GHANA MARKS WORLD THEATRE DAY

The National Theatre of Ghana has marked the World Theatre Day in Accra with performances including cultural display, poetry recitals, drama and comedy shows.

Amy Frimpong Appiah, Deputy Director of the National Theatre said the celebration of the World Theatre Day was important, as theatre was helping in changing the world.

“Theatre helps to harness our languages, rhythms, gestures and clears a space in our midst,” she added.

Michael Attipoe, Director of National Commission on Culture said theatre helped to educate, entertain and inform the public and challenged those in the industry to always ensure that educative messages were included in their performances to transform the lives of people.

According to him, the discipline of theatre could strive only when directors looked at circumstances of people and acted upon them to bring change to the ordinary Ghanaian.

He called on all religious bodies, especially the churches, to use theatre to transform society and the country at large.

Ako Tetteh, Programmes Manager at the National Theatre used the occasion to launch the 2014 comedy series by the National Theatre, which would take place at the Folks Place on the last Friday in April and every other last Friday of every month.

I HAVE NO BEEF - STAY JAY

Award-winning hiplife artiste Stay Jay has cleared the air on reports which suggest he had a misunderstanding with his former management.

William Kojo Johnson, as he is also known, left Under One Entertainment to join ASB (African Star Boy) Music – of which he is the Chief Executive – after his two-year contract elapsed.

According to Stay Jay, he left Under One Entertainment on a very good note, explaining that there was no beef between his former management and himself.

“There is no beef. The contract was for two years and once it ended, I wanted to do my own thing. But we are very good friends. I decided I could help myself. That was why I created my own,” Stay Jay told NEWS-ONE.

The ‘My Baby’ singer stated that even though he had future plans of signing on other artistes to his record label, he was currently supporting an artiste called ICONS.

Currently, Stay Jay has two new hit singles – ‘S3 Aba’ which features Guru and ‘Mugu’ which features 4×4. Sources close to the artiste say he is currently shooting the ‘S3 Aba’ video.

VAN VICKER TO HELP WITH ENERGY CRISIS

Ghanaian actor, with a Liberian heritage, Van Vicker had the opportunity to visit Liberia, recently.

As part of his 10 days official visit, he had the opportunity to meet with the Minister of Land Mines and Energy, Hon Patrick Sandolo and presented a proposal that together with his financial partners are willing to provide ‘firm power’ using a hydroid system technology to help stabilize and provide clean green energy 247/365.

According to him, he and his investors are willing to build a system and enter a 20 years PPA at no initial cost to the nation; the minister is carefully taking a proper look at the proposal.

In a chat with Razz newspaper, he said that he’s making enough efforts to meet the Minister of Energy here in Ghana and possibly the President of the Republic of Ghana, John Dramani Mahama to discuss alternative ways of upgrading Ghana’s energy sector.

“Everything has to be taken step by step. The Liberia and Ghana energy proposals are being worked on simultaneously. We know the various authorities in charge and we have engaged in talks and are following the right procedures. At the right time, will let the public know what will become of our pursuits and its exploits” Van intimated.

Speaking about some of the activities which went on apart from meeting the Liberian Minister of Energy, he said “I also went to advocate with the ‘Crusaders For Peace’ and ambassador, Julian Endee, in unison with the Ministry of Health to petition the house of representatives, particularly the Liberian senate, to pass the Mental Health Bill, because, by statistics, about 40% of Liberians suffer from various mental issues.

The petition was presented to the house. They welcomed the presentation and promised to fast track the passing of the bill since they believe it’s in the interest of the Liberian people.” Van Vicker also made a revelation that his foundation ‘van Vicker Foundation’ has scheduled a health outreach program with a team of about 20 doctors from the United States of America for Liberia in June /Oct 2014 to render free medical care worth over $200,000.00 to Liberians around the country.

Not leaving his area of interest out of the visit, he also used the opportunity to audition and source for Liberian talents to be part of his next Sky + Orange Productions. Most of the talents he discovered will have the opportunity to star in the part 2 of his movie titled ‘Bendu Sudan’ an old Liberian myth. He promises that this film will also address a few social issues of Liberia.

I DON’T COPY FOREIGN MOVIES - SHIRLEY FRIMPONG-MANSO

NEWS-ONE is in possession of an audio recording that captures the renowned movie producer, Shirley Frimpong-Manso, descending heavily on critics who tag her movies as ‘too foreign’ than Ghanaian because of the plot and the speech style of her cast.

The cast of Ms. Frimpong-Manso’s movies have often been criticized for speaking in what has been described as forced foreign English accent or Locally Acquired Foreign Accent (LAFA).

“Some say the English they speak in my movies is a bit too foreign. I’m thinking, what are we talking about? We send our children abroad to go and learn from London and other places and then they come back and they speak the way the culture teaches them,” Ms Frimpong-Manso fired back recently.

This view expressed by the award-winning filmmaker on the Entertainment Review programme has only further fuelled the popular perception of her critics.

Ms Frimpong-Manso recently came under serious criticism from Ghanaian movie enthusiasts but she has been quick to deny coaching her cast to speak in LAFA in her movies.

“One thing I don’t condone is the ‘LAFA’, as in you know the person doesn’t necessarily speak like that, then he or she comes on set and starts to speak like they are slanging or something. When you make a mistake on my set, I tell you not to speak like that. A lot of the people who speak the way they do in my movies, that is how they speak in real life. People should get over it and stop saying the movies look foreign. I mean what are we talking about? I don’t get it,” she said.

The producer of the award-winning ‘Scorned’ movie also denied copying foreign storylines and converting them into hers. Her ‘Perfect Picture’ was purported to have been coined from an American movie titled, ‘Picture Perfect’.

“Which story has not been told before? Every story has been told before. I’m not copying. I’m just telling a story and some elements of the story will be similar to other stories that have been told before. Every movie you see has an element of a story that has been told before or something that has happened before so I don’t really know what they are talking about. If you look at my ‘Perfect Picture’ movie the story is about three girls. What are they going to say; that I copied it from Girl Friends? Don’t we have friendships like that in Ghana?” Shirley quizzed.

It would be recalled that Shirley Frimpong-Manso, at an appreciation event for the MultiChoice Africa Magic Viewer’s Choice Awards (AMVCA), stated that movie producers from Ghana would be making an appearance at the Oscar Academy Awards if they had a pinch of the resources available to Hollywood.

GIVE US OUR DUE - BERNICE ANSAH

The perception that most gospel artistes are working for Christendom hence, should render their services “free of charge” is perhaps doing more harm than good.

A situation, which according to gospel artiste, Bernice Ansah has unable most gospel artistes to financially invest in their Ministry to successfully propagate the word of God through their songs.

She said she has been saddened by the attitude of event organisers towards gospel artistes because of the popular phrase “you are working for God”.

“Surprisingly, pastors and church leaders are the worst culprits of this act which is gradually killing the industry even though gospel musicians are very hardworking. We deserve our due in the industry” she told Showbiz last week.

After almost a decade in the industry, Bernice Ansah who earned three nominations at last year’s Vodafone Ghana Music Awards said that “I am overwhelmed by the “maltreatment” gospel artistes have been enduring for all these years.

“Can you imagine a gospel artiste using a live band to perform for more than three hours and getting only less than 10 percent of the amount negotiated. And yet you don’t have to complain because ‘you are not working for money but for God’. But how do I pay the band members if I don’t get paid for my services.

“I have had bitter experiences concerning this practice and I think it is about time gospel artistes stood up for our rights and demanded our due.

“Some time ago, I went to perform at a church with a full band and after the programme, I was given GH¢100 when I had charged GH¢ 600”, she added.

She said that just as these pastors need money to run their churches, so do gospel artistes also need money to run their Ministries.

“We need money for studio recordings and video productions. How do you expect us to thrive on just ‘thank you’, is that possible?” the Gbenze Gbenze singer queried.

Bernice Ansah has six albums to her credit, namely; Immigration Na Ye Tight, Nya Nkwa, Gbenze Gbenze, Adea Yesu Aye, Mennsu and Nea Ewurade Beye.

SARKODIE WANTS GHANA ALL-STAR HIPLIFE COLLABORATION TO INVADE AFRICA

Ghana's self-acclaimed fastest rapper has disclosed that he wants a star-studded Ghanaian hiplife collaboration this year.

"I am looking at this agenda that has to happen this year. We should have this big collaboration. It has to happen because that's what will put Ghana on the map, Sarkodie announced last Saturday on the “Cruise Control” show with Kwame B on Hitz FM.

He stated that there should be a big collaboration with big artistes such as him (Sarkodie), Samini, Bandana, R2bees, Castro and others, to put Ghana on the map.

Sarkodie, the 2012 BET Awards winner for "Best International Act Africa" bemoaned, isolation among Ghanaian artiste was affecting Ghana's identity on the continental stage.

"Ghana has to stand out. It's hard for individuals to do it. When only Sarkodie goes, [they say [he’s nice let's add him to the playlist when we are playing Nigerian music. When R2Bees goes, they add him to the playlist of say South Africa or Nigeria. But when we all go then we have a Ghanaian playlist."

He said his South African fans take him to be Nigerian because there is a huge perception that any good West African artiste worth continental recognition comes from Nigeria.

"And it's just because of the unity [among Nigerian artiste]", he observed and charged "we are wasting time".

But Ghana can change this trend if its top artistes collaborate to form "a movement' bent on "invading Africa".

The award-winning rapper said Ghanaians will rally and rush to listen a song from Samini and Shatta Wale and that he predicts will get about 30 million views on YouTube within some few days.

He dismissed concerns that local rivalries among artistes could jeopardize this opportunity saying "we don't have to be friends".

Nonetheless, these rivalries like that of Samini and Shatta Wale would have to be controlled, Samini advised.

STARS HEAD TO SOUTH AFRICA FOR AFRICA MOVIE ACADEMY AWARDS NOMINATIONS PARTY

Come the 2nd of April, The Africa Film Academy will host African filmmakers and celebrities during the 10th Africa Movie Academy Awards Nominations event to be held at Emperors Palace in Johannesburg.

This gathering of the cream of African filmmakers will run from the 1st to the 3rd of April during which the business community, celebrities and their counterparts from South Africa will be hosted with style with opportunities to network and mingle. Celebrities attending the event are Ramsey Noah (Nigeria), Lydia Forson (Ghana), Chinedu Ikezie, Osita Iheme, Kanayo O Kanayo, Funke Akindele and Uche Jumbo.

“We have done a lot of work in the Southern region in the past year and in a way it is to give back to President Jacob Zuma and Mrs. Joyce Banda, the president of Malawi who hosted the AMAA Nominations in 2013″, says Ms Anyiam-Osigwe.

The Director of Administration of the organisation, Mr Tony Anih said AMAA is very excited with the prospect of having movie icons and other players in the motion picture industry coming to South Africa for the nominations event.

According to Mr. Anih the AMAA nominations is an event where films that make it into the 25 categories of the awards are announced ahead of the main award ceremony, which is billed to hold in Bayelsa State this year, adding that in the last nine years AMAA has deliberately moved the nomination events from one country to the other within the continent.

”AMAA is a continental brand and reward system for motion picture practitioners. It is our way to promoting the Africaness of the award and also celebrates our culture and diversity. This year we decided to come to South Africa because of the level of growing popularity and acceptability of African films, most especially Nollywood and Gollywood movies in the country,” said Anih.

The illustrious Jury comprises of Berni Goldblat, Steve Ayorinde, John Akomfrah, Keith Shiri, June Givanni, Hyginus Ozoemen Ekwuazi, Shaibu Husseini, Ayoku Babu, Asantewa Olatunji and Dorothee Wenner.

The Africa Movie Academy Awards is generously sponsored by The Bayelsa State Government and covered in the media by Cool 96.9 FM, Wazobia 95.1 FM, Nigeria Info FM, Bella Naija and Ebony Life Television.

VGMA TO EXPOSE NEW ARTISTES WITH "UNSUNG"

For most up and coming musicians the ultimate measurement of success will be when they are celebrated not just by friends and family, but by the nation, if not the world as whole.

Sadly the music world is so large that a lot of potentially talented musicians go completely unnoticed despite their undeniable talent.

This year, the introduction of the VGMA UNSUNG, will provide the perfect platform for some of Ghana’s most promising young artistes to deliver their musical talent to the right audiences in order to catapult them to the next level of their music career.

Meet the Unsung stars: Cabum, Eno, MzVee, Episode, AK Songstress and Strong man who won the maiden edition of GhOne TV’s The Next Big Thing in 2012.

You have the power to give one of these starlets the opportunity to perform at Ghana’s biggest night of Music; The Vodafone Ghana Music Awards, on the 3rd of May 2014 at the Accra International Conference Centre.?

To vote, simply text “U” to 1767and follow the prompts.

This campaign is the first of its kind to be introduced to the VGMA’s and the results of this experience promises to be simply amazing.

SOME PRODUCERS USED MY EX-WIFE AS A PLOY TO CONDEMN ME - AGYA KOO

Ghanaian actor, comedian and musician, Kofi Adu, popularly known as Agya Koo who seems to have run out of luck with many movie producers in Kumasi has disclosed his ex-wife is currently living a deplorable life as she has resorted to selling on the streets of Kasoa in Accra.

Agya Koo who spoke at large about his current situation in the movie industry and his relations with his ex-wife in an interview with Charles Asare on the Angel Entertainment Show in Kumasi explained it was never an easy decision to let go his wife after eighteen years of marriage unlike Ghanaians were made to believe by a cross section of the media.

“I used my wife’s name in most of my songs and she was present with me on most occasions. Why am I the only one who had a wife? She was however on almost all radio networks tarnishing my image because some producers had used her as a ploy to condemn me so I finally had to let her go.”

The actor who did not relent in letting the public know the current situation of his ex-wife stated she was selling on the streets of Kasoa after been used by some producers.

“At least when she was with me, she had her own car, she could drive around town freely and had her own shop but what is her state now? She is selling on the streets of Kasoa. You don’t try destroying Agya Koo and go scot free.”

The actor on allegations of charging exorbitant prices and requesting for particular directors to work with also denied such allegations and threw a challenge to movie producers to openly state when he ever gave such a directive or order.

Agya Koo was once the toast of many Ghanaian movie lovers until the discovery of Lilwin.

ACTOR KWAKU MANU BLAMES THE MEDIA

Kwaku Manu who was reported to have accused his colleague actor Kojo Nkansah Liwin of using ‘juju’ in his career has denied ever saying that.

The actor cum musician speaking on Solid FM, a Kumasi-based radio station with Tony Best on Saturday said the media misapprehended his speech.

Kwaku Manu said “I grant interviews everyday but presenters and the media always want to sell their stories so they twist what I say” and said emphatically that “somebody made that statement on my behalf which bares my name. I have seen the story on Ghanaweb.com and peacefmonline.com”.

The actor who return from his visit to UK, France, Belgium, Italy, Turkey and other countries disclosed that his relationship with Lil Win since he came to Ghana is fine.

“My relationship with my brother today is quiet ok. There is nothing wrong with our relationship. We even spoke yesterday (Friday) and today as well”

Lil Win’s manager confirmed on the show that the friendship between the two after Kwaku Manu’s return to Ghana is very good. He however stated Kwaku Manu will be lying should he deny that he said Lil Win uses ‘juju’ and the issue of Lil Win not willing to feature in the same movie with him.

According to him, there are many movies in the pipeline which features both actors.

“The movies have not been shot because Lil Win was waiting for Kwaku Manu to return from his tour. I currently have five movies which feature the Kwaku Manu and Lil Win. They even have a show at the National Theater on May 2”.

Lil Win’s manager added that their camp has no problem with Kwaku Manu.