Category: Entertainment

Epixode, the 2021 VGMA Reggae/Dancehall Artiste of the Year, has offered insights into the current state of dancehall music in Ghana, asserting that the genre has evolved rather than diminished as some critics have suggested. The acclaimed artist shared his views on the changes and developments in the dancehall scene in Ghana.

According to Ghana News Agency, in a recent interview with GNA Entertainment, the music landscape in Ghana has undergone significant changes, especially in the realm of dancehall music. He noted that, contrary to some opinions, the original dancehall genre has not faded away but has instead seen a fusion with Afrobeats, a trend that many Ghanaian artists are currently exploring.

“We should understand that genres will always be with us, but they will evolve as time goes on,” Epixode said. He emphasized Ghana’s role as a pivotal force in the African dancehall scene, acknowledging the shift in focus towards Afrobeats in recent years. He described the current trend as a fusion of Dancehall and Afrobeats, acknowledging that pure dancehall vibes are rarer now compared to five years ago. However, he firmly believes that dancehall music remains a vibrant and essential part of the Ghanaian music landscape.

Epixode also shared his personal artistic journey, explaining his decision to drift slightly from hardcore dancehall music. His exploration of indigenous Ghanaian sounds, particularly Highlife, reflects his growth as a musician. Despite this exploration, he assured fans that his music would continue to have elements of dancehall. He teased his upcoming single as a prime example of this blend, promising his fans something exciting and innovative.

Accra: Forty students from the Ashanti Region have recently been awarded scholarships by the AngloGold – Obuasi Community Trust Fund. These students hail from four districts: Obuasi Municipal, Obuasi East, Amansie Central, and Adansi North. In total, the Trust Fund has disbursed GHS320,000.00 to support the educational endeavors of these students, raising the number of beneficiaries from the Tertiary Education Grant Scheme to 160 since the 2019/2020 academic year.

According to Ghana News Agency , a Director of the Fund, during a ceremony where the scholarships were presented, the recipients were chosen not only for their academic prowess but also for their unwavering commitment to their communities and a zeal for learning. Mr. Adansi-Bonah emphasized that these 40 students exemplified tremendous dedication and the potential for academic success, even those hailing from underprivileged backgrounds. Furthermore, Mr. Adansi-Bonah, who concurrently serves as the Chief Executive for the Obuasi Municipal Assembly, highlighted that the central aim of the fund is to uplift the people of Obuasi by investing in education and human capital development to diversify the region’s economy.

Addressing the symbiotic relationship, he articulated the need for heightened cooperation between AngloGold Ashanti and the Obuasi populace. He emphasized that for the Fund to prosper, AngloGold Ashanti must be provided with a favorable operational environment. He also disclosed an upcoming collaboration between the City of Essen in Germany’s North Rhine Westphalia Region and the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST-Obuasi campus). This partnership will foster an exchange program enabling students from both universities to gain comprehensive insights and experiences in their respective fields of study across both nations.

Speaking on behalf of AngloGold Ashanti, Mr. Yaw Biritwum Opoku, the Monitoring and Evaluation Specialist of AngloGold Ashanti Obuasi Mine, highlighted that the Trust Fund’s Tertiary Education Grant has facilitated numerous deserving students from Obuasi communities to embark on their tertiary academic pursuits. Mr. Opoku stated that this initiative has substantially increased access to higher education while also reducing the dropout rates transitioning from senior high school to tertiary institutions in the AngloGold Ashanti host communities. He further encouraged the beneficiaries to harness the advantages provided by the grant, aiming to contribute positively and shape a legacy marked by excellence and resilience.

Nana Barimansu Antwi Kwanin II, Fomena Benkumhene, representing Adansihene, lauded the AngloGold Ashanti- Obuasi Trust Fund’s commitment to youth empowerment in Obuasi through their Educational Grant Scheme. In closing, he recommended that the Fund’s management implement a system to continuously monitor the academic trajectory and behavior of beneficiaries to ensure the scholarship program’s longevity and success.

Ghanaian music producer, Roland Ackah, popularly known as ‘Buddy RoRo’ has claimed that celebrities who attended the Occupy Julorbi House protest only went to share jokes at the event.

The beatmaker said from what he witnessed on social media about the recent demonstration, no government will take the celebrities seriously.

He revealed this during an interview on Property FM, “The way they went about doing their things I’m not sure the government will not even take them seriously because some went there to joke.

“They are not really fighting for the whole industry and if you observe the recent demo, most of the artistes that went there seemed as though they were joking.

“From the look of things, they went there to share jokes and so that’s how I see it. like they went there to have fun,” RoRo told Amansan Krakye in an interview sighted by MyNewsGh.com

One can recall that several Ghanaian celebrities including Ghanaian disc jockey, DJ Azonto, said celebrities who attended the protest are broke and have nothing to do with their lives.

Source: Ghana Web

Controversial musician and political activist, Kwame A Plus has lambasted the Deputy Communication Director of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Ernest Owusu Bempah for being the mastermind behind the invasion of UTV.

He noted that he was part and parcel of the campaign team for President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo during the 2016 general elections and invested financially in the bid to ensure NPP won power.

The political activist questioned the commitment of Ernest Owusu Bempah to the NPP and stated that he was nowhere to be found when they were campaigning vigorously for President Akufo-Addo in 2016 hence he is not more loyal to the party than him.

Speaking as a panelist on the UnitedShowbiz Program which GhanaWeb monitored on Saturday, October 7, 2023, Kwame A Plus lamented the recent attacks on the media and chided Ernest Owusu Bempah for his alleged involvement in the thug’s invasion of UTV.

“When I was with Akufo-Addo touring with him [for campaigning] where were you by then? How much did you invest in the campaign?” he quizzed.

“Everybody is afraid in this country, why? Owusu Bempah, when the late Jerry John Rawlings was president we were musicians, where were you? When it happens like this it affects the whole NPP as a party. Are Justin Kodua, Nana B, and Stephen Ntim, not NPP members? Have they sent somebody here?

“So we cannot attack the whole NPP because of one idiot. During the 2016 campaign before Akufo-Addo became president, I went to Asawase with my boys to campaign against Muntaka [Mohammed] during the parliamentary elections, where were you then?” pained Kwame A Plus fumed.

He made the remarks after alleged thugs affiliated with the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP) stormed the studios of UTV and abruptly halted the live broadcast of United Showbiz.

TWI NEWS

Approximately seven minutes into the show, which was broadcast live on GhanaWeb, voices of agitation could be heard in the background as host Mzgee introduced the program.

The evident confusion on the host’s face was followed by an extended break in production before the program was eventually taken off the air.

Numerous reports that emerged after the sudden interruption of the production suggested that the show was disrupted by a group of men who entered the studios with hostile intentions.

According to the reports, the agitated individuals had entered the studio with the apparent aim of confronting Kwame A Plus, who is a regular panel member on the show.

Subsequent videos shared on social media depicted a chaotic scene within the UTV studio, with several men calling out for A Plus.

“We are waiting for A Plus today… A Plus has to explain to us why he tore our paper from the NPP party. We are here, we are waiting for A Plus. We are protecting our party property,” one of the men is heard shouting in the studio.

Source: Ghana Web

Dancehall artiste Shatta Wale went home smiling after winning awards for the Artiste of the Year and the Reggae/Dancehall artiste of the Year at the just ended Ghana Music Awards UK 2023 which was held in London on October 7.

But more spectacular was Shatta’s performance at the event. Shatta Wale, who is known for his eye-catching performances, brought the audience to their feet as he made his entrance by descending on a platform from the roof.

Clad in a black shirt and glittered trousers, Shatta Wale then trilled the audience to a number of his hit songs including “On God”, which was nominated for the Popular Song of the Year at the awards.

Source: Ghana Web

Nollywood actor and filmmaker Yul Edochie has voiced displeasure over the rise in con artists.

The actor who recently unveiled his new business with his second wife, Judy Austin has warned his fans about scammers posing as him.

Yul Edochie sent a warning to his followers, asking them not to sign any contracts with his company until they had a lengthy video conference with him or met him in person.

The father of five asserts that other individuals have already posted job openings using his company name on Facebook.

He wrote: “Before sealing any deal with Isi Mmili Global LTD, ensure you have a physical meeting or an extensive video call with the MD, Yul Edochie. Beware of fraudsters. Now now, boys don use my company name dey set job for Facebook.

Na wa”.

Recall that the pair announced the opening of Isi Mmili Company, a real estate firm that specializes in contracts, supplies, real estate, and the purchase and sale of homes and other properties, among other things.

Yul and Judy came under heavy criticism following the unveiling of the business because he launched his business a few days after his first wife May Edochie had also launched her business.

Source: Ghana Web

The Chiefs and people of the Northern Region have celebrated Damba, which is an annual festival to commemorate the birth of Prophet Muhammad.

The festival is simultaneously celebrated by the people of Dagbon in the Northern Region, the people of the Upper West, North East, and Savannah Regions.

The Chiefs and people in the Tamale Metropolis, who celebrated the festival, were dressed in well patterned traditional smocks in groups drawn from various communities and danced to songs played from drums and other musical instruments with various dance groups taking centre stage in turns, and a team of warriors displaying in musketry.

The Chiefs, who graced this year’s celebration, were the Kumbungu-Naa, Lamashegu-Naa, Dakpema-Naa and Sakasaka-Naa, who converged at the Jubilee Park in Tamale to commemorate the occasion.

The Chiefs who dressed in their tittle regalia and accompanied by team of warriors and other title Chiefs to the festival grounds also had some women from the various towns and communities singing appellations to them.

Dakpema-Naa Bawa Fuseini, who addressed the celebrants, called on the youth to be law abiding and avoid riding or driving recklessly on the streets of Tamale to avoid crashes.

He advised the people of Dagbon living outside home to take advantage of the tourism element in the festival to invite their friends to visit, whenever it is time to celebrate Damba and other festivals.

The Dakpema Naa noted that festivals were critical part of the people of Dagbon who held such occasions in high esteem, and advised Dagbon citizens to take activities around their traditions seriously.

He further advised the youth to avoid using illicit drugs, and said it was not only harmful to the body, it also misdirected them on how to live good and socially acceptable life.

Source: Ghana News Agency

The Washington DC, Maryland and Virginia (DMV) Chapter of the African Diaspora Development Institute (ADDI) held an inaugural two-day event that included a Men’s and Women’s Empowerment Seminar, an Afro Royalty Gala & Cultural Dance, and an Afro-United Concert featuring both local and foreign Afrobeats performers on the campus of Howard University.

The festival aimed at creating a framework that would help Black people in the DMV region establish or expand enterprises that will compete equally in the social and economic space. Event organizers aim to take the festival international by encouraging chapters to organize it in their various respective foreign locations according to TheAfricanDream.co, one of the event’s media partners.

ADDI was founded in the Washington DC Metro region; despite being registered in Tennessee. Her Excellency (H.E) Ambassador Arikana Chihombori Quao had the concept for the ADDI after she was relieved of her position as the African Union’s Ambassador to the US in November 2019.

To signify its historic milestone, the festival was held at the Armour J. Blackburn Center of Howard University in Washington, DC – one of the country’s oldest historically Black colleges and institutions, from September 28 to 29, 2023.

In a statement to TheAfricanDream.net in September, Ambassador Chihombori Quao stated that she saw it as her calling to continue to advocate for the “wokeness” of all black people around the globe. She considers ADDI as a “bridge between the African Diaspora and Africa. This vision was born out of the realization that the exodus of Africa’s children from slave trade to more recent immigrants has resulted in Afro Descents losing the much-needed connection to their heritage”.

A soft launching of all other ADDI Chapters also took place during the two-day event culminating into the Arikana Excellence Awards Ceremony. The awards part of the event acknowledged individuals who have shown exceptional commitment and lasting difference in the organization. It also highlighted some individuals’ personal achievements that served as an inspiration to others.

The Men’s Empowerment Seminar was held under the theme “Empowering the Global African Community: Bridging Continents for Economic Prosperity”, it was moderated by Kelvin Williams, CEO of NuHollywood and owner of Columbia School of Broadcasting.

Speakers at the event included: Alexander Cummings, Liberian Presidential Candidate and Former Coca-Cola Africa Senior Executive; Kemuel Van Der Puije, COO, Voice of Africa; Kadmiel Van Der Puije, CEO, Voice of Africa and Experience Africa; Andjelo Cherty Mwembya, US-Africa Senior Business Strategist; Curtis Smith, Founder, and CEO of Africa Tourism Union; and Jerald Boyd, Co-founder of Iceberg Renewals.

The Women’s Empowerment Seminar was themed “Recognising our resilience and Building Bridges to Empower Ourselves and Build the Africa we Envisage” and covered two key topics, Intercontinental Business and Political Leadership in the Diaspora. This seminar was moderated by Ms. Fatmata Barrie Esq.

Event speakers here included Dr. Remi Duyile and Dr. Stella Jeffries who spoke on, Intercontinental Business; and Representative Wala Blegay and Representative Naquetta Ricks who spoke on, Political Leadership in the Diaspora; H.E Ambassador Arikana Chihombori-Quao; climaxed this session by giving an empowering statement covering both topics.

Special guests at the event included H.E SEM Sékou BERTHE Ambassador of the Republic of Mali; H.E Lynn Young, Ambassador of the Republic of Belize; and Maria del Pilar Barona from Columbia, Latin America. Guest speakers included Michael Thompson from OBT Social (a key sponsor) and Dr. Martin Kwende.

There were performances by KanKouran West African Dance Company, Pupa Curly, J-Wils, Izzy Zick and a fashion show by Itel Fashion Modeling. TheAfricanDream.co, a DMV-based communication consultancy firm, and OBT Social as well as Voice of Africa were among the event media partners.

1 H.E Ambassador Arikana Chihombori Quao Lifetime Achievement Award

2 Prof. P.L.O Lumumba Presidential Award

3 VP Damien Cook Arikana Excellence Award

4 VP Ray Huggins Arikana Excellence Award

5 VP Philip N Catlyn Springer Arikana Excellence Award

6 Mrs. Sylvia Litana Ezozo Arikana Excellence Award

7 Mr. Agrippa Ezozo Arikana Excellence Award

8 Dr. Olayinka Creighton-Randall Arikana Excellence Award

9 Mr. Benson Kasue Arikana Excellence Award

10 Dr. Stella Jeffries Arikana Excellence Award

11 Dr. E. Faye Williams Arikana Excellence Award

12 Prince Kalada William Jumbo Arikana Excellence Award

13 Dr. Gloria B. Herndon Arikana Excellence Award

14 Mr. David Horne Arikana Excellence Award

15 Mr. Djimon Hounsou Arikana Excellence Award

16 Mr. Basil Ajuo Arikana Excellence Award

17 Mr. Curlyn S Arnold Arikana Excellence Award

18 Rep Naquetta Ricks Arikana Excellence Award

19 Dr. Norma Lozano-Jackson Arikana Excellence Award

20 Ms. Liliosa Chambwera Arikana Excellence Award

21 Dr. Ambrosia Mondoa Arikana Excellence Award

22 Mother Vivian Stuart Arikana Excellence Award

23 Ms. Marie Taqui Arikana Excellence Award

24 Dr. Lee Whitaker Arikana Excellence Award

25 Mr. Thomas Hoktcheu Arikana Excellence Award

26 Mr. Kliphord Darkwa Arikana Excellence Award

27 Aturah Bahtiyah AKA Nana Adjoa Amissah II Arikana Excellence Award

28 Lazare Ki Zerbo Arikana Excellence Award

29 Ms. Johanna Leblanc JD Arikana Excellence Award

30 Elder Nabeela Uqdah Arikana Excellence Award (Posthumous)

31 Ms. Iman Uqdah Hameen Arikana Excellence Award

32 Mr. Davies Chirwa Arikana Excellence Award

33 Mr. Siphiwe Baleka Arikana Excellence Award

34 Prof Linley. Chiwona-Karltun Arikana Excellence Award

35 Mwalimu Kbailia Arikana Excellence Award

36 Mr. Haki Ammi Arikana Excellence Award

37 Bro. Baya Kes-Ba-Me-Ra Bradford Arikana Excellence Award

38 Mr. Cliff Kuumba Arikana Excellence Award

39 Sydney Francis Arikana Excellence Award

40 Prof. Anita Diop Arikana Excellence Award

41 Dr. Franklin Abraham Arikana Excellence Award

42 Mr. Melvin Brown Arikana Excellence Award

43 Dr. Nangula Hopwood Arikana Excellence Award

44 Mr. Cletus Prince Arikana Excellence Award

In a post-event interview with TheAfricanDream.co Ambassador Chihombori-Quao expressed her amazement at how huge the event turned out to be, “especially as ADDI is still a very young organization. This is the first of many chapter launches and Afro Festivals as ADDI continues to tell the world that enough is enough, we are ready to take our rightful place on the global stage”.

SOURCE: GHANA WEB