Saturday 31 October 2009

2009 Channel O Africa Music Video Awards: Ghana lost out to Nigeria & Zimbabwe

Unlike the Kora Awards, which gives equal playing field to all African artists , the Channel O Africa Music Video Awards also known as Spirit of Africa Music Video Awards has a somewhat partial tradition of showcasing the talents of selected few African artist mainly artist from Nigeria, Zimbabwe and Namibia.

Channel O Music Video Awards is a Pan-African music awards organized by South Africa based Channel O television channel. The awards were first held in 2003 under the name Reel Music Video Awards. Since 2005 the awards have been held annually. The winners are voted by Channel O's viewers across the continent.

Here is Ghanacelebrities.com run down of the 2009 Channel O Music Video Awards. It was an amazing award but why are the same artists from the same country being nominated year after year?

The Ghanaian contingent to the 2009 Channel O Africa Music Video Awards Okyeame Kwame, Kwaku T & D-Black all failed to pick up an award in their respective nominated categories. Ghana’s rap Doctor Okyeame Kwame who was nominated in three categories: Most Gifted Hip Hop Video, Most Gifted West African and Most Young Gifted & African Award with his ‘Woso’ video failed to win any award.

Kwaku T, Ghana’s former rep to the Big Brother House and his rap partner D-Black received one nomination ‘Most Gifted West African’ with their ‘Move’ track alongside their compatriots Okyeame Kwame, from Nigeria Ikechukwu with ‘Shoobeedoo’, J. Martins feat. Timaya & P Square ‘Good Or Bad (owey)’, Nneka ‘Heartbeat’, 9ice feat. 2Face ‘Street Credibility’, but they both lost out to Ikechukwu of Nigeria.

Darey Art Alade (Nigeria), Gal Level (Namibia) and Buffalo Souljah (Zimbabwe) each won two awards. Performers included nominees 2Face Idibia, Sound Sultan, HHP (Jabba), Nneka as well as Bongani Fassie (Jozi) & the Umoja Choir. Nigeria had five awards and South African musicians lost out again with only Khuli taking home the Best Newcomer award.

Special recognition award was given to Brenda Fassie, the South African pop singer, who died in May 2004. Bongani Fassie received it on behalf of his mother.

This year’s awards witnessed the re-introduction of the category – Most Gifted Afro-Pop Video which was won by Gal Level with ‘Touch Me’.The awards was held at the Carnival City in Gauteng on Thursday 29 October and sponsored by Amarula Cream.

Below are the nominations and the winners mark *****

By Ebenezer Anangfio Jnr.

....................................

1. BEST MALE VIDEO
A. Naeto C for Ki Ni Big Deal
B. Pro for Uthini Ngo Pro
C. Buffalo Souljah for Judgment
D. Hip Hop Panstula (HHP) for Mpitse
E. Darey for Not The Girl *****
F. Xod for I Want You Back

2. BEST FEMALE VIDEOA.
A mani for Tonight
B. Lira for Wa Mpaleha
C. Lizha James for Estilo Xakhale
D. Nneka for Heartbeat
E. Thandiswa Mazwai for Ingoma
F. Sasha for Only One *****

3. BEST NEWCOMERA.
The Dream for Plenty Plenty
B. Brian Temba for Dominoes
C. Nneka for Heartbeat
D. Khuli for Tswak Stik'em *****
E. Jay Ru for Big Boi Anthem
F. Xod for I Want You Back

4. BEST DUO OR GROUP
A. Da L.E.S. feat. Bongz & Maggz for We On Fire
B. Kalibrados for Bambribam
C. P Square for No One Like You
D. Buffalo Souljah/Taygrin/Gal level for My Type Of Girl *****
E. Mwana Fa/Ay Mamba for Naongea Na Wewe
F. D'Banj feat. Mo Hit Stars for Pere

5. BEST DANCE VIDEOA.
Master Jam feat. RJ. Benjamin for Change The World
B. Goldfish for This Is How It Feels
C. Winnie Khumalo for Live My Life
D. Tzozo & Professor for Vuma
E. Lady May for Ndota *****
F. Black Coffee feat. Bucie for Turn Me On

6. BEST RAGGA DANCEHALL VIDEO
A. Kalaharians for Work The Middle
B. Buffalo Souljah for Judgement *****
C. Bantu for Where Di Water
D. Wahu for Sweet Luv
E. Paulino Q for Shake It On Me
F. Risasi/Collo for Watu Wote

7. BEST AFRO POP
A. Kelly Hansome for Maga Don Pay
B. Winnie Khumalo for Live My Life
C. Steel for Omoge
D. Theo for Ndihambela Phezulu
E. Durella for Enu O Se
F. Gal Level for Touch Me *****

8. BEST KWAITO
A. Gazza feat. Bleksem for Passop *****
B. Brown Dash for Back 2 Kasi
C. Howza for Styla Samahala
D. Damara Dik Ding for Bakuten
E. The Dogg for Hands Up
F. Mzekezeke for Nigi Hamba Phansi

9. BEST R&B VIDEO
A. Lira for Wa Mpaleha
B. Gxploits for Tear Rubber
C. Amani for Tonight
D. Darey for Not The Girl *****
E. Brian Temba for Dominoes
F. 2 Face Idibia/Sound Sultan for Enter The Place

10. BEST HIP HOP VIDEO
A. Okyeame Kwame for Woso
B. Hip Hop Pantsula (HHP) for All I need
C. Zeus for Gijima *****
D. Jay Ru for Big Boi Anthem
E. Pro for Uthini Ngo Pro
F. Black Rhino for Black Chata

11. BEST AFRICAN SOUTHERN
A. Teargas for Take You Out
B. Taygrin feat. Wendy Harawa for Moto
C. Lira for Wa Mpaleha
D. Lizha James for Estilo Xakhale *****
E. Rhythmic Elements for 2 By 2
F. Negro Blue for Um Beijo

12. BEST AFRICAN WEST
A. Ikechukwu for Shoobeedoo *****
B. J. Martins feat. Timaya & P Square for Good Or Bad (owey)
C. Okyeame Kwame for Woso
D. Nneka for HeartbeatE. 9ice feat. 2Face for Street Credibility
F. Kwaku T & D-Black for Move

13. BEST AFRICAN EAST
A. Amani for Tonight
B. Mwana Fa/Ay Mamba for Naongea Na Wewe
C. Xod for I Want You *****
D. Wahu for Sweet Luv
E. Black Rhino for Black Chata
F. Cannibal for I Wish

14. VIDEO OF THE YEAR
A. Taygrin feat. Wendy Harawa for Moto
B. Da L.E.S. feat Bongz & Maggz for We're On Fire
C. Okyeame Kwame for Woso
D. Naeto C for Ki Ni Big Deal *****
E. Rhythmic Elements for 2 By 2F. Amani for Tonight

Friday 30 October 2009

Obrafour To Release “Kasiebo” Album

After releasing his first album, 'Pae mu ka' (1999), 'Asem Sebe’ (2001), Time Out for Adhesion (TOFA) in 2003 and a number of remixes from the TOFA album, came NteteE Pa (Be disciplined) which coincided with his effort to join Ghana’s vice president to fight indiscipline in the country.

He started his own indiscipline campaign which targeted the youth alongside several projects such as Lecture/Counseling Workshop and the H.E.L.P (Hiplife Education and Literacy Project) Ghana initiative.

In 2004, under the tutelage of Execution Entertainment, he produced 'Execution Diary' compilation to expose new talents into the Ghana music scene. The compilation had the last two 'hiplife foot soldiers and brought most of them into the limelight. Some of the notable artistes who were on the compilations are Kwaw Kese (Oye nonsense), Hot Core (Ntakaa), Dogo (Susu dwen me ho), Tinny with 'Heko Ejorko' (I believe I can fly), Okyeame Quame (Opabeni), 4x4 (Kpekpele) and Yoggi Doggi (Ye ne saa ma me). Two years after this saw the release of his fifth album.

Now Obrafour, Ghana’s rap Osofour (Priest) is set to release his newest album ‘Asem Beba Dabi’ at the end of this month, October and will be on the music market from 1st November.

Already ‘Kaseibo’, a track on his yet to be released ‘Asem beba bedi’ album is enjoying massive airplay as a result of the lyrics it contains, music pundits feels it’s a direct attack on Okyeame Kwame and Obour’s game track which says “hip life is dead and needs resurrection”.

Watch out for Obrafour’s new album and clothing line (OB4) at all the outlets near you.

By Ebenezer Anangfio Jnr.

I know am very stupid and a fool – Mr. Beautiful

It is rare for people to say publicly how stupid they are. John Okafor, popularly known as Mr. Ibu, is undeniably one of Nigeria’s most talented comic characters. He is a multi-talented idiot, as he chose to describe himself.

He is on records as the first actor to come out publicly to call himself stupid and that his grandfather impacted that stupidity into him, because his grandfather has everything that can make people laugh.

Over here in Ghana, Clement Bonney known in showbiz circles as Mr. Beautiful has followed in the footsteps of the Nigerian comedian by declaring “I know am a very stupid and a fool”.

He said he knows he is a stupid and a fool in the studios of TV Africa during a discussion to introduce the contestants of the Just Like You reality show, which will be telecast on the same network. His explosion threatened to bring the show to an abrupt end, as the host Yaw Sakyi and Fiifi Banson, another brain behind the show, including the 13 contestants couldn’t help but to laugh occasionally.

Mr. Beautiful who recently came in the newspaper as a possible threat to Agya Koo, will be the moderator of TV Africa’s new reality show ‘Just Like You’ and was speaking to the host of the Run Down show in his usual style, the fante language which appeals to a lot of people.

He earned the name Mr. Beautiful from the movie Sika Anibre in which he starred alongside Agya Koo, he has done several movies after but came in the limelight in his role in a hilarious Kinapharma APC TV commercial.

By Ebenezer Anangfio Jnr.

Thursday 15 October 2009

Who Is The ‘Real’ Mad Man And The ‘Perceive’ Mad Man? Kwaw Kese or Okomfour

What do these two people have in common? Madness? I think what they have in common transcends ‘mere’ madness. ‘Abodam’ means mad or crazy, I can’t say for sure who introduced that phrase into the Ghana Music Industry but the mention of that word brings in mind one person. He was seen carrying banner that read 'Welcome Back' on the stage at Okomfour’s welcome back show at the National Theatre and that says a lot about what they have in common. Like a friend said he’s welcoming back his ‘mad’ partner.

Kwaw Kese

He is one hip life artiste who always gets the entertainment columnists busy. Which hip life artiste hasn’t been provoked or castigated by the ‘Abodam’ lord? Only few.

It is also a known fact that he has been displaying himself around everywhere as the originator of that word, he calls himself ‘king of the streets’ and has since been part of every crazy or mad stuff so far as the Ghana music industry is concerned. He’s made ‘abodam’ slogan attractive.

He is known to have beefed fellow hip life artiste Mad Fish. There were little scuffle when he claimed ownership of "Abodam" as Mad Fish also made a lot of pronouncement of the word in one of his albums. And in an interview with Ghana Music.com, he said, Mad Fish is an imitator.

Am not too sure whether he would want to be referred to as a ‘militant’ based on his behaviour, utterances and his aggressive nature. Notwithstanding, he has done a lot of mad things to justify the title but for all this while, Ghanaians thought he is not mad but rather acting, but he says he is really mad.

Okomfour

For him, prior to his come back show, he had been away from the music scene for close to 4 years. It was later said that he had personal related issues, moved to his region of birth Upper East to spend some time with his family after news went round that he had gone mad as a result of smoking the ‘WEE’.

Speaking on Peace FM’s Entertainment Review Show, he debunked rumours and issues that dealt with smoking of “wee”, madness and all the supposed psychiatric treatment he received.

He stated emphatically that he doesn’t care where the media looked or the source from which they got their stories, but what matters most to him now is that he’s back full time into business with his latest album.

He said he isn’t mad but had to meet a psychiatric for some reasons. Ghanaians say it's a lie because he was mad.

On his interviews on Peace FM’s Entertainment Review Show, TV Africa’s Run Down, TV3’s Spot Light and even the Graphic Showbiz, Okomfour appeared lost, there were a lot of sporadic breaks and whenever he starts again, he did so with ‘stomach direction’ kind of answers. He goes out of touch in his delivery.

Based on the above, who is not being honest? It’s a case of getty-getty-no-want and wanty-wanty-no-get. Funny world, isn’t it? To be honest, I know Kwaw Kese is faking madness; Okomfour could be the real mad man based on his own revelations.

But what do you also think?

By: Ebenezer Anangfio Jnr.

Wednesday 14 October 2009

Obrafour Can ‘Piss in’ or ‘Piss out’

Is this a new madness that has taken the music industry by stomp? Or perhaps it is a publicity stunt to get the inactive artistes on board to announce to their teeming fans that they are after all not worn-outs or are back from their hideouts?

Chale this madness has gone on for far too long now? By the way who is Obrafour anyway? He is known to be coming out with proverbs in his lyrics but no disrespect some people have finally taken hip life to the gutters. Without sounding remorseful and vulgar, I think Obrafour should just shut up, if he is jaded (sounds like it), he should take a rest and not create unnecessary controversy.

Obrafour has been low profile for sometime now so I will understand if it’s a ploy to get out of his shell and be seen at least. Without any doubt, I strongly believe Obrafour got encouragement from Kwaw Kese’s outburst during his interview on TV3’s Spot Light when he said “Some people said hip life was dead and they are resurrecting it but they couldn’t do anything, they couldn’t do a thing, to say hip life is dead, what about Reggie Rockstone, Obrafour and co.”.

The mere mention of his name perhaps made him feel he is still the best hip life artiste ever if not what did he mean by “when did hiplife die without him knowing” in his new single “Nkasiabo” I think that’s a sad line.

I disgust comparism but when we talk of consistency in the hip life game, Lord Kenya stands out tall, he was the first hiplife artiste to dominate the Ghanaian music charts, for the 6 years (stand to be corrected) he was active in the hip life game, he proved himself by churning out hit album after hit album, a feat, his colleagues in the game will only dream of.

Obrafour has been parading himself from first album Pae Mu Ka to his last one as Ghana's rap Osofour (priest), without anyone questioning him, so why should he suddenly have a problem when another artiste contends his is the best rapper alive?

From my perspective, I think Obrafour still holds quite a consideration number of fans and doesn’t need to diss or beef anyone to get his message across or to sell a record, the fans still love him. This personality attacks must stop.

Obrafour can decide to ‘piss in’ or ‘piss out’, but for crying out loud, Okyeame Kwame is the reigning king of Ghana Music Awards and merits some respect.

You can share your opinion without necessarily stepping on someone else’s toes, the truth hurts but that was unnecessary controversy.

Monday 12 October 2009

OJ BLAQ Outdoors Biggie Boy Lover

Night dwellers, friends and well wishers thronged to the Aphrodisiac Nite Club to official witness the launching of OJ Blaq’s debut album “Biggie Boy Lover”. Already his two hit singles “Chale Wote”, and album track “Biggie Boy Lover”, has been enjoying massive airplay.

The actor cum musician hit the stage last Friday night for an extraordinary performance in front of a star-studded crowd. To say the night was a bomb will be an understatement, it was fire ja, I mean proper fire fire ja (whatever it means).

Aside his new found love, music, known in real life as Andy Nii Akashie, OJ Blaq played MARLON in the hit T.V. series, SUNCITY, which became a household favourite across Africa, Europe and the U.S.A and that projected him into the lime light and has a couple of movies coming out soon.

The Sun City star was touted to be wilder than OJ Simpson, hence given the name Notorious OJ, but he later on changed it to OJ but since there is a gospel musician with the name OJ, he finally added Blaq to make it OJ Blaq.

The rapper launched his album “Biggie Boy Lover”, plus the “Chale Wote” video. He performed a rousing medley of his biggest hit “Chale Wote” featuring ASEM and Captain Planet of 4X4 and “Fire” featuring Lynx all stars and walked off stage to wild applause. The “Biggie Boy Lover” features Richie, Asem, Captain Planet, Eazzy, Zigi, Guru and a whole lot more.

To be on top in the hip life game, one has to be little crazy, creative and inventive, that’s what OJ Blaq is all about.

Present to show their support and love were Reggie Zippy, Mad Fish, Iwan, Wutah, Kwabena Kwabena, Michael Asare, Majid Michel, Ekow Smith Asante, Eddie Nartey, Kojo Dadson of Home Sweet Home, Prince David and many others in attendance.

Monday 5 October 2009

You are ‘BEAUTIFUL’ than me but am the one on the stage – Okomfour

Yes! Okomfour staged a come back With MEA ME NIE. The vastly publicized and much anticipated show in recent times dubbed ‘Okomfour Mea Me Nie Concert’. It was the biggest comeback in the decade as Okomfour welcome himself back to the hip life game with over 4 years of being in the wasteland.

At the National Theatre last Saturday the 3rd of October, 36 artistes were supposed to have performed, some before and after Okomfour’s performance but only a hands full managed to grace the big stage and the reason best known to the organizers.

MTN ambassador Samini, another brilliant chap from the Northern part of Ghana who didn’t make an impact at the Busta Rhymes’ show was in his usual electrifying mood, he performed with live band, he got the whole audience on their feet dancing and jumping to his ‘Samini’ and ‘Where my baby dey’ tracks.

Sammy B, Ghana’s first rep to the Big Brother Africa reality show, who earlier on dished out some funny jokes, Jayne Buckman Owoo of Graphic Showbiz and Muntari Muntala of TV3’s Spot Light were seen doing the ‘asabone’, they just couldn’t help but to do the left and right dance amidst clapping. In a nutshell Samini prepared and pulled the audience for Okomfour to seal through.

Based on the performance of Samini, http://www.ghanacelebrities.com wondered if he has not stolen the show but views sampled indicated that we have to wait and see what Okomfour has up in his sleeves.

And finally, Okomfour did hit the stage and the whole place went gay, am sure the loud noise that came out of the audience would have woken up some dead bodies at the Awudome Cemetery. The audience, the paparazzi all rushed to the walkway, making it extremely difficult for the security men to control them, they tried to shove them back to their seats but no one was ready to listen.

Those who thought Okomfour was down and out were proved wrong, he showed enough energy to the delight of the audience and shouted “Wo Ho Ye Fe Tsen Me Na So Mea Na Mi Gyina Stage” literally means you are ‘beautiful’ than I am but am the one on the stage, the audience couldn’t help but laugh and cheer him on habitually as he dished out more thought provoking and funny lyrics.

For the one or so hours that Okomfour was on stage, he clicked with his audience nicely, both old and young, nobody was left out as he involved them in his performance, they sand along with him from ‘Meyere ne mepena’ to 'Abrantee', to 'Kwaadee', to 'Ka Wo Nan Toso', to 'Okomfo Si Koo', to 'P1' and to ‘Mea Me Nie’, which proved that indeed Ghanaians are still in love with the greatest story teller of our time.

Guys who came there purposely to feed their gullible eyes on the ladies had a field’s day admiring the beautiful creation by God, as the ladies were busy dancing and showing their cleavage. The night will pass for a fashion show.

Silky voice KK Fosu and ‘President’ Obour joined Okomfour midway through his performances. Other noticeable artistes who made an appearance were Okyeame Kwame, Bradez, Asase Aban, Ayigbe Edem, Mad Fish, Joe, H-Mode, Konfi, Scizo, Joe Frasier, and from Nigeria, Flavour of Ashawo fame.

The night wasn’t for only the known faces of the hip life game but there were some amateur and underground artistes who for me were just comedians, most of them can’t rap, some appeared like old drunkards, they just appeared to be rapping just because they are colleagues are doing.

Pop Skinny could have done a lot better with his performance. Bringing a dead laptop on stage was a good thing but it just didn’t help his course, the laptop should at least been switched on and not necessarily on the internet. A line in his ‘Mugu’ track which says ‘we are going to browse, on yahoooooo.com’, apparently, the laptop would have serve as a good purpose but as it was dead, the audience were confused but cheered him on.

The likes of Tinny, OJ Blaq, ASEM, Richie, and the other guys from Lynx entertainment were in the house but couldn’t grace the stage. The show weren’t fully packed to capacity but it was well patronized and action packed.

Story By: Ebenezer Anangfio Jnr.

http://www.ghanacelebrities.com

And he rocked Facebook Waakye party

Facebook is a social utility that connects people with friends and others who work, study and live around the world. Hundreds of facebookers flocked to Auntie Munis’ Waakye Joint inside Labone to be part of Facebook Waakye Party which took place yesterday.

And oh, the place was really packed. The party in its second edition was an improvement of the first one, it brought together other introvert and extrovert, mostly young folks (boys and girls), (sorry, the MC kept referring to the crowd as boys and girls) but old folks were also not left out of the fun.

It was a night (day) to remember, the party came with a lot of exclusivity, people who have known each other on facebook but yet to meet, had to chance to meet, enjoined waakye in one bowl and share some jokes that comes as a result of facebooking instead of working in the office.

The party was one for music and dance as people deserted their seats. For most part of the party, a lot of seats begged for attention, but the people decided to be on their feet and dance. Clad in customized facebook t-shirts with each person’s name at the back of it, there were a lot of waakye to eat, more drinks to drink and more boogey. Those who came there only to yak the ladies had their field day as the ladies made sure, the place never went bored.

Pop skinny by far was the best of the day, he had a short but wonderful performance, his ability at using the names of other hip life artiste to the free style really worked for him, the whole thing can best be described with one word “BOMB”, Reggie Rockstone, Buk Bak, VIP, Asem, 4X4, Tinny, Lord Kenya all got some love from Pop Skinny midway through his performance, the crowd couldn’t help but laugh and cheer him on with his funny lyrics.

I got to the venue at exactly 5:30pm so I couldn’t see the other performances but from what I saw; Pop Skinny rocked the whole place, he painted the place red and black (like it’s said in the local parlance), the place was turned outside down with his performance and a lady near me could not help but scream “Po Po Po Skinnnnnnnnnnnnnnny”.He got the people on the feet dancing from the start to the end of his performance.

He finished his performance and exclaimed ‘I am the richest hip life artiste’. There was also some argument as to which one is the best and more popular in Ghana: Facebook or Twitter? One shouted “the last time I checked, this is Facebook Waakye Party and not Twitter”.

A guy who can’t help himself, said “as a shy person who can’t approach ladies, facebook has really helped me in this regard, at least I have met 7 ladies before this party”.“I will keep exploring and meet some more of them and hopefully pick one as my bride”.

Charlie, things are knocking things on facebook ooo, so what about Facebook Mass Wedding? Organizers, I hope you guys are listening ooo

Even at Facebook Waakye Party, people were seen still facebooking, funny huh? I think that explains why ministers want to interact via facebook. Hahaha!