Was 'Prophet' Kwaw Kese Right?

Glo Telecommunication Company is the sixth mobile company to enter Ghana's mobile telecommunications industry. In September of this year it unveiled 17 personalities in the entertainment industry as ambassadors to promote their brand.

A name which conspicuously missed the tall list was Kwaw Kese, the notoriously controversial performer. Looking at the kind of personalities on the list, one wonders why the Kwaw Kase, self titled ‘King of the Street’ was not included. Music pundits and people from all walks of life were surprised at his exclusion and questioned the reason for this decision. It is amazing that the ‘King of the Street’, who was nominated for and won the highest number of awards including the most coveted prize, Artiste of the Year, at the 9th annual Ghana Music Awards in 2008, was not considered for Glo’s promotional campaign.

To some people he was not included in this promotional campaign because of his behavior. The artiste, known for his controversial utterances and aggressive personality was strategically left out for reasons unknown to the public.

It has turned out Kwaw ‘Abodam’ Kesse, hip-life idol cum model, is justified for his negative comments regarding Glo and MTN endorsements. For him, the GH¢50,000 to GH¢100,000 his fellow artistes received from the endorsement deals is not enough to buy his car nor is it worth being tied to a three-year contract.

To further grasp Abodam’s outburst, imagine a high profile show this Christmas without Asem, Okyeame Kwame, Samini, Wutah, Ayigbe Edem, Tinny, Amakye Dede, Paapa Yankson, Kwabena Kwabena, Gyedu Blay Ambolley, Irene Logan, Pat Thomas, Reggie Rockstone, Sherifatu Gunus and Becca. Why? These artistes are restricted by their exclusivity contract for three or more years under the pretext of endorsement deals.

A show believed by many to have suffered to live up to its billings because of this exclusivity deals is JOY FM’s, ‘NITE with the STARS’. This annual show commenced nine years ago. ‘Nite with the Stars’ is geared towards the youths and offers local artistes the opportunity to grace the stage and showcase their talents. Special emphasis is given to upcoming artistes who have excelled in their career during the year. This year’s edition of the show can best be tag as “Nite with ‘few’ stars” because of the lack of artistes to make the show what it’s known for.

The probability exists that, three years from now, none of Glo’s ambassadors will be the featured artistes on weekly entertainment shows. Programs like TV3”s Music Music, TV Africa’s Sound Splash and annual shows like Star of the Future, Miss Malaika and Ghana’s Most Beautiful sponsored by MTN and Vodafone will have moved on the new stars and fresh faces.

Ghana Music Awards and Ghana Films Awards are two shows purported as a win for every artiste. The former is prestigious and the latter is being rejuvenated. None of the artistes under Glo Telecommunication Company ambassadorial contract will mount the stage during the roll call.

Christmas is almost here again and as usual there will be variety shows to mark this yuletide season. Music lovers and fans will expect their various stars to mount the stage to entertain them throughout this season and well into the New Year. The Glo contract may very well put a dent into the artistes’ ability to perform at shows that presents a conflict of interest. The above named artistes might not be only the biggest artistes in Ghana, but a show without them surely makes a difference in the quality of the entertainment.

The future really looks bleak as it stands out now. Major players must come together and communicate in the hope of helping this sad situation. Music fans can’t afford to pay exorbitant money to watch the same artistes perform at every show, because others are tied up.

By: Ebenezer Anangfio Jnr

Get Set, Its Accra Facebook Banku & Tilapia Party

When Ghanaians hear about something, they want to ‘really’ drain it or get to the very bottom of it; they have taken the name ‘FACEBOOK’ to a different level all together, the name is reigning now with the number of Ghanaians registering on the social network increasing daily.

My friends don’t be surprise to hear Ghana Facebookers Association, Face Book Pool Party, Facebook Addicted Party, Facebook Waakye Party, Facebook Donors Club and Facebook Jersey Party.

On Sunday, 22 November Two Thousand and Nine, from 10 am, yet another Face Book event is taking place dubbed “ACCRA FACEBOOK BANKU & TILAPIA PARTY” at the Dansoman Keep Fit Club.

There will be more banku and hot grilled tilapia to eat, more drinks to quench your thirst and get to meet the faces behind your wall posts, photo comments and status comments, and make new friends.

Facebookers will participate in *Pool, *Chess, *FIFA Challenge {Playstation3/2 & Xbox360}, *Draft, *Basketball competitions.

The show is sponsored by the Brown Uni4m Group and Adwise Multimedia. Also available for sale will be the SKILLIONS NEW GENERATION MIXTAPE.


RSVP:
Supamahn - 0246 384 375. Kay - 0244 940 686. Kwame - 0262 348 217.

Kokote! Newest Hip Life Duo

Hip life might be touted to be losing its focus and just when there has been hullabaloo as to if is dead or not, Kokote another hip life group has emerged. The group is the latest hip life rap duo to make entry into the hip life game. The name Kokote actually means Bush Pig or Wattock.

The rap duo is made up of two young men Emperor Amslin (Raymond Koranteng) and Ragoon (Emmanuel Bossman) both from the Eastern part of the country.

They were in different schools yet developed their musical talents as they used to entertain their respective colleagues on stage almost every time on entertainment time and that moment encouraged them to take music serious after completion of school.

Emperor Amslin had plans of becoming a great football and to don the national colours but realized his calling is singing so he shunned playing football. “As a young boy, football was a constant part of my daily life; and even though I enjoyed music a lot, I didn’t pay much attention to it until I started singing during the entertainment period in school. My singing improved so rapidly that the students couldn’t do without my performance during entertainment; and that gave me the reason to choose music over football”, he said.

“Like everyone else, I also had a role model. Musicians who inspired me include Buju Banton, CJ Lewis, Sizzla and Elephant man. Among these, Buju was my favourite and so I made him my role model and tried to imitate his voice style. Incidentally, some students called me ‘Yoggie’ (a Ghanaian raga artiste) because they thought we had similar styles.”

Facing the harsh reality of being disowned by his parents, if he chose music over education, Ragoon’s problem compounded but he never gave up.

“With them, it was either I choose to further my education or do anything else and am disowned. I didn't give up from there still, I started creating my own rhythms (beat) in the house because no one could satisfy me with the kind of rhythms I wanted any time I trip the studio. And also no one got my back in the music thing I was doing and for that no one was ever willing to support me money wise so I really had to do something for my self.. with all the dreams of becoming a top hitting artist in Ghana one day and at the same time setting up my recording studio”.

“I started making rhythms for my self in the house with a Pentium one PC, actually when I started at first a had a plan of creating beat for my own personal use but I later realized most of my friends were interested in my beats so I really had to commercialize it and do it for people too”

“I think I had my break through from this point because I was then making money for my self and doing more featuring in studios as well. I actually see my self as a beat maker and rap star even though there is more for me to learn, my dad later understood what I was doing and decided to let me further it, I continued by studying Multimedia in N.I.I.T in Accra and later furthered my sound engineering program in Fredyma Studios Inside Adabraka Accra and I even wish to further it more after making some more money”, he ended.

Kokote have a lot of stories to tell but it can all summarize to the normal hardship, new artistes face in this game being lack of producers, lack of funds to records demo, lack of opportunities and the fact that every producer wants to work with the already known artistes.

Not finding success in their previous engagements, Emperor Amslin and Ragoon believed in the saying “two heads are better than one” hence coming together to form this group and they are certainly going to take their place in the hip life game sooner or later.

The duo are gifted with real talents, they are currently in the studio recording their debut album, which is set to hit you like a time bomb. They aspire to work with different artistes both famous and ‘underground’.



By Ebenezer Anangfio Jnr.

Obrafour fires a warning shot.....Find sponsors and I will battle Okyeame Kwame

Over the past few weeks Obrafour's latest single track “Kasiebo” has been the highest subscribe Ghanaian music for the sheer controversy it has generated. The music has had everyone talking and thinking simultaneously. The track features Guru, a budding hip life artiste.

The controversy surrounding it's released can simply be described as overwhelming. It came at the right time perchance to the fans of Obrafour, who have waited for almost 4 years without hearing anything from their star.

Kaseibo has not been too long on the airwaves but it's threatening the very existence of other equally good music on the airwaves. Everywhere you go be it clubs, pubs, parties, funerals etc it's been played and to say it has hijacked the airwaves, will be an understatement, the lyrics is on the lips of every music lover.

Turn on the radio, switch on the television, browse the internet or even read or glance through the newspapers and you will get my drift, everyone is just talking about it. It has also become a topic for discussion during entertainment reviews and shows both on radio and on television.

Concurring with Kwame Sefa Kayi, host of Peace FM's morning show, Fiifi Banson and Kofi Okyere Darko (KOD), I feel the track is just a masterpiece and creativity at its peak.

Though the song makes no mention of any particular person(s), it is clear who the song is referring to. According to Obrafour, he got the concept from the God Almighty and not picking on anyone. He said his detractors thought he's done, jaded and out of the game but blamed his absence to a strange sickness. “The rumour around says I was done and out of the game, I thought I wouldn't be alive now, but I thank God'.

On why he refused the rap battle invitation on DJ Black's Open House Party from the reigning king of the Ghana Music Awards and the guy who calls himself 'the best rapper alive', a title Obrafour is not pleased about. “Am not afraid, am not running away from anyone”, Obrafour fires with a sound of caution.

The outwardly deformed and emotionally looking Obrafour said he is not aware of any rap battle with Okyeame Kwame at Joy FM, but so far as he is concerned he is not a dirty rapper and sees battling as childish. But on second thought he will only battle if the organizers of such battle can solicit for 20 sponsors and put 10,000 with that he is sure to battle since by then he will know he is battling for something. So Is rap Osofour broke?

Meanwhile, the initiator of the battle, Ghana's rap 'Doctor', Okyeame Kwame failed to grab any awards at this year's Channel O Music Video Awards even though he received three nominations with his 'Woso' video. He was nominated for; Most Gifted Hip Hop Video, Most Gifted West African and Most Young Gifted & African Award.

The originator of hip life Reggie Rockstone has publicly asked Okyeame Kwame to do a reply song to Obrafour's 'Kasiebo'. But it looks like the former will not heed to Reggie's advice as he believes doing so will dent his image, he said he's now matured enough, especially as a married man and a husband.

“I am not prepared to enter into a fight with Obrafour because I am moving on. I am now a father, a husband, MTN Brand Ambassador, Coca-Cola Brand Ambassador and Hepatitis B Ambassador. If I went to the studio to do the same thing he has done, I would be allowing my name to be dragged into disrepute, that is all he wants to achieve”, He told Graphic Showbiz.


By Ebenezer Anangfio Jnr.

Ayigbe Edem: A Rapper, A Philanthropist And A Thief?

...Ayigbe Edem & Confidence: Is this a broken relationship or missing / stolen phone?

Edem has really won my heart for his sheer smartness. He is yet to settle fully in the game and yet he is doing what the likes of Reggie Rockstones, Kojo Antwis and Daddy Lumbas could have done but have turned deaf ears to it.

From a rapper to a philanthropist and now to a thief? Oh God, have Mercy! Ayigbe Edem has seen and heard a lot.

A Rapper

We all wink when we hear a song done in our language, like I do when I hear a song from Shilo and Tinny. It is also trouble-free for an Akan rapper to rap or sing in the Ga language and vice versa but rapping in the Ewe language hasn’t been easy unless the rapper might have sojourned in Volta Region before.

In the backdrop, when Ewe rappers like Chicago and Agbeko of ototome fame proved to the whole world that they are jaded, with the latter, it seems he is a hit single artist. Ayigbe Edem came to the spot light to pick it up from where they left out and has managed to let the Voltarians wink once again.

Even though majority of Ghanaians do not speak his language, Ayigbe Edem has made the language more popular with his rap knack and has introduced more dances to accompany his songs.

A Philanthropist

In his earlier donations, he donated two Pentium 4 desktop computers with flat screen monitors, bags of rice, cerelacs, toilet rolls and other items which summed up to GHc3000 to the Mamobi Polyclinic. He also revealed that, this is something that will be happening periodically and whenever they spot any hospital, clinic or polyclinic in need, they will move there.

True to his promise, he recently donated an amount of GHc1,000 and a Dell flat screen computer, said to be around 750 Dollars to the Weija Leprosarium. This is something worth acknowledging but this pointless $14,000 phone accusation has surpassed what could be welcoming news to the ears of who those who wants to hear it. He has a charity organization, Volta Regime Foundation.

He said his priority is making people who need help get help. People do not have to be rich before they can donate and help the needy in society. This sends a clear message to the other musicians who want to have many albums before thinking about the less privileged in our society.

And A Thief

It was reported in the P&P newspaper that Ayigbe Edem is accused of stealing a mobile phone which is estimated at Fourteen thousand dollars belonging to the CEO of Aphrodisiac Night Club in Accra; Confidence Haugen.

What phone is worth that much? Talking about the price of the phone, I wondered if the first and the second richest men even own this kind of phone.

P&P gathered that Ayigbe Edem was accused of stealing the phone from Confidence’s car when the two in the company of others went to perform at the ‘Aboakye’ festival at Winneba in the Central region in May.

I am trying harder to grasp why Confidence came out with the alleged theft several months after the incidence. Is it because Ayigbe Edem left her or is she up to something? Behind every successful man there is a ‘wise’ woman says the old adage but there is also a woman behind every unsuccessful man. What is the brain behind this $14,000 phone accusation?

If there are two grown ups in a relationship and there is a problem, why can’t they solve it peacefully? What is Confidence Haugen up to? Is this a broken relationship or missing / stolen phone?

By Ebenezer Anangfio Jnr.

This is the show ‘Just Like You’

Reality Television in Ghana is about to be to take a windfall with the launch of a new show which is set to blow your mind. 13 contestants prepare to duke it out in the studios of TV Africa imitating the likes of social commentator Kwesi Pratt Jnr. Others will imitate musicians such as Abrantie Makye Dede, King Ayisoba, Daddy Lumba, politicians like Nana Akufo-Addo, former presidents Jerry John Rawlings and John Agyekum Kuffour, and comedians Bob ‘Bishop’ Okalla, Koofori.

The contestants will be in full gear every week to imitate each personality in every sense of the word. It’s going to be unique as it differs from the usual film or music themed reality shows that have saturated our screens of late.

The show titled “Just Like You,” is organized by F&B Entertainment and is full of laughter. It is tagged to be very educative and entertaining.

According to Mr. Yaw Osafo Djan, General Manager of F&B Entertainment in his interview with Graphic Showbiz, he said “Initially the projected number was 12 but we ended up with 13, a decision taken by the judges based on the exceptional performances by the contestants”.

This explains the hard work that has gone into the planning of the program which is set to hit TV Africa twice a week with a short code for viewers to vote for their favourite contestant.

The task shows will be prerecorded whereas the eviction shows will be live. The contestants are at liberty to do their acts in any language of their choice. If what happened on “Run Down” or what transpired during the audition is something to go by then the show is a must watch.

Stay glued to TV Africa and prepares to laugh and learn for the next 10 weeks. The moderator of the show will be Clement Bonney, known in showbiz circles as Mr. Beautiful and editor of Graphic Showbiz Nana Banyin Dadson, and actors Fred Amugi, Irene Opare will serve as judges. Viewers should expect to laugh their head off with Mr. Beautiful in the middle of affairs.

Reality shows Ghana in which viewer’s votes is the means of determining winners and losers has been plagued with fraud. Let’s hope and pray that this show will be an exception and there would be an equal playing field for all the contestants. No favouritism on the part of the judges this time around, please play it fair judges!


By Ebenezer Anangfio Jnr.

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