SAMINI MARKS 10 YEARS IN GHANA MUSIC

Dancehall artiste Samini celebrates 10 years in music this year. The ‘Linda’ hitmaker for these period has been releasing hits after hits and has been one of the consistent  musicians in the country. He briefed Graphic Showbiz on his plans to celebrate this anniversary.

Ain’t no stopping Samini now; so it seems. The award-winning artiste keeps on being busy in his decade-long music career.

Only last December Samini released his fifth album Next Page online and as expected from an artiste of his calibre, the album is doing considerably well.

Samini, the Dancehall King told Showbiz last Friday that he is putting together some events to mark the anniversary.

Even before the events to mark his anniversary take off, he has been nominated for two international awards including the Black Canadians Award in the Best International Act category.
The award is for black people who excel in their fields of endeavour and it comes off on Saturday, March 1.

The visibly excited Samini told Showbiz that he is really excited about the award, “I urge my fans and all Ghanaians to vote for me by going to the awards website, blackcanadianawards.com, go to the Best International Act Category and vote ‘Samini’, he said.”

Samini’s collaboration song, Summer Party, which he did with Jamaican artiste, Demarco, has also been nominated for the Best International Collaboration in Australia. That event will be held at a yet to be confirmed date.

Away from music and awards, Samini disclosed to Showbiz, “I am opening my restaurant in DC (Dansoman), it is 98% ready. Hopefully, it will open in March and it will be called Dancestardom.”
Speaking about his impressions of the music industry in Ghana in the last 10 years, Samini said, “The industry has changed, it has really changed and developed, it is growing. My first album in 2004 was on a cassette, now CDs and digital downloads have become the in thing.

“Now, everyone has Internet on their phones, things were different when we were coming up.
It has become very easy to become a star because one can record a demo and put it online and immediately it is accessible to consumers.”

According to Samini, the large number of people who download the works of musicians don’t really care or are not the same people who will come for live shows so if one thinks that the number of people who download one’s music are the same who will come for shows, it is a big mistake.

Is Samini eyeing any awards at this year’s Vodafone Ghana Music Awards? “Like any other artiste, I am looking forward to some nominations, “I have worked hard and it won’t be bad to grab some awards.”

To his numerous fans, this is what the dancehall show stopper had to say, “Thank you for holding me down from 2004 till now, you have been very supportive and part of my success story.
This is just the beginning of greater stuff to come, keep the Samini Music Spirit alive. Akye Saaaaaaaaaaa.”

VGMA 2014 NOMINEES TO BE UNVEILED ON MARCH 1ST

After weeks of tough sittings however, the 2014 VGMA board made up of reputable and knowledgeable members of our entertainment industry are ready to release the Nominees List for this year’s awards at another glittery event scheduled for this Saturday 1st March 2014 in the gardens of the plush Golden Tulip Hotel.

Expected, as usual, at this glittering pre-festival event, as has characterized the ‘Music Every Where’ VGMA brand, will be a tall guest list of the “who is who” in the entertainment industry from producers, technicians to the artistes, managers and musicians.

The Grand launch event is as highly anticipated as the main awards night as it gets the ball rolling for the entire festival, climaxing with the official release of the much awaited nominations list.

Reception, replete with a red carpet, lots of paparazzi, great socialization and partying with the industry and specially invited guests.

The strictly by invitation event starts at 8pm with performances from some of the finest talents in the industry. It is expected to host most if not all of the players in Ghana’s music industry with a huge representation of the press.

The 15th Vodafone Ghana Music Awards is a Charterhouse Ghana Event supported by GHOne TV and sponsored by Vodafone.

HAMMER TIPS KILLBEATZ TO WIN SOUND ENGINEER OF THE YEAR

Hammer, born Edward Nana Poku Osei is a record producer in the Ghanaian music industry.

He is the founder and CEO of The Last Two Music Group and is also known for grooming some of the best artistes Ghanaian Hip Hop or Hiplife has ever produced.

Examples of such musicians are Obrafour, Tinny, Kwaw Kese, Sarkodie and Edem. As a producer, he is credited as one of the pioneers and key figures in the popularization of Hiplife or Hip Hop made in Ghana.

Hammer in an interview on Anapua 105.1 FM's “Infotainment Show” hosted by Kwaku B – he was asked about the comments made by Appiatus that Ghanaians can never do hip hop like the way Americans do it and he responded beautifully to the question.

He said hip hop is a worldwide thing which most people are doing apart from the Americans and that it would be extremely difficult to do better than what they do but what we can do is to add some traditional Ghanaian elements like congas to exhibit our culture.

“We can't do more than they do, we can't sell what they are doing there for them, because they live there and they know more than us, but trying to portray our culture through Hip Hop can be enticing to them”.

Talking about his new projects, Hammer continued that he is in the studio with Brong Ahafo artiste Area Boy who came out with a track called Abena, as well as Tee Phlow from Cape coast. Of course, the bigger project he was working on was with Sarkodie and Obrafour.

Ghana Music Awards is just around the corner. Who do you think stands the chance of winning the sound engineer award: Hammer was asked. “Killbeatz stands the chance of taking that award this year. He has been very phenomenal in the year under review. EL as well as Magnum who did Illuminatti with Sarkodie and DJ Bleez of Tonga are also in great contention” Hammer answered.

YAW SIKI TO DO GOSPEL MUSIC

Information has it that Isaac Okai, popularly known as Yaw Siki would no more do hiplife but gospel.

Though it has not been officially pronounced, a grapevine information to Flex newspaper indicates that the “Wope Dodo” hit maker wishes to move away from hiplife launch a gospel career.

I have met him several times in the hood, and the young artist is recovering from the injuries he sustained from the accident but he seems to be suffering as it is rumored that he would have to undergo surgery soon.

Let’s Pray for the brother.

ACTORS GUILD OF GHANA ESTABLISHES I.C.T CENTER FOR MEMBERS

The president of Ghana Actors Guild -G.A.G Mr. Samuel Nii Odoi Mensah can now heave a big sigh of relief because the consistent media bash that he has been dormant as a president will now come to an end soon.

The good news is that the Guild has now established a training center which will help its registered members have the opportunity to update their knowledge in the area of ICT which is relevant in all areas of the acting industry. Flex newspaper had an interview with the president in his office at Musiga`s head office last Wednesday and he had this to say.

“For some time now, the acting industry has become so interesting and a lot of people are coming to the field therefore making it so difficult to get jobs to do. Now people are not getting jobs to do so it is good we start getting them to learn some trade. So we want to come out with a training center where the actors will acquire knowledge on graphics, special effects and editing. We are doing this to help them get work to do.

The worst part of it is when people don't get acting jobs and they pay money to producers in the name of getting jobs. We will replicate this in all the regions for actors guild members to benefit. We will do it in batches because the place is very small. Initially, we wanted a place which could contain about 20 people but now we will start with 10 people from the other regions since we are using the Greater Accra secretariat as the training centre” Mr.Odoi revealed.

Again, Flex newspaper asked him whether the actors will be acting as teachers or they will be employing the services of experienced tutors and he responded that because they need to do it effectively, they will employ the services of professional IT teachers to train the registered members of the actors guild. “We are looking at NAFTI where we have spoken to them to get some people to come to our aid. You know the Guild does not have money to pay professors so we want the best qualification from the school to assist us because we cant afford the professors” he added.

“You see the moment people get jobs to do and they can get money to eat, the noise will stop. Because they are not getting jobs to do, they think the Guild is not working. So if we are bringing this to support ourselves and they are not ready to accept it, then that is their own issue” this was his response when Flex newspaper asked him if this training facility will help reduce some of the burdens of the guild.

Now whether the actors will patronize this training facility is another issue which will be looked at on another day because we all know that most of the Guilds members are not enthused about the activities of the guild since time immemorial.

"STOP ACCUSING ARTS-POLITICIANS" – HON FRITZ BAFFOUR

Honourable Fritz Baffour has cautioned people in showbiz to stop accusing him and others – arts politicians for not supporting the creative arts industry.

Some people in Ghana's creative arts industry sometimes get the privilege of entering into politics for what we often term as public service. These art-politicians are often lambasted by players in the showbiz industry for not lobbying, advocating or supporting their first love – creative arts, when they get into political leadership. One person whose name always comes under such criticisms is Honorable Fritz Baffour.

To get the side of our arts turned politicians or art-politicians, Flex newspaper had an exclusive interview with Honorable Fritz Baffour. 'Honorable I'm not recording you so please feel free and share; there will be no 'Fritz-leaks.' Honorable Baffour burst into laughter slap happily!

Flex newspaper asked Honorable Baffour if he has heard such criticisms against him and other art-politicians before. “Of course I have! I once remember listening to radio and hearing Kwabena Kwabena accusing me of not doing anything for the creative arts industry after entering into politics.”

What has honorable Fritz Baffour done for the creative industry ever since you got into active politics? Flex newspaper asked. “Well, for your information I've always been in active politics since my youthful days. Fact is, I've done a lot for the creative arts industry all my life because I am an artiste and will forever be.

“Most of the things I do are behind the scenes so maybe you don't get to see. Some too I do through committees in parliament. I can't just wake up in open parliament and start talking for the creative arts industry! There are mechanisms, committees and other avenues for pushing the agendas of the arts industry in parliament!”

What have you done for the creative art industry? Flex newspaper emphasized. “A lot! I am the chairman of the Museums and Monuments Board; I am a member of GAG – Ghana Actors Guild; I've supported the National Theatre in many ways; I supported the organization of the late Omar Hunter's funeral; I've been lobbying the World Bank to give funds for the creative arts industry.

“I've been advising some artistes, for instance, I've given people like KSM, Funny Face and others advice on comedy; I write and coach young writers on how to write; I just finished shooting a movie without charging a dime; I once hosted the Fritz and Friends, a lot!”

Your final words, “I will advise those who criticize art-politicians to stop doing so. We go there (politics) to push the interest of the arts but they are behind the scene works.” Flex newspaper thanked honorable Fritz Baffour and wished him good luck in all his political endeavors.