The year 2003 was a pivotal one for Ghanaian entertainment, marked by both triumphs and tragedies. Terry Bonchaka, a rising star in the Hiplife/Ragga/Dancehall genre, was known for his electrifying stage presence and innovative performances. One particular event, a concert featuring Nigerian comedic actors Aki & Pawpaw, became a focal point of Bonchaka’s career, showcasing his daring stagecraft and culminating in an extraordinary, almost unbelievable, anecdote. The concert, held at the National Theatre, was fraught with minor controversies surrounding Bonchaka’s performance, all of which contributed to the night’s dramatic narrative.
The first controversy arose a week prior, during a planned stage entrance for the launch of VIP’s “Ahomka Wom” album, also at the National Theatre. Bonchaka’s manager, Reagan Mends, typically assessed the crowd before each performance to ensure the appropriateness of the planned entrance. The sparse attendance at the VIP album launch prompted Mends to convince Bonchaka to postpone his dramatic descent from the theatre’s upper level for a more opportune moment – the Aki & Pawpaw concert, where a packed audience was guaranteed. This marked a rare instance of Bonchaka agreeing to alter his plans without protest.
On the night of the Aki & Pawpaw concert, the second controversy unfolded during soundcheck. Initially, Bonchaka intended to leap from the top floor onto the stage without safety equipment. However, veteran Highlife artist Slim Busterr, acting as a mentor, advised against such a risky move. A rope was suggested, but Mends expressed concerns about its reliability, given Bonchaka’s physique. Finally, they settled on using a long cloth. In a moment of resourcefulness, Mends realized that Bonchaka’s Adisadel College cloth was the perfect length and thus it became the chosen tool for the daring descent.
The third controversy arose just as the show began. Mends, having secured the cloth to the upper-level railing, intended for the house lights to be fully illuminated during the stunt. However, when Bonchaka’s name was announced, the lighting technician mistakenly plunged the theatre into darkness. Mends, in a fit of protective frustration over the potential disruption to Bonchaka’s carefully orchestrated entrance, physically confronted the technician, highlighting the lengths he would go to ensure a flawless performance.
With the lighting situation rectified, the fourth controversy emerged: Bonchaka’s elaborate costume, designed by Te_bilazuu, was not properly fastened. As the audience waited with bated breath, a frantic search for Mends ensued to fix the wardrobe malfunction. After a tense delay, Bonchaka, perched high above, shouted “Watch your back!!” before beginning his dramatic descent with the Adisadel College cloth. The audience, including the police officer on duty, erupted in a mixture of excitement and fear. Mends had previously emphasized the importance of a safe landing, more so than the performance itself, recognizing the inherent danger of the stunt. Against all odds, Bonchaka landed gracefully, as if he had practiced the maneuver countless times.
The fifth and final controversy, interwoven with the aftermath of the successful stunt, involved an unexpected display of affection and a subsequent disagreement over money. Overwhelmed with relief and joy, Mends impulsively kissed Bonchaka’s fiancée, who was standing nearby. Bonchaka then took the stage, performing crowd favorites like “Gbeebi Akley,” “Puulele,” and “Zoozey,” even incorporating a theatrical grinding of pepper into his act. The audience showered him with money, a testament to his captivating performance. While Bonchaka performed his final set, Mends collected the scattered cash, but a portion had already been scooped up by photographers. This led to a brief backstage argument, with Mends defending his decision to prioritize the smooth flow of the performance over immediately collecting the money.
Amidst this minor dispute, two sisters approached Bonchaka and Mends backstage. The elder sister praised Bonchaka’s performance and then shared a remarkable story. She claimed that her younger sister, who had experienced amenorrhea for four months, had unexpectedly begun menstruating again after witnessing Bonchaka’s daring descent. She attributed the physiological response to the anxiety and excitement of the stunt. Initially skeptical, Mends and Bonchaka listened as the sister insisted on showing them proof, even offering to reveal her sister’s stained underwear. Though Mends declined this offer, they exchanged numbers and a tentative plan for lunch the following day was made. Sadly, this plan would never materialize. Just months later, tragedy struck – Terry Bonchaka died in a car accident, marking a devastating loss for the Ghanaian music scene and bringing a premature end to a vibrant and promising career. The story of the woman’s renewed menstruation, while unverified, adds a layer of mystique to the already legendary tale of Bonchaka’s final performance at the National Theatre, forever intertwining his artistry with the unexpected and the unexplained.
