Category: Arts & Culture

A batik textile art­ist, Mr. Edward Lamptey, has called for the establishment of a National Art Gallery to serve as a repository for Ghanaian art and artifacts to help preserve the country’s cultur­al heritage for future generations.

He stated that when estab­lished, the gallery could also pro­vide a platform for local artists to showcase their works to a wider audience, increasing their visibility and potential for success.

Mr. Lamptey made the call in an interview with the Ghanaian Times in Accra yesterday, June 9, 2023, on the side­lines of a visual arts exhibition at the Accra City Hotel in Accra.

The exhibition, which began last Thursday is expected to end on June 28, 2023.

The titles of some of Mr. Lamptey’s artworks displayed at the exhibition included “Afrobeat Celebration,” “Tie-dye,” “fishing expedition,” “Divine arrange­ment,” “Midnight Dance,” “Urban Village,” “Alone with music,” “Ancestral mask,” “Tribal mask” and Cultural Concept.”

According to Mr Lamptey, the gallery could also serve as a re­source for educational institutions and researchers offering access to a diverse collection of arts and artifacts for study and analysis.

The artist further stated that the presence of the arts centre in Accra alone was not enough and the environment was not conducive.

A universal studio where all art­ists in weaving, ceramics, sculp­ture and painting could showcase their works, he said, and this would also attract tourists leading to a massive generation of reve­nue for the country.

Touching on the aesthetic relevance of artworks, he said “Ghanaian artists are deeply connected to the country’s cul­ture, history, and identity so they always capture the beauty and complexity of whatever they are painting, ensuring it will stand out and contribute to the global art scene.”

Mr. Lamptey, who is also the founder of the Edrose Foun­dation and Art Gallery, located at Shiashie, Accra, said he had acquired much knowledge in vi­sual arts and was ready to impact it into people.

In furtherance, he dispelled ru­mours that individuals who study arts in school were not intelligent, saying arts needed critical think­ing, therefore only creative people could excel in that field.

He bemoaned that past and present governments had shown very low interest in investing heavily in arts “and this shows how much visual arts is underrat­ed in Ghana by authorities.”

The artist expressed gratitude to management of the Accra City Hotel for offering artists the opportunity to exhibit their artworks at their premises at no cost, every month.

Source: Ghana Web

Ghanaian actor and producer, Kwadwo Nkansah alias Lil Win, has shared details about the struggles faced by industry players in accessing locations for their shoots.

Speaking in an interview with Zion Felix, Lil Win detailed how an airline denied his production team the use of an airplane for a movie shoot, even after agreeing to pay a fee of $5,000.

“Let’s say you need the airport for a project. You will send letters and everything, but you will never be granted access. And when you are denied access and you compromise to shoot the movie, you will bitterly be criticized for not using the airport scene as it needed to be.”

“The reason why we were unable to feature the airport is that we even wanted to use an actual plane in the movie, and we were willing to pay. A fee of $3,000 was quoted for Kumasi and $5,000 for Accra. We were willing to pay, but the airline refused,” he shared.

According to the award-winning actor, movie producers are unfairly criticized for producing mediocre content, while they are compelled to improvise.

“I don’t understand it when the movie comes out and they criticize us that it is not nice. If we were given access to the plane, we would have landed it nicely in the movie. But we don’t get it; you want a police station for a shoot, you won’t be given; military uniform, you will not get it; you request access to a hospital for a shoot, and you are equally denied. Meanwhile, the story requires that you feature the hospital, airport, or police station to complete the story,” he bemoaned.

He added that the situation in Nigeria is not the same, as the country boasts a more supportive and enabling industry. More sadly, he emphasized that producers in Ghana are denied access even when they are willing to pay.

Players in the entertainment industry, mostly YouTubers, have been voicing their struggles in the industry following an altercation between popular skit maker Dr. Likee and security officers at the Achimota Mall.

The popular comedy skit maker was prevented from shooting a video at the mall on the grounds of not obtaining appropriate permission.

Several players in the industry, including Ghana’s biggest YouTuber, Wode Maya, have condemned the incident captured in a viral video.

“Is there any other continent apart from Africa that you need to ask for permission to shoot a video around a shopping mall, train station, airport, and so-called public areas? When I was based in China, I literally filmed everywhere, and sometimes you even get paid to film in such areas… This village mentality needs to stop in 2023!” he stated in a tweet.

“It’s about time content creators in Africa unite and speak against harassment while filming in public areas… The new digital media is here, and you all should get used to it,” he said in a subsequent post.

Source: Ghana Web

Ghana’s U23 national football team, the Black Meteors, are set to play Egypt’s U23 national team in a pre-tournament friendly match ahead of the U-23 Africa Cup of Nations, which will be hosted in Morocco.

As announced by the Ghana Football Association (GFA), Coach Ibrahim Tanko will leave with the team to continue preparations in Cairo on Monday where a series of matches will be played to keep the team in shape ahead of the competition.

The team is believed to have struck a deal to play a friendly match on Thursday which is expected to prepare both teams going into the tournament.

Having beaten Algeria in the final round of qualifiers, Egypt will be another opponent which provides the Black Meteors another opportunity to restrategize their plans to face Morocco, another Northern African side.

While Ghana are drawn in Group A with the hosts Morocco, Congo and Guinea, and Egypt who go into the tournament as defending champions will compete against Mali, Gabon, and Niger

The Black Meteors will aim to make a return to the Olympic Games by finishing in the first three of the tournament

Source: Ghana Web

Ghanaian amapiano young producer Beaticide has released his debut single, “I’m In Love” with Nigerian pop/RnB singer Jim Clifford. The single was recorded early January 2023 and features a dreamy vocal that glides through the harmonic landscape created by lounge-inspired Rhodes, accompanied by rich African drum sounds, log drums and pulsing synth bass and touches on Hopelessly Romantic Love.

The song is a sweet blend of amapiano tunes and Jim Clifford’s voice that communicates every hopeless romantic plea possible. A soft, cool-pitched rendition that evokes warm feelings and awakens the softest feelings of love. ‘I’m In Love’ speaks for young hopeless romantics as it is sung with the voice of a hopeless romantic, the statement said with crippling conviction, the joy and disbelief of being in love.

The lyrics are soft, inspiring, and provoke warm feelings which are perfectly paired with Jim Clifford’s voice. ‘I’m In Love’ production cuts are a testament to Beaticide’s willingness to implement his exposure to music, from drawing influence from highlife with the sporadic saxophone phrases on “Sirious Riddim” by Siribeatz to borrowing cool lounge chords for “For You” by Nina Ricchie, amongst others. It’s the type of amapiano you would cry to in a club as if you were saying a silent prayer.

Beaticide and Jim Clifford describe ‘I’m In Love’ as that song that puts emotions to words, on the beat it easily carries you away into a world where you wish to love and be loved just so that the melting voice and the mellow beat flow right into your soul.

The young talents state that “We believe in the transformative power of music, and we are privileged to share this creation with the world’. ‘I’m In Love’ Is out now on all music stores. Find and follow us on all social media platforms at @beaticide and @jimclifford_

Source: Ghana Web

Mark Kwesi Arthur, popularly known as DJ Azonto, has made a bold demand to the organisers of the Ghana Music Awards (GMA) USA, asking for a Lamborghini to take him to the red carpet.

The “Fa No Fom” hitmaker has been nominated for the New Artiste of the Year category for the GMA USA awards night scheduled for August 26, 2023, in Columbus, Ohio, USA.

DJ Azonto said in a recent interview: “Shout out to the organisers of the award; they are trying to prove stubborn, but let me send this message to them on air. If I am going to be at the event, I need to be treated well, and a Lamborghini is the only way to show that.”

The Ghana Music Awards USA is among the most prestigious music awards celebrating Ghanaian talents in and outside the country and is held annually to recognise the best artistes in Ghanaian entertainment industry.

DJ Azonto is set to perform at the music event in August alongside some big names in the music industry.

The organisers of the awards have yet to respond to DJ Azonto’s demand, but the request of the Amapiano sensation has already created a buzz on social media.

After his controversial outfit at this year’s VGMAs, all eyes would be on DJ Azonto at this year’s Ghana Music Awards USA ceremony as netizens anticipate his entry.

With numerous awards to his credit, DJ Azonto has once again been nominated at this year’s Global Music Awards South Africa, Ghana Entertainment Awards USA and Ghana Music Awards Europe, among others.

Source: Ghana Web

Sunyani-born, Canada-based Afrobeats sensation Cobbi Kay has released his highly anticipated “Aboki Pandemic” single.

The song which has been enjoying social media anticipation for some time now introduces a new dance to the world.

With its pulsating rhythm, infectious melodies, and fusion of a diverse range of sounds, the track is danceable and would thrill Afrobeats music lovers.

With inspiration from all over the continent, “Aboki Pandemic” seamlessly blends traditional and contemporary musical elements to create a captivating sonic experience.

Not only does the lyrics of the song celebrate the joy of movement, but at its heart lies a unique baseline that drives the rhythm and sets the dance floor ablaze.

This distinctive groove, combined with the lively energy of the song, compels listeners to unleash their inner dancer and join in on the infectious new dance craze.

Whether you’re a seasoned dancer or someone who simply enjoys moving to the rhythm, “Aboki Pandemic” is a song that will captivate your senses and ignite your desire to groove, and Cobbi, who is signed to the W1 label, demonstrated his vocal prowess on this song.

Source: Ghana Web