Day: May 13, 2024

It was all smiles as celebrated Ghanaian actress Jackie Appiah met up with Prince Harry and Meghan Markle, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, who were on a 3-day trip to Nigeria.

The meeting took place at the esteemed Delborough Hotel in Lagos, Nigeria, where the trio was captured in a video engaging in warm conversations, their faces lit up with joyous smiles.

Jackie Appiah took to her Instagram to express the honour she felt meeting the couple.

“Royalty called, and I answered!!! A day out with Prince Harry and Megan Markel; Duke and Duchess of Sussex,” she penned in one post.

In a follow-up post, she added, “It was an honour to meet the Duke and Duchess of Sussex in Lagos, Nigeria, over the weekend. They are incredibly lovely people.”

Her post was met with well-wishes from colleagues, fans and followers who were full of admiration for her.

Source: Ghana Web

Popular Ghanaian comedian Foster Romanus has stated that the comedy industry would greatly benefit from the establishment of more venues in the country.

Speaking exclusively to GhanaWeb Entertainment on May 12, 2024, he pointed out that the scarcity of performance venues in regions outside Accra is a significant challenge facing comedians in Ghana.

He suggested that more such structures would benefit not only comedians by increasing their audience base but also the country’s economic and cultural landscape.

‘We need venues, a lot of venues. Elsewhere, when a comedian is done with a special, he tours to other parts of the country because people must know him.

‘But here, outside Accra, which has the National Theatre, you don’t really make much because you don’t have halls to put your shows.

‘But if we have such venues outside Accra, you can tour the whole country and get the numbers,’ he said.

Sharing his insights on the current state and potential growth of the comedy industry in Ghana, Foster Romanus st
ated that comedy in Ghana is promising as more comedians from other parts of the country are showing up and making waves in their respective regions.

‘There is a bright future, there are comedians outside Accra putting up their own shows and getting their names known, so the future of comedy is very bright,’ he said.

Foster Romanus said this at the 25th TGMA Xperience at Cape Coast, which saw a host of artistes, including Stonebwoy, Black Sherif, Kofi Kinaata, and Adina, show up to entertain Cape Coast residents.

The event, which took place at the Robert Mensah Stadium in Cape Coast on May 11, 2024, set the stage for an unforgettable awards event .set for July 1, 2024.

Source: Ghana Web

It’s the Ghana Music Awards season once again! And while music fans argue about who deserves to win what, the 6th Xperience Concert came in full swing. This time, at Cape Coast.

For those coming from other regions, particularly Accra to Cape Coast, one had to deal with the usual, boring, long journey to the venue, except if you’re taking the trip with an energetic group of people. With that, arguing about the entertainment industry and everything wrong with it while old-school tracks blast away in the background can make four hours feel like two.

But the major thing one notices is the shift in aura upon arrival at Cape Coast; the place is just chill. The weather is so much cooler than in Accra. The people too! With the usual hustle and bustle of the city gone, one can just slow down and take in the air.

Thus, it was easy to smell the anticipation in the air, especially close to the venue. TGMA paraphernalia could be spotted everywhere, as well as sponsor banners. Radio stations kept talking about the Xperi
ence Concert coming up later in the night, and you could see vendors quickly setting up in anticipation of brisk sales. It was evident that something was up. May 11, 2024, was about to get exciting.

But the event was marred when the weather shifted, and the downpour began at 8 pm, right at the time the concert was about to commence. Revellers and organizers had to wait with bated breath as the clouds did their best to empty themselves.

As of 10 pm, the rain let up, and the organizers went back to full swing, cleaning up and resetting equipment.

The shocking thing, however, was that the revellers came back in full force. The rain was not going to dampen their experience.

It was an energetic moment as Andy Dosty and Foster Romanus kept the audience gingered while the artistes geared up.

At 1 am, the show went into full gear. Young artistes based in Cape Coast got the chance on the grand stage to showcase their works and talents.

This was followed by the nominees for the Unsung Artist of the Year category,
which saw promising young acts including Keeny Ice, Kasar, Lali X Lola, Seven Kizs, Alaptawan, and Kwesi Amewuga show up to show what they were capable of.

The ever-dazzling Adina was the starting dish for the main course, treating the audience to her best hits.

She was followed by Nacee, who paid a touching tribute to the late Gospel musician KODA before inspiring the audience with his songs, climaxing it with the iconic ‘Aseda.’

Guru banged his way next on stage with the audience rapping along to his banger hits. He later announced his UG SRC presidential ambition.

Following that was the ever-popular King Paluta, who obviously had a massive following in Cape Coast, with the audience singing his recent hit ‘Aseda’ without him even saying a single word.

Ejisu-based rapper/singer Amerado came to prove that he is still a rap king, going on a breath-taking freestyle.

As the climax built up and the tempo increased, the ever-talented Kofi Kinaata popped up. One could not help but sing along with his unforget
table lyrics as he showed why he remains a top songwriter in this current dispensation.

It was 5 am, but the crowd was yet to relent; the moment they’d been waiting for was here.

The iconic Dancehall/Reggae sensation was here, Stonebwoy brought the audience to its feverish pitch as he came on stage with his hit ‘Bhim Nation.’

He thrilled them with a dozen other hits, including a Mother’s Day song for the ladies in the audience.

For those who waited in the cold, risked their belongings, and pressed against other sweaty bodies in a crowded stadium, Stonebwoy’s (among others’) performance was a much-needed orgasmic experience for the entertainment-starved region and a testament to the influence and reach of these artists, no matter how far away.

In all, despite the wet hurdles, the 25th TGMA Xperience Concert was a well-organized event, showing why Charterhouse, with its team of hundreds, is still an icon in the event-organising industry in Ghana.

Source: Ghana Web

The remix video of Camidoh’s global hit song ‘Sugarcane’, which featured Mayorkun, King Promise, and Darkoo, has become the most viewed Ghanaian music video on YouTube.

Currently hovering around 97,621,923 views and still counting, the ‘Sugarcane’ remix officially surpassed Sarkodie’s ‘Adonai’, which featured Castro, on Friday, May 10, 2024, to become the most viewed Ghanaian music video on the streaming platform.

Uploaded in June 2014, ‘Adonai’ was the most viewed Ghanaian music video for the better part of the last 9 years. ‘Adonai’ currently has 97,467,814 views and is still counting.

The remix of ‘Sugarcane’ was uploaded to YouTube on June 7, 2022, and thus took under two years to achieve the feat of becoming the most viewed Ghanaian music video.

The song, which was released after the original version, has become a global hit and has gone on to win several awards over the period.

Source: Ghana Web

Behind every move, there’s a narrative of passion, perseverance, and unexpected twists. Champion Rolie, a rising star in the dance community, embodies this narrative with his journey from aspiring footballer to accomplished dancer.

Champion Rolie’s journey began at Winneba Senior High School, where he harboured dreams of becoming a footballer. Like many young athletes, his aspirations were fueled by the thrill of the game and the promise of a future on the field.

However, fate had a different plan in store. Despite his dedication and ambitions, the path to football stardom seemed increasingly elusive.

‘I wanted to be a footballer but it didn’t work,’ Champion Rolie said in an interview on The Delay Show, on Saturday. ‘I was supposed to go for trials somewhere but my father objected to the idea because he wanted me to study. It got to a point where it felt like the football dream was not going to happen.’

Champion Rolie pursued his studies in Communication Design, with a specialization in Advertising, at t
he university level. Yet, amidst the pages of textbooks and lectures, the rhythm of dance called out to him. It was a passion ignited by the sight of others moving to the music.

‘The passion moved from football to dance. I felt excited when I saw people dance,’ the 24-year-old said.

Balancing his academic pursuits with his growing love for dance, Champion Rolie made the courageous decision to pursue his passion, seeking out opportunities to refine his skills. It was during this time that he encountered DWP (Dance With Purpose), a renowned dance collective where he found a community that nurtured his talent and fueled his ambition.

However, amidst rehearsals and performances, Champion Rolie remained mindful of his father’s expectations. His father’s commitment to education and discipline served as a guiding force in Champion’s life.

‘My father became aware of my dance career when I told him I wanted to join DWP. Mostly, I was free on Saturdays so I told him I’d want to go for a dance class. He agreed but c
autioned me to take my books seriously,’ said Champion Rolie.

He continued: ‘My dad is such that every evening, he wants to see me at a particular spot reading my books. Once I flout that, he gets angry. His educational background is not that good, so, he aims at pushing his children to further their education. He’s a photographer, my mother is a trader. I’m the second of three children.’

Yet, it was during an important outreach event with the Champion Rolie Foundation that the true depth of his father’s pride was revealed. In a rare display of emotion, his father expressed words of admiration and pride, a gesture that resonated deeply with Champion Rolie.

His father’s words, he said, were a revelation, and a validation of his journey.

‘During my first outreach in December, my father accompanied me,’ Champion Rolie recalled. ‘He sat there and stared at me for so long. There was a time he said he was proud of me and I was emotional because he is very shy… When he told me he was proud of me, I was like ‘Wow
‘.

‘He is the type that would never compliment you. So, it really meant a lot to me. It was amazing. It was one of the best things I’d heard from him in a long time.’

Source: Ghana Web

Kumawood actor, LilWin, has issued a warning that he will pursue legal action against any film critic or blogger who disparages his film, “A Country Called Ghana”, without actually viewing it.

He stated that only those who have watched the film and are knowledgeable about its content should offer critiques, mentioning that he has informed the IGP of his plans to take legal steps against any critic who fails to visit the cinemas to see it.

LilWin also specified that, except for Mr. Logic and Kwadwo Sheldon who are prohibited from viewing his film, it is open for all other industry participants to watch upon its nationwide premiere.

“I invite everyone to watch my movie. I can confidently say that no one who sees it will doubt its quality. Excluding Mr Logic and Kwadwo Sheldon, who are restricted from viewing my film, I encourage all stakeholders to be involved.

“Yet, if any pundit or blogger critiques my movie without watching it, I will make sure they face legal consequences and I have informed the IGP abo
ut it,” he stated during a discussion on UTV’s United Showbiz.

He added, “I’m unfazed by criticism of my movie. If a thousand people see it, I assure you none will find it subpar. Regarding Kwadwo Sheldon, when I invited the Nigerians, he mocked them as avengers. I had to clarify that I wasn’t responsible for that. He critiques music but has never critiqued my music or any of my films. So, why target ‘A Country Called Ghana?.”

LilWin’s much-talked-about movie will be showing at different venues across the country from May 25 to June 1, 2024.

Source: Ghana Web

Renowned gospel artiste, Philipa Baafi, has voiced her concern over the inadequate compensation gospel musicians receive after event performances.

In a conversation with DJ Toxic on Neat FM’s “My Praise,” she pointed out that gospel artistes often do not receive the financial care and recognition they deserve for their performances.

Philipa Baafi mentioned that the lack of financial incentives has led to a decline in gospel music, with many gifted artistes abandoning the genre.

She recounted an episode where an instrumentalist confronted a musician over non-payment post-performance, highlighting the financial struggles within the industry.

Philipa Baafi expressed her dismay at this ongoing issue, noting that event organizers frequently exploit gospel musicians by failing to remunerate them fairly.

She disclosed that many musicians who began their careers in gospel music have shifted to secular genres due to insufficient support.

“Many secular musicians started in the church but left because they were no
t properly supported,” Philipa Baafi revealed.

She emphasized that despite the significant investment gospel musicians put into their craft, they often receive minimal returns, as their work is perceived as a service to God.

She attributed the financial hardships faced by aging musicians, which sometimes lead to public appeals for assistance, to the inadequate funding in the industry.

Source: Ghana Web