Over 10,000 music lovers from all the corners of Kumasi trooped into the Kumasi City Mall to come and witness live, great musical performances from their various artists. All the important people who have a stake in Ghana’s Music Industry were also present.
In recent weeks the pathetic state of Ghana’s health system has been at the forefront of the news as story after story illustrates how dangerous it is to fall sick in this sh*thole called Ghana. In an emergency there won’t be any ambulance to come to your aid and if you suffer to get to the hospital by your own volition, you might get turned away for lack of beds.
The Ghana music industry has really come a long way. Each week, we are being greeted by hit tracks from our well known musicians. Music, like writing, isn’t easy as others might think. For an artiste to come out with great tunes, it requires passion, creativity, etc on the part of him or her.
We’ve come across several musicians globally who compose good songs, but fade out from the system as time passes. Ghana, as a country is not an exception. There have been some musicians who were doing awesome in the game, but now ‘struggling’ to make hits. Let’s take a look at some of them.
Asem
The man who studied journalism, turned rapper is one of the brilliant musicians and songwriters the country has produced. Coming into the limelight with ‘Give Me Blow’, Asem was very consistent in the delivery of hit songs. With his background in communication, he has control over words and very good at throwing punch lines.
However, after releasing ‘Bye Bye’ which he featured Kwabena Kwabena, Asem has been struggling to come out with great tunes. With fans not patronising his songs as they used to, he even went ahead to put his latest album (Tough Times Don’t Last) on internet for free download.
Tic Tac
“Philomena Kpiting3, g33g3.” Any individual who has followed Hiplife from the 90s will be familiar with this phrase in Tic Tac’s ‘Philomena’ track. As one of the pioneers of Hiplife, he has contributed immensely to the success of the genre.
Tic Tac has many great songs to his credit. I remember how one of his songs (Kwani Kwani) brought myself and a girl together when I was a small boy. Tic Tac has tried to remain relevant in the game in terms of songs, but unfortunate for him, his new releases are really ‘hustling’ to make it to the top.
Ghanaian writer and director Kobi Rana has defended why he overlooked Ghanaian actors for Nollywood legendary actor Ramsey Nouah Jnr. when casting for his latest blockbuster ‘Hotel Babylon; Where Clothes Are Naked’. The movie with obviously many supporting characters or probably no supporting characters had the Nollywood actor as the lead. His performance in the movie was a top notch and may confirm why he was picked ahead of the many Ghanaian Actors. After the screening, the young African movie maker was subjected to series of questions by journalists. One question which nearly caused a rift between the movie maker and some journalists was the issue concerning the casting of the leading character in the movie.
‘Hotel Babylon’ ... Where Clothes Are Naked Premieres On March 17! From the young African Writer & Director “KOBI RANA (Cornelius Phanthomas)” comes the most anticipated movie ‘HOTEL BABYLON: where clothes are naked’. It stars Nollywood actor Ramsey Nouah Jnr. and Roselyn Ngissah, Eddie Watsons, Nana Ama McBrown, James Gardner, Kafui as well as upcoming stars. It premieres on Saturday March 17 at the National Theatre. There would be two showings; 6pm and 9pm. Ticket goes for GHC 30 and GHC 50 and available at Joy FM, Adom FM, Accra Mall (Foto Store and Silverbird), Busy Internet and Legon Drama Studio. httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ink46v1jNy4
In the western world, legends are honoured, appreciated and celebrated all the time. They are awarded in their various fields of endeavour when they are alive and active. Even when they finally give up the ghost, they still get acknowledgements and recognition.
Celebrating legends posthumously has become the order of the day in our part of the world. Legends die many years before they are celebrated or anything done in their names.
Imajin Advertising, an event promotion and management outfit based inAccrabelieves it is prudent if legends are honoured and appreciated while they are alive and can relish in the accolades, praise and other benefits that come from being recognized as a legend.
The company feels it is wrong to wait till a legend dies before praises and accolades are showered on them, when the same can be done whiles they are alive. Owing to the above, an event ‘Legends & Legacy Ball’, to honour living legends has been instituted.
The ‘Legends & Legacy Ball’ is an annual event to honour music legends. As time goes on, the company hopes to extend the event to Kumasi to cater for the Northern sector of the country.
The maiden edition of the ‘LAL Ball’ focuses on legendary high life musician born and christened Charles Kojo Fosu but known by many as Daddy Lumba and recently responds to ‘DL’.
The YES BOSS TOUR Is Officially The Most Successful Musical Tour Embarked On By A Ghanaian Musician In Ghana!! D-Black da Ghana Bwouy has set the bench mark for other musicians to follow.
There’s nothing to stop D-Black now as this young man who is rumoured to be barely 26 years old and runs his own record label, events, marketing and advertising firms; Black Avenue Muzik and Black Avenue Works respectively made history a few weeks ago being the first Ghanaian rapper to be nominated for the prestigious BET Awards as Best International Act (Africa).
After a successful debut album release last year in September, making winnings at the G.M.A’s in 2010 and 2011, the 2010 4Syte Music Video Awards, three nods at the 2009 and 2011 Channel O Music Video Awards and much more, D-Black embarked on his first ever musical tour in April this year aimed at promoting the D-Black brand and Urban Ghanaian Hiphop music around the country.
Kicking off in Kwahu during the Easter weekend, the YES BOSS Tour saw D-Black sell out venues in Cape Coast, Sunyani, Takoradi, Kumasi, Tema, Ho and finally The Yes Boss tour did hit the Northern Region of Ghana last weekend with Bolga seeing D-Black on the 3rd of June at the Catering Rest House which was rammed with over 4,000 Bolga natives and The Tamale Sports Stadium packed on Saturday the 4th of June seeing over 14,000 people out in their numbers to see D-Black Live in Concert through the rain.
After being out of the media radar for a very long time, Kwaadee was welcomed back into the game with a comeback show in 2009. After that, it still looks like he’s limping on one foot. He’s not been able to pick up from where he left off.
In celebrating his 30th birthday, OM Music & Fiesta are organizing a birthday bash for him at two venues; Sunyani and in Kumasi.
According to the organizers, the rapper has been on low profile after his comeback show, so this show is to let his fans know that he is very much around.
