkodie’s ‘Rapperholic: The Homecoming’, concert braving heavy downpours that soaked the pitch, equipment, and everything in between.
The drenched stage setup could have easily ended the night before it began, but instead, the rain became part of the story.
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Fans stood in hoodies, raincoats, and umbrellas, cheering louder each time the skies opened up.
By the end of the night, one question echoed across traditional media and new media: had Kumasi just witnessed its biggest concert yet?
Kumasi has seen big nights before
Sarkodie may have stolen the spotlight this year, but Kumasi has seen its share of headline concerts over the years.
Shatta Wale has had unforgettable moments at Baba Yara Sports Stadium. In 2016, he stormed the city with EIB Network’s Peace Concert.
In 2017, he returned for the Angel Group of Companies’ Adonko show, sharing the stage with Bisa Kdei, Ofori Amponsah, and others.
That 2017 concert was so massive that it led to controversy after the FDA fined the organizers when it emerged that minors had been served alcohol as entry tickets were tied to purchasing Adonko Bitters.
Other artistes have also tested Kumasi’s energy. Kuami Eugene brought his Rockstar Concert to the Baba Yara’s VIP car park in December 2018.
In 2023, Samini took his annual Samini Xperience from Accra to Kumasi, holding it at Ridge Condos forecourt on Christmas Eve.
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Gospel musicians have also had their moments: Diana Hamilton took her Awake Experience tour to Kumasi in 2023, and Esther Smith also staged a spirit-filled concert in 2024 at the Bantama Pentecost Church.
The hype around ‘Rapperholic: The Homecoming’
What made Rapperholic Homecoming stand out was the feverish anticipation that built up before the big night.
In the run-up to the concert, Kumasi came alive. Posters were everywhere; social media trended with rehearsal footage, content creators, influencers, and traditional media pushed the hype like it was an election campaign.
Sarkodie himself fueled the excitement by paying homage to the Asantehene Otumfuo Osei Tutu II and leading a citywide health walk.
A rain-soaked night of music
When the day finally arrived, which was September 27, 2025, the rain refused to stop. It poured from morning until evening, but that didn’t deter the fans.
By nightfall, thousands streamed into Baba Yara, filling the designated part of the stadium despite the weather.
The lineup for Rapperholic was stacked: Shatta Wale, Efya, Beeztrap, Obrafour, Asakaa Boys, Medikal, Kofi Kinaata, Lasmid and others joined Sarkodie on stage.
Together, they delivered a marathon of performances that turned the stormy night into one of Kumasi’s most unforgettable moments.
What sets Rapperholic apart
The difference between this and previous Kumasi concerts lies in ownership. Shatta Wale’s 2017 Adonko show filled the Baba Yara Stadium, but it was a branded event organized by a corporate sponsor.
Most gospel shows were staged in churches and auditoriums.
Rapperholic Homecoming was a flagship concert, an artiste-owned annual brand that dared to take on the challenge of Baba Yara and won.
So, was it the biggest?
The answer depends on perspective. In terms of attendance, Shatta Wale’s 2017 performance holds its place in history.
In terms of hype and impact, few concerts in Kumasi’s history compare to the buzz around Rapperholic Homecoming.
And in terms of legacy, it stands alone as the first time an artiste-owned annual show took over Kumasi under such conditions.
R A P P E R H O L I C for a reason #RapperholicHomecoming pic.twitter.com/qQpLbp1MY5
— Sarkodie (@sarkodie) September 29, 2025
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