HERE COMES PEYO AND CYMFONY GH!!!!

What I immediately and easily remembered after the hearing the word CYMFONY GH was the prestigious Grammy Awards ceremony held a few nights ago in the renowned American city of Los Angeles. There, the much imperative British group, the London Symphony Orchestra was awarded the best opera recording for Benjamin Britten’s Billy Budd. This doesn’t only vindicate their vital positioning in music circles but also perk up their projection.

On a weekend inside the ultra modern and multi purpose shopping facility, I touched base with executives from the latest music label in GH. Though being young chaps, they appear very brainy, possessing ideas people thrice their age are yet to envisage. To them, music is yet to be commercially exploited in GH hence the need for a perfect blend of talent, creativity and dedication in order to achieve actualized results.

To many music devotees including myself, Hip Hop as a genre has projected several artists and catapulted them to several heights but not in GH! No one pays for Hip Hop in GH leaving emcees with fame and modest recognition. Acts aligned to relatively unknown music genre have remained underground as the mainstream music scene gets commercial after the day.

In the light of this phenomenon, CYMFONY GH, a Ghanaian based record label company was established with the aim to inspiring and motivating artist aside entertaining the GH music nation and beyond. Comprising of a devoted and result oriented individuals; CYMFONY GH is supposed to get around the complexities surrounding the music fraternity and hurl it to greater heights.

Yoofi Odamtten (alias Peyo) is the founder/CEO of the label and doubles up as the labels leading artist. The young emcee equipped with grand punch lines interlaced with pleasant lyrics revealed the ideas of his group. “CYMFONY GH is a group of young men filled with the passion for music. We have taken time off to learn the rudiments of the trade and the industry so we make the difference. We are here not to add to the numbers but get to the top and put GH on the map”.

With all evidence of confidence and intelligence, Smart Kwasi Yeboah, Executive producer of the record label hinted on the plans of his outfit. “You can’t afford to continually fail at a course for over a decade. GH rap is regarded as Hip Hop which is by all standards right, and i am certain it can be used as a tool to market Ghana more easily when the right structures are put in place. We are coming in with a fresh paradigm”.

Talk of diversity in music and that is what CYMFONY GH prides as one of its goals. From artists to management, there is a fusion of originality and potentials. Emcees signed to the label include K-Spliff, Sel-K, Basha, Spinx da Jinx, Fortune Dane and Juju (rapper cum singer). Magnum is the labels unfailing and imaginative producer under the effective management of Laud Robinson.

“My 2 Verse Symphony” is the labels major mix tape from CYMFONY GH which features artists of the label and other emcees. Currently, it is receiving rotations on radio and making the rounds with many music lovers dancing to it. A must watch video directed by one of GH’s finest is set to hit the screens pretty soon.

SPARE US THE LAFA CRAZE!!!

Have you for a moment paused to ponder over the startling rate at which our society is swiftly becoming “Americanized”? Love it or hate it, this is a reality supposed to persist until the very foundation of globalization is broken. Today, American hip culture finds its head at every corner of the globe- urban fashion is not only seen on the streets of New York but in the corner joints in Seoul, Tehran and Cairo lately.

Ghana is no exception to this phenomenon with the entire nation being consumed by human antics and mannerisms purported to be American or Western. Cable television is now widespread and has proven to be very influential and directly aiding in the “Americanization” campaign. The ever daring Ghanaian youth now wears whatever they see on MTV- from stage costume to winter jackets.

Make no mistake to think we have lots of Americans flooding our streets in recent times. Rather, we have more people interestingly speaking with an American accent, a phenomenon becoming more popular and catching up with almost everybody irrespective of social status and age. This is the LAFA (Locally Acquired Foreign Accent) craze which appears to have come to stay.

Radio personalities, television anchors, musicians and other famous persons are the noted champions. LAFA has become their better companion for whatever reasons best known to them. If for nothing at all, the numerous self-styled celebrities on the streets feel noted speaking with LAFA thinking they sound foreign and different from the regular Ghanaian. Could the desire and respect for anything foreign by most Ghanaians be a factor?

In as much as people should be encouraged to strive for the best and grab the gold in life, we ought not to loose sight of who we are as a people. Being unique and carving a niche shouldn’t amount to identity crises. As Ghanaians and Africans for that matter, we have to be proud and bold to show what we have to the world. We should sell our culture including our language to the rest of the world rather than gratuitously copying.

It was a sorrowful and an embarrassing experience for a famous Accra based LAFA radio personality when questions from an inquisitive American intern on his style of presentation revealed he has no idea of any airline that connects Accra and New York. As if that wasn’t enough humiliation, the American chap went further to advice him to stop faking his accent wondering if no one ever told him how ridiculous he sounded.

That remains the psychology of deception several souls around the nation are caught in. To speak with a foreign accent which often than not is very fake doesn’t make anyone a better person comparatively. Rather, it reveals a persons lack of knowledge and low self esteem. Identity crisis is the worse form of ignorance, a canker intellectuals and the good old book has described as a killer. Can we be spared the LAFA craze?

HOW AMA NETTEY BECAME MISS MALAIKA ‘10

Except for a spirited performance from sensational music group VIP and a fairly unknown Nigerian act Banky W, the Miss Malaika Ghana 2010 finale could have been better than what patrons were treated to. After twelve weeks of thrills, drills, splendor and evictions, ten ladies converged at the Dome of the International Conference Centre as they attempt to upstage each other for the Malaika crown last Saturday night.



Characteristic of GH shows, the event delayed over an hour after advertised time with audience held captive and having to sit through songs that blasted out of the giant speaker boxes back to back. The show however took off nicely with the ladies arriving in horse-ridden carts, a move reckoned as imaginative on the part of the organizers. Dressed like Indian movie actresses, they came on stage to perform a splendid choreography.



As expected, Chris Attoh showed up on stage to welcome the audience before introducing his co host for the night. Naa Ashorkor Doku Mensah appeared elegant in her outfit but was overshadowed by the more experienced Chris. She simply lacked the antics that got Chris and Jessica to gel perfectly and effortlessly in previous seasons of the pageant. Considering the event as her first major, it’s unfair to describe her as a pale shadow of herself.



Videos capturing the ten finalists and their activities preceding the final event rolled on the giant monitors the hanged at both extremes of the auditorium. Judges for the night were introduced via video presentation. One wonders the criteria for selecting John Dumelo and Jackie Appiah as judges with a section of the audience having a lot to complian about the few times the two directed questions to delegates.



The first task of the night was a presentation focusing on socio-economic issues by all ten ladies. It was a necessary task supposed to test the eloquence and intellect of the delegates. And yes, it was a total humiliation as the ladies shamefully exposed their ignorance and lower mental acumen when asked questions connected to their presentation.



The auditorium was partially filled and the audience booed at any delegate who slipped during her presentation. Could that have contributed to the brainless answers from the ladies? The talent hunt segment gave audience a break from continuous poor showing all night though it wasn’t a faultless segment. Berla, Perpetual, Stephanie, Belinda had emerged as front runners for the crown after this session.



The best musical act of the night was the Nima based group, VIP. They were phenomenal and managed to get the entire crowd on its feet. They had a great stage presence as they rocked the crowd to their new hits. Bank W aka Mr. Capable was relatively unknown to the crowd but had the zeal and power to leave a mark. He got love from the ladies and that worked the magic for him.



GH rap artist Trigmatic was on the bill and confirmed Hip Hop doesn’t sell in GH but for fame and recognition only. He looked simple and smooth getting on stage yet very immature in his outfit. Stage fright could be very devastating but I wonder if the stage was bigger than the emcee with the vocals. He simply failed to impress just like fellow artist D Black who came on with seductive and provocative dressed dance girls. The broom boys, Praye gave a good account of themselves.



It was during the last session that the final five delegates threw the Dome into a state of total shock when they repeatedly fumbled with the Make or Break question. “Who is an African and what makes you an African, country of birth or color?” was the question that separated each of them and the crown. The standards had extremely fallen and it was just too obvious to avoid..



Ama Nettey who by sheer luck had made it into the perfect five wasn’t entirely right with her answer but relatively better than her other four colleagues. She was eventually crowned the winner, driving home the KIA Cerato saloon car and a whooping annual salary of GH 4,800.



The much fancied Berla Addardey emerged as second runner up and received GH 1,500 for her prize.



Pretty faced Stephanie Mensah who looked more of the queen was the first runner up and walked away with prize money of GH 2,000. The first three winners received other prize packages from sponsors including ABC wax prints and cosmetics.

Is Ghana now a dumping ground for CFC?

Nana Osei is a non conformist filled with a lofty zeal to continually put food on the table for himself and his extended family. Usually referred to as Osei Germany by his associates and other pals, he traces his roots to a family along the hills of Kwahu- a tribe known for their rather swift business strategies. After sojourning for over a decade in the former Nazi governed Germany, Osei now owns a shop in Osu, along the beach road. His stock is diverse but chiefly, used (second hand) goods.

A bus ride with Osei Germany from the harbour city, Tema, to the central business district brought out a fairly astounding experience. The one-hour trip was relatively smooth though it was impossible to get myself glued to my seat as I could not resist viewing the sight outside the van. Before arriving in the city centre of Accra, I had counted not less than fifty outlets (superstores and make-shift shops alike) openly displaying used wares for sale.

Coincidentally, all these shops had patrons who were either checking out certain items or moving them into their cars. My utmost shock was how all these shops paraded chlorofluorocarbon (CFC) refrigerators. Knowing perfectly the dangers of this Freon to the environment, I pinched myself so hard to believe importers/dealers of such wares were ignorant of the long standing ban on such wares in several parts of the world. Is this your first time hearing CFC?

Chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) are a family of chemical compounds developed back in the 1930's as safe, non-toxic, non-flammable alternative to dangerous substances like ammonia for purposes of refrigeration and spray can propellants. Their usage grew enormously over the years and it became acknowledged the chlorine has the potential to destroy large amounts of ozone. This was vindicated after careful observation, especially over Antarctica after levels of genetically harmful ultraviolet radiation have increased.

Seeking for the impetus and rationale for such operations, I went window shopping at Osei Germany’s store for first hand information. His wares included television sets, ghetto blasters and microwaves aside refrigerators. I found out that Osei was aware of the dangers his refrigerators pose not only to the ozone layer but to the health of millions of people. Obviously blinded by profit margins, Osei imports such items deliberately ignoring the health hazards.

The aggressive looking Ghanaian businessman revealed there is a relatively larger demand for used items. This he attributes to affordable prices.
“These appliances will finish in no time because they are cheap and everyone can buy one. The new ones in boxes are for the rich people in society. Whenever I have new things, there is a massive rush for them. The fridges and televisions move faster than the radios and others” were his words.

Jemima is a young lady in her mid twenties and apparently a regular patron of Osei. That was her third visit to the shop in the month. She had come to buy a Greenwood branded microwave. According to Jemima, all electrical gadgets in her house were purchased from Osei.
“This place has the best things from television, fridges and radio tapes. Then he was also selling blenders, furniture among others. We don’t have any problems with the things I bought from here”.

Another gentleman who prefers used (second hand) appliances is forty-year old Daniel Ekow. According to Dan, used goods usually last twice the lifespan of new ones particularly with television sets. “My younger brother is a television repairer who explained to me new appliances are not good. Also their parts are not in abundance so it is very difficult to repair when it breaks down”.

Just like Jemima, Dan is ignorant of CFC gases and the dangers they pose to the world at large. There is currently an increase in the influx of such banned goods around the world into Ghana. Can’t we have any legislation to stop this? It appears Ghana is eventually becoming a dumping ground with persons like Osei Germany who have expressed no willingness to stop such operations. Moreover, there are over one thousands of people ready and able to patronize “second hand” goods.

SARKODIE’S KONVICT CONTRACT FAKE?

Call it the talk of town or the craze of the week and you won’t be far from the perfect truth. Receiving enormous spins and rotations from the electronic to the print media, it ranked as the priority on the content list of several entertainment shows including discussions. As some Industry gurus dissected the issue highlighting its recompenses, the music fans weren’t left out as they expressed their expectations. Thinking that will bring an end to months of rumored tales is a total fallacy, rather a new dimension to the entire speculations has surfaced.

The entire buildup was orchestrated at Reggie’s Office the previous Saturday when a group supposed to be representing Konvict Musik touched base. Hosted by the grandpapa and prominent promoter of Hiplife, they were involved in an historic event asserted to be the best thing to have happened to the GH music nation in recent times. Though on a low note, it was the official endorsement ceremony of GH’s currently most sorted after artiste, Sarkordie.

It was a successful event attracting several major players in the music fraternity; from producers, artistes to music promoters. It became obvious several big shots left the event venue with unanswered questions lingering on in their minds in spite of the question opportunity segment. I personally wondered if fellow artiste with enormous international exposure, M3NSAH had satisfactory answers to his series of “penetrating questions”.

Could this be attributed to the “domineering” fashion that characterized the answers of the moderator and his reluctance to lay out details of the contract or his inability to clearly outline the strategies mapped to market the GH act.

Classified information available to JIVE and from credible sources suggest the endorsement ceremony was a gimmick and a calculated attempt aimed at exploiting the fastest GH rapper as well as playing on the intelligence of entire population of GH. From the impeccable sources, Sarkodie plus other African artistes soon to be unveiled will be used as models cum ambassadors to promote and market the Konvict Africa clothing project being championed by the team.

Furthermore, the GH emcee will not be joining the mainstream Konvict music where he will get to record alongside celebrated artistes including Akon amongst a host of others. The sources also revealed there is no stipulated distribution deal for the young Ghanaian artiste not to talk of a network to promote his works. In addition, Sarkodie might get to take his album to the world only and only if he is approved for a possible album “Sway tour”, a GH Hip Hop act that he collaborated with.

Not to take anything from the Konvict team, our source divulged the achievements and the pedigree of the leader, Babs. The businessman of GH descent is the Creative Director and President of Konvict and Aliaune Brands. With over fifteen years experience in the fashion industry, Babs remains a co-founder of FUBU and a pioneer of Phat Fashions, launching the Phat Farm and Baby Phat brands. His great success opened the doors for other American based fashion companies to enter the European scene.

In an interview with the Konvict rep in Ghana, he was not in shock but rather strived to set the records straight. Sounding very confident, Nii Laryea revealed he had anticipated such reactions amongst what he referred to as rumours. “It is rather unfortunate for people to reason like this but that is the issue and we have to deal with it. Sarkodie is now with Konvict so he would be wearing cloths of Konvict, which I don’t think is very wrong. This shouldn’t be wrongly interpreted by the people”.

In his response to Babs moderation and reluctance to reveal details of the contract, Nii denied the allegation suggesting the unavailability of a contract as he came to the defense of his boss. “Babs did not give out any details of the contracts and that doesn’t mean there is no contract.” All we were doing is respecting the confidentiality of the deal and it is for the artiste to reveal that if he so wished. We are respecting our contract as well as the privacy of the artiste. This explains Babs actions that day and it is very simple”.

According to Nii, Babs has his background deeply rooted into fashion and that shouldn’t be interpreted negatively in relations to music. “Truth is truth and I think its high time people try to get the facts in this issue. Babs is the president of all the Konvict brands, meaning he has hold of everything. It seems many people are refusing to accept and believe it, but the truth is the rapper is with us and Universal will be distributing his music”.

In a chat with a key member of the management team of Sakordie, he did emphatically deny the endorsement deal being a gimmick. According to Korsah, the event was real though he wouldn’t give conclusive grounds for his assertion. “There is much more to this deal than money and I think people should support the artistes rather than doubting it. This is a great time for GH music and we can’t afford to play such games. We are getting a lot from this deal and we are very excited!”.

Korsah was quick to add that his artiste will have his music distributed by Konlive, an affiliate of Konvict Musik. “Babs is having this Konvict Africa project to promote African artistes in the Americas and beyond. They come with other businesses including the distribution of the clothing line in Africa. They are in to help Africans than exploit them. My advice to other artistes and their management is not to focus only on money, it doesn’t make them grow in the industry”.

WISHFUL THINKERS CALLED THE PAPARAZZI’S OF ACCRA!!

It was Friday, but to several movie-goers who continually throng the nations leading movie joint, Silverbird, it’s an all new movie day. Speculated to possess the finest motion pictures yet to be witnessed in any GH movie, it attracted the crème de la crème from the entertainment industry. Effusively represented was the “Paparazzis” whom inadvertently I place on the spotlight in my article.

As news of demeaning acts by a couple of the nation’s highly admired characters appear to be engulfing the entire nation and beyond, the nation’s capital has emerged to be in a state of permanence. This is Accra, a cosmopolitan city filled with persons of diverse cultures as well as ideologies. Life isn’t relentlessly brisk, leaving city dwellers legroom to catch up on anything that matters to their survival.

I have always been upbeat about the phenomenon of celebrities principally due to my optimistic revolutionist nature. Being a celeb could be fun and enjoyable aside the fame and favors that accompany it. With a thousand and one eyes focused on your every movement, celebrity status occasionally becomes tricky and frustrating more especially when one looses his/her privacy and yet expected to manage the influential power that rolls in.

On the other hand, celebs should be perfectly equipped to represent a paradigm shift with their natural positions as role models and pacesetters. Get a celebrity to approve a concept and see how many figures will root for that without critically accessing the benefits of such initiatives. These circumstances perfectly highlight the necessary reasons why people tirelessly work towards becoming famed personalities; to receive enviable attention, boundless recognition and populous endorsement.

The above paragraphs represent my candid interpretation of a celebrity before getting my first shot at radio as a freshman in Uni. Several years of my active contribution to the trade with my pen persistently poignant across my pad, I have noticed unimagined facets of stardom but without shock. The city plays host to a group of Paparazzis dotted across the showbiz fraternity to other areas. These aren’t the scandal-seeking photographers known in journalism if I should be mistaken.

Truth be told, there are too many self styled celebrities parading the streets of Accra. From the media through entertainment corridors to the corporate world, these can be found all over. The media circle has witnessed far too many charlatans carrying themselves as journalists. With “sham” titles and their supposed media outlets which have remained only on paper, they hop from one spot to another in their selfish interest.

To tag such individuals as an embodiment of ignoramus will certainly be far from abhorrence. Not only do they bring the journalistic trade into disrepute, they dent the image of focused minds within the trade. The least said about other unabashed folks hidden under certain media umbrellas, the better! You wonder how people elect themselves as “gate keepers” of the industry in a jiggaman style and put out crappy articles. Tabloid journalism can’t be accepted and the earlier they are told off, the better for our puny industry.

Come to the pure entertainment field and you can’t afford to miss out on the new wave of “Jacket Fellas” of the nation’s capital. They include a wider syndicate of obsessed folks craving for stardom. From event to event, they would show up only to exhibit out-of-this-world mannerisms all calculated to win them attention and recognition. Their actions can only be equated to deceit and swindle.

Imagine this dude who fruitlessly tries to carve a niche for himself, always spotted in a jacket irrespective of the day nor the time. It is uncertain his career path but holds himself as an industry don. Though rumored to be borrowed cars, he has driven the finest of cars within the past few months. So one wonders why he will have to scheme such gimmicks just to grab attention. Such wishful thinkers parading themselves to be the icons of this era should be considered as victims of identity crisis.

To be continued…

“CHANGES” BRINGS MISS JANE HER SHINE

“There are times when people walk into your life not to stay but rather to bring the much expected shine then walk away. These are blessed angels who descend on us in the form of blood and flesh. Filled with goodness, they inspire our lives aside shaping our aspirations. They become the agent of Change in our lives, the best thing that can ever happen to someone”. That formed the theme of her song which was the night’s favorite and her personal best.
Though appearing to have lost considerable amount of weight, the young singer looked very elegant in her well fitted yellow dress. The hair style wasn’t any of her accustomed “fanatical” ones, an indication of a new chapter in her life. Afia has eventually come to replace Miss Jane, a name that won her several hearts as a contestant in the famed Stars of the Future reality show. Her performance on the night can better be described as marvelous.
The night was fairly young and the spot was getting packed. The venue appeared a perfect one, perfectly serving the night’s purpose. The double swimming pool served as a breather more especially with the night’s actions getting more brisk and haphazard. Both ends of the pool quarter had heavily stocked liquor bars which were complimented by readily spiced meat which lasted all night. Glamour and style was the trademark of all heads that showed up.
That was how the atmosphere at the African Regent Hotel looked last Friday night when Canoe launched their Greatest of all time edition. The numbers on the night was quite huge, including Accra’s self-styled celebrities, pressmen and ordinary party raves. Copies of the GOAT edition could be seen on display as a group of pretty models moved them to every space.
With a welcoming speech from MC for the night, British based Ama K Abebrese, the program got underway. Citi Fm’s DJ Armani was behind the turntable making sure the attendees remained on their feet all night long. His playlist was quite versatile with recent Nigerian classics in dominance. Armani perfectly worked the crowd with the dance floor getting sweaty.
A member of the creative team of the magazine was invited onto the stage. Looking very bubbly, he welcomed all attendees to the event in a very dramatic tone. He outlined the achievements of his outfit before highlighting on the goals of the Canoe. Assuring of more surprises to in future editions, he entreated the crowd to take to reading.
A fashion show preceded the night’s performance. Spotting magnificently designed cloths, the models took to the narrow asphalt space which served as the runway. In a perfectly rehearsed movement, they attracted much attention and unending applauds from the crowd.
The night’s climax arrived when Miss Jane stepped on stage for a great showing. Thanking Canoe for featuring her in the GOAT edition, she promised to consolidate her stay on the GH music scene. She was full of energy and creativity. Her second song titled “Changes” appeared to be the nights best. A typical crooner’s piece, it got the entire place quiet as Jane preached about relationships and love partners.
Hip Life kingpin, Reggie Rockstone who was also featured in the magazine moved onto the stage to support the song bird. He had his own rendition of changes which sounded just great. The Hip Life Papa went on to drop some bars from his large repertoire of classics. Looking all calm and composed he added much to the night with his persona. Till late into the night, it became a dancing/drinking affair.