Kumawood Is A Great Initiative – Shirley Frimpong-Manso

Shirley Frimpong-Manso

Award-winning filmmaker Shirley Frimpong-Manso says it will be appropriate for Ghanaians to encourage and support the Twi movie industry rather than criticize them.

Speaking at an appreciation event for the MultiChoice Africa Magic Viewer’s Choice Awards (AMVCA), the chief executive of Sparrow Productions noted that everybody – from the Kumawood to the English movies industry in Ghana – was trying hard to keep the industry alive.

“Sometimes I don’t understand why we are actually beating around the bush. Everybody is trying. People are using their own monies to actually keep this industry alive. Otherwise, we will not have anything at all.

“So we need to support and encourage instead of criticizing all the time. For me I think Kumawood is a great initiative. They are not anything that they don’t want to be and so I think encouraging us is even better,” the producer of the award-winning ‘Scorned’ movie stated.
Shirley directed the ‘Contract’ movie which swept over four awards at the just-ended AMVCA in Nigeria. The movie happens to be the first self-produced movie by actress Yvonne Okoro.

She added that movie producers from Ghana would be making an appearance at the Oscar Academy Awards if they had a pinch of resources available to Hollywood.

“For us, we think that if we get even one per cent of what Hollywood uses to do what they do, we can be at the Oscars every year. I will like to take this opportunity to acknowledge my fellow film producers.”

The Contract movie won Best Movie 2013, Best Movie Director, Best Writing (Drama) and Best Video Editing at the AMVCA, placing Ghana high in the African movie fraternity.

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Don’t Sing Gospel for Awards -OJ

OJ

Gospel artiste OJ has advised musicians in the ministry to concentrate on preaching to people through their songs rather than competing for awards.   

Over the years, some Gospel artistes have been at loggerheads with each over one award event or the other which the multi-talented singer and instrumentalist consider to be “shameful”.

“It is not healthy; it is shameful because at the end of the day when it comes to Gospel music it is about ministry and not a competition. We are doing it for God and serving the people so I don’t see why Gospel musicians should compete for an award.

“For me awards shouldn’t become the lust and your all. One shouldn’t do music because he or she wants to win an award, do good music, inspire people, preach to people and let people know about Christ. For us that is the basics for what we do. I don’t think people should flare up thinking that I should win this award, this person doesn’t qualify,” OJ told NEWS-ONE.

According to  ‘Maye Se Mo Pen’ hit maker,   God is not going to judge any Gospel musician based on the number of awards he or she has won  but how you utilized what He gave you.

OJ continued: “Are we looking for glory for ourselves or for God? The glory must go to God. It should not be man centered, it should be God centered so if I see people flaring up and competing for an award, I don’t see it as mature. If you really understand your calling, you won’t compete with your brother. God is not going to judge you based on how you were able to compete with your brother or your sister. He will judge you based on how you used what he gave you.  That is where our concentration should be not fighting among ourselves with dustup and squabbles. It doesn’t help anybody.”

OJ who is known in real life as Michael Oware Sakyi got nominated for the Gospel Song of the year, Best Male Vocal Performance, Gospel Artiste of the Year and Song Writer of the year categories for this year’s Vodafone Ghana Music Awards (VGMAs).

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Meet M.anifest… Tsatsu Tsikata’s Son

M.anifest

Rapper M.anifest, born Kwame Ametepe Tsikata, says he does not want his private life to be like a soap opera watched by the public. He however gave an insight about his off-stage life in an interview with NEWS-ONE where he simply proved he has a deep mind and a mature attitude:

What is your educational background?

I went to University Primary School, Legon where I had my basic education. I had my secondary education at SOS in Tema then I went to university at Macalester College in Minnesota, United States (same school Kofi Annan went to).

What did you major in?

I majored in Economics.

When did you start doing music?

It started before I was actually consciously aware of what I was doing. It started from listening, mimicking and from being heavily vested in sort of what I heard and being charmed by it. Obviously my grandfather is also an ethnomusicologist and a composer so I think maybe I was fortunate enough to have it rub off me a bit. I always had a keener or deeper interest in music than the normal person and I was always interested in writing as well. I was in my first rap group when I was in Secondary School. It was called Rebel Camp—there was nothing rebellious about us though. It was just a nice name. But that was just how I got my feet wet. 

When I went to university, I got the chance to experience more of the different aspects of the music. I was hanging out with more producers, I saw different shows, I saw definitely more artistes outside of hip-hop so I basically dived into a music making aspect and maybe took a bit of a back seat even to the creation. Without going to a music school, that was music school. By 2005 when I finished college, I basically begun attacking it and in 2007 I released my first album, Manifestation. I did my first album the DIY (do it yourself) way; I recorded it, mixed it, got some money doing a Pepsi jingle, used that money to print CDs myself and I did everything myself.

How did an Economics student enter into music?

I don’t think whatever you studied in school defines who you are as a person. Dr Koo Nimo was a chemist or biochemist or that something of the sort. It will be very silly for us to think of creatives as one kind of people or limited to a narrow field. Actually the more creativity we have and are able to apply across disciplines, the likelihood that we will progress as a country. Sometimes our lack of creativity and lack of imagination is why we’re still struggling. No knowledge is useless.

 I could have studied Economic, next year studied Law, next year studied carpentry and it could all have led me into knowing and being able to do what I do. Fortunately the economics is coming in handy because if you are in music in Ghana, you have to be an entrepreneur else you’ll sink. I think the economics has been useful and being able to have a discipline to think of what you are doing as a business and think of how to make your creativity work for your life without compromising yourself and to make it successful. 

Nii Ogbamey Tetteh and M.anifest

Do you go anywhere without your necklace?

My ‘Egudie’ (Laughs). Well like women like their high heels, me too I like my ‘Egudie’. 

Is there any story behind your ‘Egudie’?

I just developed the fascination that turned into a gradual habit that turned into an obsession. Who knows maybe in five years I might hate them but right now it makes me feel powerful. It is also a part of creativity. Usually when I walk to a place and people see them, they are able to identify that I’m an artiste.

When it comes to Ghana, who do you listen to?

Definitely I was a child of highlife so I listen to everything from Amakye Dede to Ben Brako and KK Kabobo. Then things evolved and I was definitely a fun of Obrafour and Reggie Rockstone. These two had a lot of great influence on us the new guys. We had the chance to explore a lot of the old people and I appreciate them and the fact that most of them are still around for us the young people to learn from them.

What do you think about the creative industry?

It is fledging. It is not a chicken, it’s still a chick. We need to grow feathers, as in grow up. There are a lot of people working really hard in this industry but we don’t only need to work hard, we need to work smart. We also need to stop being corrupt in our creative industry. You can’t steal ideas and not give credits. We have to be more creative and more honest as creatives. If you do anything to get money, that pipeline will cut off very quickly or at some point.

Tell us about your mum

My mother is Nana Nketia and she a pastor at International Central Gospel Church. She was a lawyer before.  So I can say that is where I get my spiritual essence from.

How do you feel when people introduce you in town as Tsatsu Tsikata’s son?

I think people were late to that information which works out well. A lot of people knew of M.anifest before they knew the connection and I think it was fine. There isn’t any kind of excitement or worry.

How did your Dad feel when you became a musician?

I think he is fine with it. Who wouldn’t be? He was at my studio release party last December. Everybody likes good music, so does my father.

Do you follow politics in Ghana?

(Laughs) Who doesn’t?

Is M.anifest married?

I’m married to my music.  My private life will be my private life which is the beauty of it. I give the people a lot in my music and if they listen to my music, they will know so much about me more than I want them to know. But one thing I’m not interested in is becoming a public soap opera and people talking about whom is he dating and all that. It is of very little interest to me because I feel like there is a lot to be done creatively with my music that I don’t need any of that distraction. It is an unhealthy distraction for people to be vested in what is my private life.

Do you see yourself doing active politics in future?

No. I think there are many ways to have an impact in this society we have and everybody needs to play their part. I am approaching things from a creative, entrepreneurial and socially aware angle and I’m sure I can have my impact in many ways in that respect. We will leave creating to the creatives and politics to the politicians.

What do you think about the lyrical ‘beefs’ in the industry?

Yeah EL and I are beefing (Laughs). I haven’t paid too much attention to the details of these things. What I know is that competition and rivalry are not necessarily bad. We just have to be careful not to fuel too much negativity.  But for me, I have no problem with rivalry. Madrid and Barcelona, Hearts of Oak and Kotoko could have rivalry forever. After they leave the football pitch, they can all go and have a drink so once we keep things in perspective, I don’t have a problem. It is obvious that our fans enjoy rivalry. If EL and I are having some competitive rivalry in music and when we leave the booth we remember that it is just that, it is fine. Some of these rivalries are created but at the end of the day, people have bigger life concerns.

Who in your family has influence in the kind of songs you do?

My grandfather, Professor Nketia has had a bigger influence. We always have great conversations about music, creativity and other things. He has a wealth of knowledge that I am able to benefit from. 

Interview by  Nii Ogbamey Tetteh (email: ogbameytetteh@gmail.com, Twitter: @ogbameytetteh)

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Obour Is Clueless - Ambolley

Ambolley

Gyedu-Blay Ambolley has descended heavily on the current administration of the Musicians Union of Ghana (MUSIGA) saying its President, Bice Osei Kuffour and his executive are “clueless”.

The ace saxophonist, composer and rapper sounded worried about the current state of the music industry. He told NEWS-ONE that though it was a good thing to have young people in power, “the young kids at MUSIGA office don’t have a clue” when it comes to the structural management of the union.

“Some of them used to talk about youth empowerment. But when you talk about youth empowerment, it is the older folks that give you knowledge so that you can have a platform to stand upon and build,” Ambolley stated.

Bice Osei Kuffour also known as Obour happens to be the youngest president the union has seen since its establishment. Under his term, various young people like Tic Tac and Okyeame Kwame have been given the opportunity to serve the industry.

“The young kids at the MUSIGA office will have to know what it is to be able to have a ladder to stand on and build. Most of them fell into music because of the fame and other things which come with it. But talking about the structural aspect of it, they don’t have a clue,” Ambolley said.

On a scale of one to 10 Ambolley said he would place the performance of the current MUSIGA administration at two. His reason was that the current administration was just practicing what he called “trial and error tactics”.

“They don’t have any clue about the music industry because the music industry is called show business. The business is what brings in the income; the show is what makes people to identify what they can do. But with the current MUSIGA team, the business aspect of it, they don’t have a clue. Whatever that they doing there is just trial and error thing that they are doing. The fortunate part for them is government coming out with GH¢2 million to support them,” he added.

The sole aim of the union is to ensure the welfare of all musicians—both old and young—who are members. Since he was elected into office, the Obour-led administration has commenced several initiatives like the Aged Musicians Fund among others.

Obour and his team have even published a booklet that details his achievements for MUSIGA within his first year in office. He is perhaps the most accomplished MUSIGA president so far.

But the ‘Simigwa’ hit maker thinks “MUSIGA could have done a lot with that money like having a recording studio or letting the old musicians teach Music so that the youth can have something to stand upon.”

“In life, you have to walk your talk but for me I know the current MUSIGA administration is all about the talk. All they are doing is just creating the impression that, yeah they are doing something.”

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Tips with Windows 7

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I LOVE ELIKEM -Namibian Evicted Housemate

Namibian star and Big Brother; The Chase evicted housemate, Maria Nepembe has declared she loves Ghana’s representative, Elikem Kumordzi who is highly tipped to make history as the first Ghanaian to win Big Brother Africa.

“I love him. He is really a good person… Elikem and I were pretty close. We were extremely close. I love him; he is really a good person,” Maria told Francis Addo in an exclusive interview on Monday evening.

The beautiful lady has been in Ghana for some days now seeking prospects in the country’s entertainment industry. She is targeting television, radio and movie industries in Ghana.

“As far as I’m concerned Big Brother House has its bad side and its good side. But I see mostly the good side. I see it as a medium of unifying Africa as a continent. You get together and get to learn about our respective countries. Also it creates a lot of exposure … I always call it as a moment of self discovery and I think I really discovered myself in the house. It was a beautiful experience. The unity among us in the house and the respect was unique. Obviously, we are human beings and so we fight and argue but to me Big Brother is good to experience,” she said.

Maria continued: “Big brother has not only helped me on the personal level but also on the business side of life. I have been selected to emcee shows and I have done a lot of appearances back home. Things that I would have not done if I had not gone to Big Brother, you understand. Definitely Big Brother did me good; whether I get the money or not. I am in Ghana now but I would not have come here if not because of Big Brother.”

But on the negative side she said, “I have pictures of me with obviously my boobs all over the place. Basically the most negative thing that has happened. But it is ok. I have pretty boobs and I don’t really mind. People can look and admire it. That’s all they can do anyways.”

However, she said she was aware of it before entering the Big Brother House. “I missed the money but I will make that money. I was obviously disappointed when I was evicted. But also I felt I was there for five weeks and I did what I have to do and so I move on. I really feel I did my country and myself proud.”

Maria Nepembe

Maria was born at Ondangwa village in the northern part of Namibia and grew up with her mum. Her dad passed away when she was eight years old. At the age of four, she was moved the city to have better education. After high school, she enrolled at the University of Namibia where she read Public Relations.

Later, she relocated to Germany for two and half years to experience different cultures. But she returned to Namibia to work in her country. She worked with TV and radio stations and also dabbled in modelling. Maria is the ambassador for the Kiyola Media Group and the High Definition Hair Boutique. She is one of Namibia’s most influential people in the fashion and entertainment industry.

She is a household name in her country. She has modelled for many of Namibia’s big fashion designers such as Chakkira Claasen, Mc Bright Kavari, Kishwa, Amakeya, Modella, Nikola Conradie and David Tlale from South Africa. She has participated in beauty pageants such as Miss University Africa 2011 held in Bayelsa State Nigeria, where she was crowned first runner-up, and Miss Namibia 2012, where she made it into the top five finalists.

She said she saw the advert about Big Brother and decided to challenge herself; hence she went on the platform which is beamed to millions of TV audiences across Africa.

By Francis Addo

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Jay Foley to Judge Nokia Asha Contest

Ghanaian veteran presenter and artiste manager Jay Foley has been appointed by Nokia to represent Ghana as part of the panel of Judges for the Nokia Asha ‘Don’t Break Da Beat’ (DBDB) contest.

Speaking at a press briefing on Tuesday, Jay Foley admitted that he was highly honoured by the opportunity to represent Ghana on the panel of Judges.

“Hard work pays off and first of all I am very excited just for the fact that I got the recognition to lead the troops for us to go bring the $20,000 to Ghana. Secondly another thing that excites me is the fact that we have a major brand like Nokia stepping in to create opportunity for rappers. I’m that kind of person who is always looking out for new talent to push out there,” the General Manager for YFM, Jay Foley stated.

Interested contestants are to submit their rap lines from now till September 7, which should include three key features – WhatsApp, Dual SIM and Wi-fi- from Nokia’s new Asha 210 Dual SIM phone, via an entry form which can be found on the DBDB tab on the Nokia Ghana Facebook page.

“Just for the fact that Nokia has stepped in I know it is going to make the work little bit easier and that really excites me. We are definitely looking out for the best of the best in Ghana and we are going to take them to Nigeria and bring out the cash prize. Thank you Nokia for trusting my prejudgment, I really appreciate it and let us change the face of Ghana in this industry. We know Nigerians try and take some steps in the music, movie industry and all but this is the chance for Ghana to make it big in the areas we find ourselves,” Jay added.

According to David Anku, Retail and Customer Marketing manager for Nokia Ghana the DBDB contest which is open exclusively to rappers from Ghana and Nigeria is out to search for rappers who will be able to put together good rap lines which include the three key features from Nokia’s new Asha 210 Dual SIM phone.

“Over the course of the next three months, judges working both in Ghana and Nigeria will prune the contestants down to 100 contestants. This final squad will subsequently send in audio messages of their best lines. Based on the judging, this list will be further reduced after two more rounds to four contestants for the grand finale in Lagos, Nigeria. The mode of judging will include voting by the general public,” said Mr Anku.

To add to the whooping $20,000 cash prize, organisers of the event say the winner of the Nokia DBDB contest will also get a coaching session in the US with a recognized US producer.

By Nii Ogbamey Tetteh

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Praye Snubs Peace FM

Praye Honeho, leader of popular music duo, Praye, on Saturday turned down an interview attempt by Peace 104.3 FM, snubbed the station’s presenter who tried to interview him and slammed the phone on him during a live radio programme.

The musician, before slamming the phone, ordered the host, Akwasi Aboagye, on his award winning Entertainment Review show to first play the group’s two newly released singles before calling him back for any interview.

The incident took listeners, the host, his producer and panel members in the studio by surprise but they were in for a greater shock when the musician went ahead and put off his phone when the station tried calling him back.

Praye Honeho’s behaviour was rather surprising because Peace FM had played a pivotal role in making the group popular. The station’s morning show host, Kwame Sefa Kayi was instrumental in using his ‘Kokorkoo’ morning show to popularise Praye’s songs by playing them on every single edition of his show for several months unending.

Speaking on the station’s Entertainment Review on Saturday, leader of group Eugene Baah stated categorically that he was not ready to speak to anyone from the said station until he heard their new singles being played by the station.

Akwasi Aboagye, host of the show, who was seeking to clarify rumours that the music group, made up of Praye Tiatia-Big J and Praye Honeho-Eugene Baah, was on the verge of splitting because Praye Honeho believed Big J’s sweetheart, Selly, and her behaviour at the Big Brother Africa reality show, had brought shame and disrepute on the Praye brand, was however greeted with a sharp pinch.

“By your God’s grace and your insults I’m fine. Three weeks ago, we dropped some two singles- Forever Gone and Assemblyman-, let your producer find those two songs and play them right now. When you finish playing them, you can call me back,” Praye Honeho told Akwesi Aboagye before dropping the call.

But Eugene Sarfo Nkansah, producer of the show quickly noted on the show that the singles which Praye Honeho was talking about, were nowhere to be found; meaning the group had not even dropped their CD with Peace FM.

Even though some sympathizers of the group have, in their defence, stated that perhaps Praye Honeho was not in the right frame of mind, resulting in his rudeness on radio, others also believed that it was a deliberate act to get the station to play the group’s songs on air.

By Nii Ogbamey Tetteh

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Sarkodie’s Manager Beaten By Photographer

Popular YFM presenter and manager of Sarkodie, Sammy Forson allegedly received some thrashing in a brawl between him and an unnamed photographer after Channel O News’ live recording last Sunday at the Silver Towers in Accra.

Even though Sammy’s friends on YFM said he was just slapped, an eyewitness told Francis Addo he was rather handed a single heavy punch which landed him on the floor.

He interestingly did not reply after he got up. As if he was fleeing for his dear life, he reached for his phone to make a call; an obvious indication that he was calling for back up.

The incident which took place at the Silver Star Towers car park occurred some few minutes after the fastest rapper and BET award winner, Sarkodie had driven out.

Eyewitnesses said the fight started after Sammy allegedly insulted the photographer whose car somewhat blocked Sarkodie’s car, preventing him from moving out of the car park.

Sammy allegedly banged the photographer’s car with his hand while ordering him to move it.

Immediately the photographer moved his car forward, Sarkodie drove out and left Sammy behind.

The photographer then decided to inquire from Sammy why he banged his car, as Sarkodie could have blown his horn for him to move it.

But he was unfortunately greeted with insults, as Sammy went on to ask him if the car park belonged to his father.

“Your father,” Sammy allegedly yelled at the photographer who got angry and decided to engage Sammy physically.

Four security men allegedly tried to stop him but they could not until he got to Sammy and landed him a blow which got the man on the floor. Meanwhile, the identity of the photographer is yet to be uncovered.

By Francis Addo

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Support Local Productions-Bull Dog Tell TV stations

Chief Executive of Ghanaian record label Bull Haus Entertainment, Bull Dog has urged local television stations to support, promote and encourage local TV production.

Lawrence Nana Asiama Hanson as he is called in real life is one of the industry players who have the view that if the amount of foreign content especially movies and soap operas are not reduced drastically on our local television stations, Ghanaians would eventually lose their legacy.

“The television stations should just support these young writers and producers.

Some of these people have series with nice storylines and beautiful concepts behind them which they can easily adopt, start showing and when people get interested, they can walk into any cooperate organization and seek for sponsorships but then if that production is not being aired, the investor doesn’t see it as a viable venture to invest their money in,” Bull Dog stated in an exclusive interview with Nii Ogbamey Tetteh.

Some programme managers in some of these television stations have also stated that they air these foreign soap operas because that is what the masses yearn for.

“It is not like Ghanaians enjoy these soap operas on our local TV stations but sometimes entertainment is brainwashing; what you feed me is what I get into so if we don’t push out the local stuff  it will continue to seem like we are enjoying the foreign content which, in fact, we are not,” Bull Dog said.

“Now what do we see on TV, some Mexican or Italian cheap thrash they call telenovelas. Back in the days, when the TV stations were showing the Sunset Beach and The Bold and the Beautiful among others, they were also showing Things We Do For Love, Inspector Bediako, Tentacles and the rest as well. But, Ghanaians loved and enjoyed the local productions better.”

According to the outspoken Bull Dog, it is a big indictment on the heads of those TV stations who will rather go and download what he calls ‘trash’ telenovelas for free, which in the long run will brainwash the young ones.

“It is sad we don’t’ appreciate what we have.

We are killing ourselves slowly with these telenovelas and foreign soap operas.

If the National Media Commission and the National Communication Authority can put together a regulation which says that the content of all local TV stations should be 80 percent local stuff and only 20 foreign, perhaps it could solve the problem.”

He therefore attributed most for societal vices to the foreign content being aired on our television stations.

“Our generation and the ones after them would be much better if they wake up to see local productions which tell the Ghanaian story and teach the Ghanaian values.”

By Nii Ogbamey Tetteh

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