Thursday, 23 September 2010

Movie Review: Roger Quartey’s ‘TURN ME ON'

Sometimes it’s not a mistake for someone to play second fiddle to another person. I think it’s for the sake of learning that’s why we find ourselves being under some people, not for the fact that they are superior to us.

I can count over 30 movies that Roger Harold Quartey has featured as either a Production Manger or an actor or perhaps both. I’m not that old but have been on this planet for over two decades and I have seen lots of movies that Roger has been part of.

After helping several movie production houses to produce chart topping movies, now comes Roger Q Productions. And there comes his first production ‘TURN ME ON’.

Before I continue, I have a confession to make, I know Ghanaians are quick at taking sides, am a victim. I’m quick to say ‘this movie is the best local movie I have seen’ but after watching the above movie, I think I will be careful from now onwards.

Roger Quartey is a classic example of a learned person who has acquired a little bit of this and a little bit of that from his years of being in the movie industry to make a complete movie. Will it be over ambitious to say he’s scored a higher mark than his bosses? Don’t mind me I like controversies.

The movie with Love, Greed, Blackmail, Hatred, Treasure and Deceit as its theme featured all the highly sought after movie stars in Ghana. It featured Jackie Appiah, John Dumelo, Kofi Adjorlolo, Yvonne Nelson, Roselyn Ngissah, Beverly Afaglo, Timothy Bentum, Ben Kwadey, Vivian Achor, Khareema Aguiar, Eddie Nartey, Ken Fiati and Omar De 1st.

‘TURN ME ON’ is a story of one Dr. Harry Buckman, a successful businessman and a family man who has toiled so hard to achieve a lot in life. With four children Tyler, a lawyer by profession, Kendell, a renowned fashion designer, Woody, a musician and a drug addict, and Julia their half sister.

Tyler Buckman (Played by John Dumelo), the elder son of the family unknowingly to his siblings hires one of his dad’s escorts to secretly kill their dad.

Kendell Asamoah (played by Jackie Appiah), a renowned fashion designer and the wife of Michael Asamoah, a stammer (played by Eddie Nartey) mistakenly knocked down and killed an innocent girl. The knock was not her fault; but she however narrated the whole incidence to her husband. The husband then started blackmailing her, writing letters to her requesting for various amounts of money every now and then.

Woody Buckman (Played by Benjamin Kwadey) a struggling musician. His dad wanted him to become an engineer against his wish of being a footballer or a musician. His own deeds made sure he didn’t become a football, an engineer but a struggling musician. He became a drug addict through the fault of his own wife (played by Roselyn Ngissah).

For the wife, it was a pay back time for her against a husband who impregnated her own best friend and in addition to her real sister. The two ended up losing their lives when they opted for abortion to terminate the unwanted babies.

Greed For Money

With GHC 4 million left for the three of them and as the eldest son, it was stated in the Will that he is supposed to receive more than the rest. But the family lawyer (played by Kofi Adjorlolo) informs them that there is another claimant to the Buckman’s property who happens to be Julia Buckman (Yvonne Nelson), the daughter of Rosemary.

Tyler takes a loan from the bank and then hatched a plan with a lady (Beverly Afaglo) he had saved from being battered to death. He pays her to impersonate as daughter of Rosemary, a former worker at the Buckman’s house who run away 23 years after getting pregnant with Mr. Buckman.

When Beverly approached the family that she is the lost daughter of the late Buckman, she needed a proof for her claim. She wasn’t able to do that, so it became necessary that a private investigator was hired to find out. Since this is the handwork of Tyler, it was successful. She was proved as their lost sibling.

So now with their lost sibling found, the GHC 4 million was to be shared equally to the four siblings. Just when Beverly was about leaving to South Africa for accomplishing her role as an impersonator, then Kendell persuades her to stay behind and wait for her GHC 1 million.

Beverly and her fiancé (played by Omar De 1st) started exhorting huge sums of money from Tyler. Meanwhile the loan he took from the bank is accruing interests.

Tyler was frustrated since he needed his money to settle the debt at the bank. Meanwhile the real Julia Buckman surfaced. Kendell also needed her share of the money to pay off her blackmailers. For Woody, his wife is on his neck, she won’t grant him a divorce until she tastes her father in law’s money.

Now that the real Julia Buckman is discovered, do you think the money will be shared GHC 1 million equally among them? You actually think so? Grab your ticket as ‘TURN ME ON’ will be premiered on 1st of October 2010 at the Silver Bird Cinema at 6.30pm. The movie was produced by Roger Quartey and directed by Frank Rajah Arase.

I Recommend This Movie To All Movie Lovers though the constant use of abusive languages such as *S* word ‘Shit’ and *F* word ‘Fuck’ was a source of worry and a turn off for me instead of turning me on just as the title reads.

The first court scene was a bit confusing, well perhaps I wasn’t paying attention. The scene opens to the court room and suddenly the judge adjudges the case. Also there were scenes where Woody had braided hair and in-between scenes where he carried bushy hair.

I give the movie 80%. THUMPS UP Roger Harold Quartery and the crew. Don’t forget to build up on your next production because GhanaCelebrities.com will be watching closely.

Pope Skinny! New Host Of ‘Kasahare’ Level At Adom FM Speaks To GhanaCelebrities.Com

‘Kasahare Level’ is a three-hour hiplife/rap show on Adom 106.3 FM every Saturday night. It is a show where the host interviews various up coming artiste mostly hip lifers. It is one show which has unearthed talents ruling the country so far as rap and hip life is concerned.

The show which was initially hosted by Dr. Duncan then to Dr. Prekese, now is hosted by the Akuapem rapper and hip life artiste, Pope Skinny christened Edwin Kwame Ohene Darko.

How does he feel being in the driving seat of the show? “It’s a dream come through because I feel people are beginning to realize that am the only lyricist in Ghana”. He said rather boastfully to GhanaCelebrities.Com.


“I’m part of the first rappers who started Kasahare Level way back in 2002 and they feel a rapper can handle it better”. He answered when asked how he got into the driving seat.

After taking the baton from Dr. Prekese, the Akuapem rapper said he will resurrect the show and add new segments.


“I will try and resurrect the show with new segments and new feeling because now I audition the rappers very well before they come on the show”.

It was rumoured that a presenter (name withheld) of a similar show on radio was sacked because he was using the air time at his disposal to promote the artiste he was managing. So how is Pope Skinny going to ensure, he doesn’t use the air time to enrich himself by playing his own songs.
 

The rapper said being the host of the show cannot affect him as a rapper but he is coping and enjoying the experience that comes with it.

He sums up with GhanaCelebrities.Com with “I’m happy working with a great station like Adom FM”.

Thursday, 16 September 2010

Sparrow Production Speaks! Nadia Buari’s ‘Check Mate’ Sold More Than Jackie Appiah’s ‘Perfect Picture’

Jackie Appiah & Nadia Buari
Jackie Appiah & Nadia Buari

Mr. Kenneth Attoh, the Executive Producer of Sparrow Productions has revealed to GhanaCelebrities.com that contrary to what people think, ‘Check Mate’ really sold more than ‘Perfect Picture’. However, he was quick to say that ‘Perfect Picture’ created the buzz because Jackie Appiah was featured.

The list for the most-searched top 10 Ghanaian movie stars on Google had the dark skinned actress trailing the light skinned actress.

It was interesting and also surprising to hear that Nadia Buari is a step ahead of Jackie Appiah. At least it is a known fact that Jackie Appiah is the most loved Ghanaian actress.

Since GhanaCelebrities.Com has constantly being criticized and tagged as always favouring Jackie Appiah, we contacted Sparrow Productions to seek information on which the “movie selling power” of the two actresses (Buari & Jackie Appiah) as far as Sparrow is concern-Nadia.


Sparrow Productions used Jackie Appiah and Nadia Buari in the movies “Perfect Picture” and “CheckMate” respectively.

The question GhanaCelebrities.Com threw to Ken Attoh was “So which among the two faces sell more movies?”. “Well it depends who is watching or buying because they both have their market”, he answered. Mr. Attoh was quick to add that as a matter of fact, he knows Jackie is more popular and preferred than Nadia.

“I’m aware of the fact that, Jackie Appiah is more loved and more preferred actress to Nadia Buari. Contrary to their popularity, ‘Check Mate’  which had Nadia Buari sold more than ‘Perfect Picture’ which had Jackie Appiah. He said.
However, the lover man turned father of Shirley Frimpong Manso’s new baby was quick to debunk the notion when asked if Nadia Buari was the reason why the movie sold out.

“Of course not, the movie didn’t sell out because of Nadia, it sold out because of Sparrow Productions”.

The list for the most-searched top 10 Ghanaian movie stars on Google reads researched & compiled by GhanaCelebrities.Com

1.      Van Vicker
2.     Nadia Buari
3.     Jackie Appiah
4.      Yvonne Nelson
5.      Agya Koo
6.      Majid Michel
7.   John Dumelo
8.   Juliet Ibrahim
9.   Nana Ama Mcbrown
10.  Chris Attoh

CEO Of Aphrodisiac Night Club Salutes Iwan



Confidence and Iwan

Iwan, the Lyrical Gunshot vibrated the Aphrodisiac Night Club with his conscious raga interlaced with reggae vibes. Many were the people who fell in love with his lyrics and movement on stage. People, who for strange reasons do not like dance hall instantly changed their mind based on how Iwan was able to handle himself on stage.

Iwan’s magic on the stage didn’t go unnoticed so that the CEO of the Club Miss Confidence Haugen who was very excited throughout Iwan’s performance, ended up on her feet dancing consciously to the tunes and the chants of the Lyrical Gunshot man.

The night club goddess could not hide her joy at the performance churned out by the Bullhaus entertainer and she ended up joining him on stage and in the process saluted him by wiping off the sweat on his face on stage much to the chagrin of the large crowd.

Home girl was in her element as usual. Her ‘kind’ gesture attracted attention from the audience. I know what’s on your mind now. Do you agree that pictures don’t lie? Here we go …


Confidence and Iwan

Confidence and Iwan

Confidence and Iwan

Confidence and Iwan

Confidence and Iwan

Confidence and Iwan

Confidence and Iwan

Confidence and Iwan

Confidence and Iwan

Confidence and Iwan

Confidence and Iwan


Showers Of Blessing At Iwan’s Album Launch At Aphrodisiac Night Club



Blessings come in so many ways, shape, sizes and under different circumstances. God works in mysterious ways and blesses people at his appointed time but there was no better time for God to shower in blessing on Iwan, the Lyrical Gunshot than during the launch of his maiden albumMy Time’. Interestingly, the same day happened to be the day his mum under the guidance of God gave birth to him.

When choosing his stage name, it was obvious Iwan didn’t think of the meaning of that name. However, his ability to find appropriate meaning to that name makes it admirable. He calls it, I Win Always Naturally!


To say Iwan’s maiden launch at the forecourt of the Aphrodisiac Night Club was ‘wow’ would be an understatement, words like beautiful and colourful describes the show best. The event was packed to capacity. Every available space was filled by angry-to-see-Iwan folks. This was made up of his family, friends, and major industry players as well as well meaning music fans of home boy Lyrical Gunshot.

In a carnival fashion, the place was full to its brink that those who came late had to settle outside of the balustrade around the venue to catch to a glimpse of what was happening. When the show got interesting, then the showers of blessing started. It started drizzling, yet the show continued until it started raining heavily.



This forced the organizers to move proceedings to the inside of the club when the rains shown signs of not stopping. Aphrodisiac Night Club is spacious enough but couldn’t occupy the large number of crowds that besieged the venue.

In the club, after some performances from Trigmatic, Okyeame Kwame, Asem, Richie, Reggie Zippy and Tinny, Comotion handed the baton to his co presenter Norkus of YFM and he invited Iwan to kill it off.

Iwan started beautifully with ‘El Shaddai’ to ‘My Time’ to ‘Still Love Me’ to ‘Thanks & Praises’ to ‘One Life’ to ‘Who’s Bad’ to ‘That Day’ to ‘Run Away’. He engaged the crowd with his performances and the rest they say is history. He sliced his birthday cake with the help of the artistes available to wrap up a successful album launch.

His CDs were sold at only GHC 5.00 with a light.



IWAN: I Win Always Naturally! Says “I am here to INSPIRE, ENCOURAGE, EDUCATE & ENTERTAIN”. To the youth, I say believe in God & yourselves. We will only achieve if we believe. There’s an ‘IWAN’ in everyone.

Thursday, 9 September 2010

Breakings News: Christian, One Of Ghana’s Reps To The MTN Project Fame In Nigeria Has Been Evicted After A Head Clash Which Blinded Him For A While …


Yours truly can confirm that one of Ghana’s representatives to the MTN Project Fame in Nigeria has been evicted from the competition due to a minor accident he had over the weekend. Christian was involved in a head clash in the Project Fame house. 

Our source said the minor incident affected the 22 year old student from Ashanti Region. He broke down instantly and was temporally blinded. The source further stated that after gaining his sight, the organizers thought it wise to let him go home to forestall any bad news, though he insisted he is alright and can continue the show. 

Christian will touch down at the Kotoka International Airport tonight. 

MTN Project Fame is a music talent competition which creates the opportunity of a lifetime for 18 naturally gifted individuals to end up becoming music superstars.

Christian is a 22 year old student from the Ashanti Region in Ghana. He absolutely loves singing and writing songs. He describes himself as emotional and says he expresses his emotions by crying. He hates gossips and discrimination.

He wishes to develop a career in singing and sees Project Fame as an excellent platform. Luther Vandross is his icon. He describes his Ipod as his companion and would definitely want to take it into the Academy. He plans to be the hottest vocalist in the whole wide world….in five years!
 

Monday, 6 September 2010

The Terrible Dream I Had: An Encounter With The White Lady


This is a dream I had whiles struggling to sleep. Though I did force myself to sleep, I wish I had not done that at all because of the dreams I had.

Okay! It was Sunday the 5th of September, 2010 and the time was 8:00am, exactly the time I woke up from bed. I woke up from bed not in the best of moods; I was actually filled with anger towards Kofi, a friend I called a day before to come to my place for us to go to the town and have fun, preferably a night club, like we do every weekend.

I know you will be wondering why I called a guy instead of a girl but I can tell you that ‘Ebenezer is no gay’. I do enjoy the company of guys because you know the feeling when you go out with a girl right? You are turn into a statue and everything you do is view with an eagle eye. Basically, it’s not my thing to go out with a girl. Period!

Back to the issue. I had called Kofi at some few minutes pass 7pm and since I didn’t want to be idle, I decided to work on some stories for GhanaCelebrities.com. Like my boss said in his article captioned ‘The Things We Take For Granted As Africans & Ghanaians, I Am Guilty, What About You?’, Blogging on GhanaCelebrities.com sounds interesting, easy and luxurious (getting paid to write) but it takes a lot of time and if you are not careful, it can overshadow your entire social life.

Three hours later, I called Kofi again and he said “Ebenezer am sorry I can’t make it because I have a visitor now”. Damn! You are an idiot; I remember I said that back to him before I hanged up. So on Saturday night, I slept a bit earlier than I do always, just blame it on my friend.

Back to Sunday! Few minutes later after I woke up from bed, Electricity Company of Ghana (the most hated government officials in Ghana) did their thing again, which is to put the ‘light off’. The light’s off stayed on for the whole. Imagine a Sunday without light (you know the feeling I guess).

In the darkness, I mistakenly stepped on my phone and guess what? The screen is broken now. I won’t forgive the E.C.G. anytime soon.

After the phone incidence, I cooked some oats for myself before going to visit friends in the neighbourhood. In the afternoon, I settled for some heavy bowl of fufu with goat soup (aponkye nkrakra) with a chilled bottle of star to wash it down nicely. You dig?

The bowl of fufu was still having its toil on me that evening, so I settled for ‘kelewele’ (fried ripe plantain mixed with pepper) with a chilled bottle of gulder; this sent me straight to the dreamland immediately.

Now the terrible dream. I’m not a spiritual person, not a hypocrite either so I don’t read meanings into dreams I have had over the years even though my former girlfriend does. In this dream, I was just going somewhere; don’t know where exactly but on my way, I met this white lady in wheelchair. Naturally, I’m an emotional person and respect the womenfolk though am not obsessed with white women.

But her plight in the wheel chair made me weak, hence stopping to talk to her. “How did you end up in this thing (wheel chair)” I queried. Mind you, I didn’t think I would be talking to her again after that day, so her name didn’t really matter to me. So I never asked of her name. We spoke for somewhat lengthy. (This is just a dream where seconds seem like hours).

After talking for a while, she held my hand and said she’s not had sex for along time. After waiting for some few seconds, “And so how do I come in here?” I asked. She started pleading but I told her I can’t help her. Just when I was about leaving, the woman started pleading with me to help her.

To my utter surprise this woman started unzipping my zip. I just stood there looking at her. She managed to bring out my manhood and just when she was about putting it on her mouth to give me blowjob, then two policemen and two military men surfaced from no where. They were full armed.

I was then arrested and taken to a far away place and the beatings started and continue unabated. This is exactly what happened in my dream. Though I will not read different meanings into it, as I woke up from my sleep, the beatings was still going on and on.

So I decided to blog on this dream and share my experience with you readers. Do you think someone is after my life? A confused mind wondering …

Akesifour Comes Back With New Album ‘Magic’


Before they introduced themselves as Ras Biggie (Andy Nii Okai) and Big Joe (Ntim Mensah) and together they form the musical duo Akesifour. I was a bit intimidated because of their looks and structure.

Akesifour as they call themselves is a Twi word which means ‘Big People’ or ‘Big Boys’. According to the duo, their natural sizes aided the choice of the title, this they said at least to suit their looks.

To them one does not need to be rich to be a big boy and being a big boy does not necessarily mean the person must be fat.

“Our music is big; we do music that cuts across. We believe when we say a big boy, someone who knows what he is doing, someone who knows what he is about. You don’t need to be rich or a fat boy to be a big boy. Our understanding of a big boy, is someone who knows his way around”, they told GhanaCelebrities.com

Ghana Music Awards / 4Stye Video Music Awards 2009
After the release of their debut album ‘African Girl’ in 2006, the album track became an instant it and went on to get a Ghana Music Awards ‘Best Reggae Song of the Year’ nomination in 2007.

In 2009, the video of the same song was nominated in the maiden edition of the 4Syte Video Awards. However, like first timers in the game, they disappeared shortly from the industry to strategize and bounce back.

Watch African Girl Music Video



New Album
Now they are back after 4 years of being on the low with a new album ‘Magic’. The album title is a love song. Though one does not need magic to fall in love, the duo believes one needs a bit of magic to fall for a girl. Love they say gives shock.

They based their arguments on guys who believes in love at first sight, to them one need magic in instances like that to fall for a girl without noticing it. It just happens.

The 10 songs album contains songs like ‘Magic’, ‘Angel Eye Me De’, ‘Not A Player Featuring Leshuno’, ‘Swagger Featuring Chief’, ‘Shoddy Featuring Kalanjo’ among others. The album is already available in all leading music shops and malls in the country.

Launch Date
25th September 2010 has been set for the album launch at Vienna City in Adabraka. After, similar thing will be replicated in Takorai, Kumasi and final party inside Tema. The duo is signed on Speech Production. They worked with sound engineer MO4 in the Top Records Recording Studio.

For Booking Call
Mr. Enock Agyepong of Speech Production
Mobile: 0244-712136
Email: speechyd@yahoo.com

R2Bees’ Kiss Your Hand Music Video Doesn’t Have The ‘Wow’ Factor

I have struggled to put my thoughts about the R2bees & Wande Coal “Kiss Your Hand Music Video” video on paper. It has not been easy arriving at these words. What you are about to read is solely my thoughts about the video, like I have always done, I will be saying what I think went wrong.

When I did a story prior to the premiere and launch of the video I said “…. the music is too loud to get everyone’s attention”. Indeed the music is loud, it’s a kind of music everyone would want to dance to. It has a heavy beat and some crazy punch lines which makes it one of the best tunes from Ghana.

Contrary to what people say or think, this song appeals to both older and the younger generation. I believe the late coming of the video might have taken something away from it. It’s a case of when massive promotion precedes a program and the program does not live up to its billing.

Personally, am not in any position to say whether the video is bad or good as some people are saying. But then what elements must a video contain to make it look good or bad? Yours truly is not a video director, I can point out some elements which have contributed to readers fret about the video…

Paedae has explained earlier on that the ‘Kiss Your Hand’ song with Wande Coal is not a planned collaboration between the two artistes. It just happened like that. It was more of a free styling to a beat by Killbeatz and Wande Coal exhibited his creativity with those punch lines. Later, they agreed to do something out of it.

His explanation came at a time when people have pointed fingers at the duo for recording Wande Coal’s free style. Hmmm!

My concern with the video starts with the choice of white girls in the video. I’m yet to come in terms with that. The white girls in the video are the turn off for me because am not obsessed with whites.

Couldn’t the director find beautiful young black or chocolate skinned girls for the video? What happened to our Ghanaian girls?

The Video Lacks The ‘Wow’ Factor
‘Kiss Your Hand’ is a song; you would want to put on repeat when playing. It can be listen to anytime. However, when I say the video doesn’t have the ‘wow’ factor. It’s not like a video you would want to put on ‘repeat’ to keep repeating itself when you play for the first time. The video look like a low budget one.

From what I have gathered, people will rather play the song and put it on repeat than watch the video. I think the video didn’t really add much to the song.

R2bees & Wande Coal Rocks GMA 2010


The Wande Coal Factor
I gathered the director and the crew for the video came down from London. And I asked myself, wasn’t footage of Wande Coal and R2Bees performance at the Ghana Music Awards made available to him?

Obviously those who were at the last Ghana Music Awards where Wande Coal and R2Bees rocked the stage together will share the same sentiment with me here. I think Wande as an artiste was restricted in the video. The chap has what it takes to rock a stage anytime, any day and anywhere. This is because he has the stage presence.

He is one of the few musicians whose fatty looks doesn’t deter him from going crazy on the stage. He has exhibited beautiful and creative stage prowess whenever he performs in Ghana. With all this, I think he was restricted way too much. There were scenes that Wande wanted to go crazy like he does every time but yet the director didn’t see the advantage in that.

Interestingly, a local director would have capitalized on Wande Coal to make a beautiful video. How about shooting another video with a local director?



Thoughts of Ebenezer Anangfio Jnr.

Ghana To Experience Italian Food & Cultural Festival

[caption id="attachment_9017" align="aligncenter" width="400" caption="Italian Official "][/caption]

The Italian Embassy in Ghana and the La Palm Royal Beach Hotel has teamed up to bring ‘Italian Food and Cultural Festival’ to Ghana. The festival will bring to Ghanaians various Italian dishes. The festival which commences on the 10th and ends on the 16th of September promises to heat up the city with a week of food, arts and entertainment.

The best way to learn a language is to be among the people who speak the said language. However, one can stay in his own country and still taste the best of foods from other country. This is exactly what the Italian Food and Cultural Festival promises. Stay in Ghana, yet enjoy Italian cuisine, as if you are on the streets of Italy.



This festival is to prove to Ghanaians that, certainly you can taste the best of Italian dishes without necessarily traveling to Italy. The festival will feature typically Italian food and music. There will also be a raffle draw, which is aimed at assisting charitable organization; this according to the organizers will be done in a serene and family friendly atmosphere.

At the press conference to launch the festival, an Italian official in an interview with GhanaCelebrities.com said the concept for the festival is simple. “The event is meant for the two countries to sell each other to the other country”.

“For the first time, we are trying to bring Italian food to Ghana. There are lots of similarities between the two countries. We both love football very much. Also to entertain the community by organizing such events. We also want to sell the image of Ghana to Italy, because Italian press will also cover the program to Italian television”. He said.



He also explained what they hope to achieve with this festival “We are trying to achieve a mingling of culture. We want to bring Italian food to the people of Accra. For the people to taste what another country’s food is like. To know how Italians eat, what they eat and how it feels like”.



The Damba 3 Conference Hall is set to host the festival from the 11th to 16th September, 2010 at 6:30 each night. But the whole week festival will commence with a grand opening on the 10 day of September at the Adae Kesse Hall of the La Palm Royal Beach Hotel at 6:30pm prompt (Not Ghana Time).

There will be couple of live band performances from the Italian Forklore, the Ghana Dance Ensemble. Lots of dishes from Italy and Ghana will be available as well as photo exhibition of some selected famous tourist attraction sites in Italy and Ghana.

This festival promises to expose the Ghanaian public and other nationals in Accra to the best of Italian culinary, promote cultural exchanges, networking, ethnic sensitivity and diversity. It will also help raise awareness and give opportunity for the general public to contribute to charity organizations.

[caption id="attachment_9018" align="aligncenter" width="400" caption="At the launch"][/caption]

[caption id="attachment_9019" align="aligncenter" width="400" caption="At the launch"][/caption]

[caption id="attachment_9020" align="aligncenter" width="400" caption="At the launch"][/caption]

Celebs Out & About: Samini @ R2Bees Video Premiere

Samini’s ‘Sweet Mistake’ has been nominated for Best Dance Hall Video in the 2010 Channel O Music Video Awards which is set to take place on Thursday, November 4 at the Sandton Convention Center, Johannesburg in South Africa. Also to be nominated is ‘Fire’, a track he did with Becca in the Best West African Video category.

When Samini was announced as the 2009 MTV Africa Music Awards Best Performer, Amanda Jissih formerly of Hitz FM exclaimed ‘Ebenezer, he’s done it again’. Well am not surprised though. I strongly believe such sentiments have always been shared whenever Samini wins an award. It doesn’t come as a surprise to learn that Samini has won an award.

Samini has proved that indeed he is one of the loyal sons from Ghana and also Africa.

If I will be funny here, Samini is one of the few musicians in Ghana who probably have a room reserved only for awards, trophies and accolades. You can laugh out loud, this sounds funny but home boy has a lot of honours to show for. Need I say more? Hell no!

Samini is a crazy artiste, a fine gentleman, also a creative dude when it comes to writing songs. Home boy is a ladies man. In fact the ladies love him and he LOVES them too. Ummm just check out the ‘Sweet Mistakes’ lyrics….

Home boy was at the premiere of R2Bees’ ‘Kiss Your Hand’ music video. Below is a picture of him killing the event ….

Shaka Zulu, Is Not A Member Of 4X4 Group! Duke Banson Warns


4X4 is a rap group discovered by Buk Bak several years back. They were only two members then, namely Captain Planet (Sylvanus Dodji Jeoffrey) and Abortion (Raphael Edem Avornyo).

They released their maiden album ‘Siklitele’ in 2003. ‘Contestant Number 1’ followed it in 2007. Fresh Prince (Prince Tamakloe) who was featured on their 2007 hit HotGirls.com joined the group to make it three.

A lot of awareness was created in the media when Fresh Prince joined the group, so if people are saying Shaka Zulu is a member of the group, why wasn’t any alertness created?

When Richard Cobbina known as Shaka Zulu was arrested some weeks ago, some section of the public carried the story as if he is a member of the 4X4 rap trio. GhanaCelebrities.com then quickly hurried to the office of Mr. Duke Banson of Boomerang Night Club, also the manager of the rap trio.

Though, we are aware Shaka Zulu is not a member of 4X4, we thought it will be excellent to hear from the horse’s own mouth. Mr. Banson explained what happened before they came into contact with him and his subsequently appearance in the ‘Fresh One’ video. Shaka Zulu also appear in a TV commercial for Tigo.

Though he confessed being an armed robber, he says he only robbed just once so he could get money to take care of his pregnant wife and organize an impressive naming ceremony for his baby. Duke Banson acknowledged that, the above should not be a reason for him to go into armed robbery…

GhanaCelebrities.com: The rumour in town says Shaka Zulu is a member of the 4X4 rap trio. What do you have to say about that? What really happened?

Duke Banson: Basic, when we decided to shoot the video for ‘Fresh One’, we contracted an agency to get us some models, (that’s what we normally do), because we can’t go around looking for models. So out of the people that they came up with, we used him for the video.
Watch 4X4 Fresh Ones (Shaka Zulu) Video



GhanaCelebrities.com: So he is not a member of 4X4?

Duke Banson: He is not a member of 4X4! He has never being 4X4 and he cannot be a member of 4X4. And secondly, he was not the only dancer or the Shaka Zulu in the video; there are about 11 of them, so basically all of them should be part of 4X4, including the spears they were holding in the video.

GhanaCelebrities.com: Why did you use him in the video? Is it about his looks or there is something really you guys looked out for? Why did you choose him?

Duke Banson: We did not choose him. As Paradise Entertainment, we have whole lots of artistes, some of these things you have to contract it out, because its not a one man show, you have to contract it and we liked his features and so were the other 10 that we used. At least Out of the 11 and 1 has stand out to be a bad apple and not the rest of the 10, we should be grateful to the Almighty.

GhanaCelebrities.com: Do you have any idea why, they are associating him to 4X4?

Duke Banson: Oh! It’s just a pure mischief. And also 4X4 is a great group, anything 4X4 sells. Right now, as we speak their next single is ready and its hot like anything you have ever heard. So 4X4 is a group that sells, 4X4 is big, 4X4 is huge, so that’s why everyday 4X4 this, 4X4 that. So it’s pure mischief.

GhanaCelebrities.com: (cuts in) So are you saying because 4X4 is huge, that’s why they are associating Shaka Zulu to them?

Duke Banson: Exactly! 4X4 has not committed any crime; they are law abiding citizen group.

GhanaCelebrities.com: Are they really worried about the whole situation?

Duke Banson: No, they are not worried; they are only surprised and really disappointed. They are worried the manner as to why will someone associates them to the guy. They are trying to be as law abiding as possible in all their endeavours. And some people are trying to criminalize them.

It’s very sad, we have to protect our own, when you get to Nigeria their musicians are getting bigger because we they get the support of the media. If a musician does a wrong thing, he should not be spared but if he has not, lets us promote our musicians, not only 4X4.

GhanaCelebrities.com: What do you suggest should be done to him?

Duke Banson: This is the matter for the court. We don’t condone armed robbery, so I won’t sit here and say something since I don’t know the facts of the case, I don’t know details of the case.

GhanaCelebrities.com: Do you think he is guilty?

Duke Banson: I wish I was as qualified as to be able to say if he is guilty or not guilty. I wish I have that special ability since you are giving me credit. I cannot pronounce on that, I wish I was that gifted, before the case is heard, I could tell the outcome, like I will be a rich man.

GhanaCelebrities.com:  Do you have anything else to say?

Duke Banson: No! I don’t really have anything to say expect to but I want to tell journalist, media, lets help promote our musicians. Let’s promote Ghana music; you guys should not bring Ghana down, let’s promote the music.

GhanaCelebrities.com: Thank you for your time.

Duke Banson: Thank you also.



[caption id="attachment_9011" align="aligncenter" width="300" caption="The 4X4 Album photo"][/caption]



Story by Ebenezer Anangfio Jnr./GhanaCelebrities.com/Ghana