BAN ALL TELENOVELAS IN GHANA - KOFI ADJORLOLO

Renowned Ghanaian actor, Kofi Adjorlolo has called for the ban of telenovelas from airing on our local television stations. According to the veteran actor, these soap operas are dwindling the Ghanaian movie industry.

Speaking to Bra Chef on Radio Univers, he advised Ghanaians to take a cue from Nigerians who ones banned these limited-run serial dramas which made it rare to watch such series in the country.

He noted that “the telenovelas are ‘killing’ the industry so they should stop all these Mexican things they have been showing; I will say this over and over again. They should rather concentrate on what we are doing here. You know in Nigeria you can’t show Mexican series, at a time it was banned – it’s rare.”

He stressed that “if I, Kofi Adjorlolo had my own way as the president of the private TV stations association or whatever they call it, I will ban it. I will make sure my executives agree to it and we concentrate on how to produce more Ghanaian movies and series. If possible the TV stations should bring money to produce such kind of series.”

The award-winning actor stated that television stations that show these series with the aim of entertaining their viewers are making things difficult for actors and movie producers in the country. He added that, TV stations pay higher amount of money to movie producers who submit these soap operas to them than those who present local movies.

“The television stations have made things difficult for us. I don’t even think that they themselves they realize it. They know that they want to entertain their viewers by showing them these films.”

“...Even the TV stations prefer to pay the people who bring the Mexican soaps more than what they will give to the Ghanaian movie producer.”

Kofi Adjorlolo who was recently honoured as a Nollywood legend disclosed that Ghanaian movies have received international recognition because of the improvement in its content so TV stations “should try as much as possible to discourage the taste of the consumer for such soap operas to inculcate the habit of patronizing local movies.”

5 REASONS WHY MOST GHANAIANS DON’T LIKE GHANAIAN MOVIES

The African movie industry is among the biggest movie industries in the world. Nollywood from Nigeria is the 2nd largest movie industry in the world. How come Ghanaian movies can’t make it that far be

In all my growing up in Ghana, I’ve heard people saying countless times their hate for Ghanaian movies. What could be the reason?

Things keep changing in our entertainment industry but the love for our industry is still not something easy to have. Many people complain about Ghanaian movies and its stars. Here are some of the reasons why most Ghanaians prefer foreign movies to Ghanaian movies.

COPY & PASTE (NOT ORIGINAL): Most Ghanaian movies are clear/direct copy and paste version of popular Hollywood/Nollywood movies. This is very bad, most scenes in Ghanaian movies are what we’ve seen in popular Hollywood/Nollywood movies. Sometimes the whole movie is based on a a foreign movie which has been done before in Hollywood or Nollywood but “Ghanalized”. Most Ghanaian movies don’t have original scripts and full of copied scenes. Watching these movies are unpleasant.

BORING: There are no suspense in most Ghanaian movies especially the ones made in Kumasi. I wonder how people can watch hours of Kumawood movies. Their stories are cliche, acting is the worst you could ever see, sound, editing, and everything is BAD! One can easily predict the ending of most Ghanaian movies.

FOREIGN CULTURE USAGE: Most Ghanaian movies don’t depict the Ghanaian culture or things that could happen in Ghana in reality. They mostly copy and display foreign culture and things that don’t or could never happen in Ghana. Movies like Yvonne Nelson’s “House Of Gold”, Shirley Frimpong Manso’s “Perfect Picture” and “Adams Apples” are perfect example of movies depicting foreign culture.

BAD ACTING: An expert in acting and directing told me that most of our celebrated actors won’t even get a role or reach close to a Hollywood movie if they were to give it a shot that is why they fail to reach that far and the truth is he is right, Ghanaian movies are full of by-force and fake actors/actresses. Most of the actors and actress in Ghana and Africa are not the best for the job; some are good but not Hollywood-good.

BAD EDITING AND EFFECTS: One of the things that cost the most in foreign movies are visual effects and editing. Ghanaian movies are full of the worst editing and visual effects a movie could ever come about. Some Kumawood movies have the most terrible effects and sound editing ever. Not to talk of the lousy credits and loud sound effects. The effects and sound in almost every Ghanaian music is terrible.

LOW BUDGET: You can’t blame Ghana movie makers for all these flaws (some of them) as most Ghana movies were produced with small amounts of money. An insider told us that to produce a Kumawood movie with about 3 known faces, you need around GHC20, 000 around $8,000 dollars including advertising, so seems like small money hence the poor results.

MY SON IS UNDER SPIRITUAL ATTACK; SHATTA WALE'S MOTHER

The mother of self-acclaimed dance-hall king, Charles Mensah popularly known as ‘Shatta Wale’ believes her son is under a spell.

Mama Elsie in an exclusive interview with Black Rasta on the Taxi Driver Show on Hitz FM revealed that her first son has been out of touch with her since October last year under circumstances she deems abnormal.

According to her, spiritual consultation with her Bishop revealed to them that there is a spiritual spell on the musician which is influencing his behaviour.

Mama Elsie disclosed that she is embarking on a spiritual war to free her son.

“It is personal but I love him so I need to talk about it. I have suffered so much with my son before he became popular and no one can take him away from me.

“With my consistent prayers this juju thing will never work on my son. So currently I'm in church praying with his uncle for him to come back to me because we have been in the wilderness for long”, Mama Elsie told Hitz FM.

According to the uncle "we would make sure he stabilizes and stop insulting Charter House, Samini, Blakk Rasta and others."

“…I MAY FIND MYSELF BECOMING A FULL-TIME HOUSEWIFE” – PRAYE'S WIFE

Has the movie scene in Ghana slowed down or am I the only person seeing it this way?”, so asks bubbly actress, Beverly Afaglo who has returned to acting after a two-year break to have a baby.

The Single Six star has been comparing the current movie scene to that of three years ago and has come to the conclusion that there has been a slump.

“Since I came back, only a few good scripts have come my way and if the situation continues, I may find myself becoming a full-time housewife”, she told Graphic Showbiz in jest last Tuesday.

“Since I got back to acting last year, I have only featured in Leila Djansi’s Northern Affair, Abdul Sallam’s Cheaters and Shirley Frimpong Manso’s TV series, Tenants”, she said.

She admitted ,however, that she had received some scripts but had found them to be of poor standard.

“I have had to be selective because I don’t want to be part of any poor production that is not likely to push me up in my career. As for that, I will gladly settle for my housewife job position,” she said teasingly.

When asked if becoming a mother could be a factor in not securing more roles, the mother of one remarked, “My child has never been an impediment to me at all. Yes, I am a mother and a wife now so probably, the producers may consider the kind of roles I will play. Besides, there have also been new faces so they have a variety of choices to make”.

The award winning actress who is noted for her role in the television series, I’m About To Wed said that she might return to her “old love” of TV presentation since the acting business is slow.

“I have already produced a magazine programme which will start airing soon. That is to tell you that I am not just a proud housewife taking care of the home, I am also nurturing great business ideas.”

Two years of marriage to Praye Honeho, a member of the Praye group, Beverly said had taught her more about the virtues of tolerance and patience.

“Each passing day, I learn new things in marriage and I can feel that I have matured over the years even though I still feel like a girlfriend because my husband and I still do those lovely little things that fired our relationship during courtship. We are still learning something new everyday”, she said.

I DID NOT JOIN VIP AT GUN POINT – REGGIE ROCKSTONE

The Grandpapa of Hiplife Reginald Osei popularly known as Reggie Rockstone has expressed reservations about allegations that he was forced to join music group VIP.

His reaction is coming after a former sound engineer for the group, Roro slammed a single - 'Selfie' - released by VIP, now VVIP, and its newest member Reggie Rockstone.

According to the sound engineer, the song was "badly mixed" and "noisy" the sound engineer thought, adding, the one who worked on the song could have done better.

Reggie Rockstone joined the group after Emmanuel Ababio (Promzy) left the music group in October 2013 for personal reasons. The new group released 'Selfie' on Aprill 11.

Roro explained to Blakk Rasta, host of Taxi Driver show on Hitz FM that the tones for the song were misrepresented and carelessly used, which resulted in the noisy nature of the final product.

Reggie Rockstone reacting to the comments took offence and called Roro a snitch and a hypocrite.

He said: “I did not join VIP at gun point. Promzy left on his own and I applied for the job and was successful.”

He opined that Roro should have contacted VIP privately rather than going publicly in the media to condemn their first work.

Reacting to Roro's allegations that Reggie is irrelevant and outmoded just like Azonto, the Hiplife Grandpapa said the sound engineer's name is dead for over 14 years and he has helped him with a little shine through the 'Selfie' song which will not be enough to resurrect him though.

I KNOW GHANAIAN MUSICIANS WHO USE 'JUJU' - SYDNEY

Controversial musician, Barima Sydney has offered a piece of advice to upcoming artistes to stay away from the use of ' juju' or voodoo and concentrate on nurturing their talents.

In an interview with Joy News', the hiplife artiste said , "try and be unique, always remember that if your talent is from God, he should be the only source of your power and the only one you look up to. But some musicians have mixed their talent by seeking for 'Juju' "

His comments follows similar concerns raised by Pink FM presenter Eric Akoto. Eric also said a few weeks ago he knows about the use of spiritual powers in the entertainment industry.

He said most people are using evil spiritual powers to enhance the successes of their works or to bring other people down.

The two have refused to mention any names. Barima Sydney however gave pointers on how he identifies such people.

He revealed, “we know them all! When you find a way around them you feel it by the mere smell of them, that they have bad spirit in them. It also happens when you meet them in studios.”

He stated that using spiritual powers to gain fame will only end them in disgrace.

“To those people using medicine (Juju) expiring date is allocated for that spirit, when Satan gives it looks all shinny and rosy but it defiantly have an expiring date but when God gives you something its everlasting. So the up and coming acts should learn from this”, Sydney said.

DON'T CRY WHEN I DIE BASKET MOUTH

Africa's all-time best comedian, Basket Mouth, last Sat­urday got the over two thousand comedy lovers at the Con­ference Centre reeling with uncontrollable laughter when he described how his funeral should be organized when he dies "in the distant future."

Basket Mouth said he would not be dying anytime soon, but when the time eventually comes, he does not want a dirge to be played at his funeral but rather the hit American hip-hop song, 'Bugatti' by Ace Hood featuring Rick Ross.

The comedian said he does not also want to be laid in his coffin but rather wants to sit in his coffin with style and wants to be buried same style and that no one should shed a single tear because he would be resting.

He even showed how his pallbearers should walk and dance to the rhythm of 'Bugatti' when they lift his coffin.

-Basket Mouth also taught his male audience how to get into the pants of any lady in the world.

The comedian, for close to an hour, held his audience spellbound With rib cracking laughter that moved some to tears.

Also from Nigeria on the night were comedians Buchi and Bovi who proved they were very much worth writing home about,

RAPPER EDEM MARRIES SECRETLY

Prolific Ghanaian Rapper and versatile recording artiste Edem has just joined the married men club.

According to Ameyawdebrah.com Edem (Real name: Denning Edem Agbeviadey) got married on a low key ceremony during the Easter Holidays to his longtime girlfriend, Stacey Osekere, at the residence of the lady in Teshie, Accra.

The traditional marriage ceremony was attended by friends and family, strictly by invitation with no press or media presence.

Edem and Stacey who already have a cute daughter, have been dating for over two years before they finally tied the knot. Denning Edem Agbeviadey is a Ghanaian recording artist and entertainer who used to perform under the name Ayigbe Edem which was later cut to simply Edem. 

He rose to fame with the release of his maiden album, The Volta Regime in 2008, which has songs like the hit ‘U dey craze’, ‘Bra fremi fremi’, ’ Nyornuviade’, ‘Give it up’, ‘Emmre Sesa’ and ‘Lorlortor’.

This album was produced and executive produced by the music maker, Edward Nana Poku Osei, aka Hammer of The Last Two Edem collaborated with other Ghanaian acts such as the sensational Samini, the tongue-twisting Sarkodie, the ‘mad’ artist Kwaw Kesse, the love – laced Kwabena Kwabena, KK Fosu,Obrafour, Tinny, the Ga sensational rapper, the yet to come up Tuba and EL, Ruth of Mentor and A.S.E.M Asem.

Currently, Edem does most of his music in the local Ewe language and is the most notable rapper in the dialect at the moment and sometime records some great Reggae songs which is always received well be his fans.

Aside writing and recording music and being a student, he has also ventured into philanthropic works. He has made quite a number of donations to needy patients to undergo surgery, donations to the Maternity Ward of the Mamobi polyclinic and to the Weija Leprosarium.

I WILL DIE A BEAUTIFUL DEATH – SOCRATES

It is uncommon for one to accurately predict his or her death but controversial filmmaker, Socrates Safo, has tasked his family, friends and the general public not to mourn him when he dies because he “will surely die a beautiful death.”

Socrates was speaking about the burial arrangements for the late Fennec Okyere, when he made the revelation.

“I wish we will all celebrate Fennec Okyere any time his name is mentioned. The same way if I die, I also want to be celebrated and not mourned because I know I will die a beautiful death,” Socrates told Akwasi Aboagye on Neat FM.

He therefore asked Ghanaians to continue to exercise patience and allow the Ghana Police Service to conduct investigations into the gruesome murder of the artiste manager.

Fennec, who contributed to Ghana’s entertainment industry in many ways, was found in the wee hours of Thursday March 13, at his Spintex home in Accra. Until his death, Fennec was the manager of rapper, Kwaw Kese.

"DRINKING AND SMOKING NOT KEY TO STAGE CRAFT" – STAY JAY

One of Ghana’s Hip Life sensations, William Kojo Johnson who goes by the stage name ‘Stay Jay’ has dropped another bombshell after his controversial departure from Unda One Entertainment to record under his own label; African Star Boi Music (ASBMusic).

This time the award winning artiste has made a shocking revelation relating to narcotics and stage craft. He has revealed that contrary to what most people might think, he neither takes in Alcohol nor smokes.

“I don’t drink and I don’t smoke, I never have and I believe that drinking and smoking is not the key to stage craft or good music.” The Afro Pop star revealed this when he spent time with some JHS students from various schools in Tema during the Easter holidays.

Stay Jay also lamented on how he has seen excessive smoking and alcohol abuse ruin the lives most of his friends and even some very close relations. He noted that he believes that God has given him his talent to entertain as well as educate people and that he needs no motivation from either alcohol or from smoking narcotics to be able to give his fans a deserving performance on stage or even record his award winning tracks.

“It is sad how most young and upcoming musicians think that they have to do drugs, smoke or abuse alcohol to fit in, record hit tracks or to be able to perform live on stage.” Stay Jay added. He however advised the aspiring artistes and the youth in general to refrain from drugs and rather stay focused, work hard always put God first in all their endeavours. The ‘Se Aba’ singer said he considers himself a role model and as such owes it to himself and his fans to be an exemplary figure who leads a lifestyle worthy of emulating.

Stay Jay also expressed his interest in curbing the canker of substance abuse especially among the youth and said that he has plans in the pipeline to collaborate with the National Narcotics Control Board (NACOB) and other authorities to embark on a campaign to create more awareness on drug abuse.

Stay Jay is currently promoting two singles, the club banger “Se Aba” featuring ‘Guru’ and the Afro Pop tune “Mugu” which he features the Hip Life group ‘4X4’. According to the camp of the singer, the videos for both songs would be officially launched soon.

KUMAWOOD ACTORS DISQUALIFIED FROM CANNES FILM FESTIVAL

The full list of Ghanaian movie stars, who are going for this year’s 67th Cannes film festival in France, has reached GhanaCelebrities.Com; unfortunately, none of our Kumawood actors found their way into the list.

Organizers of Ghana Movie Awards GMA promised the media in 2011 that they had a memorandum of understanding with the organizers of the deluxe internationally acclaimed Cannes film festival in France; so annually, they shall take some winners of the award scheme to the said film festival.

In the year 2012, organizers of the award scheme issued a press release headlined: “Final List of Ghanaian Movie Stars Going to Cannes Film Festival This Year.” The list revealed the list of actors and actress the organizers had shortlisted to attend the 65th festival de Cannes. They were eleven in number.

The names were: Nadia Buari, Jackie Appiah, Van Vicker, Majid Michel, Yvonne Nelson, Yvonne Okoro, John Dumelo, Chris Attoh, Juliet Ibrahim, Prince David Osei and Martha Ankomah. Riffing through the list carefully, one would note that none of our Kumawood or Twi-oriented movie actors/actress is/are in the list.

On the entertainment journalists’ side were: Osarfo Anthony – Flex newspaper, Attractive Mustapha Ayinde – Flex newspaper/Ghanamovie.net, Ameyaw Debrah – Ameyawdebrah.com, Chris Vincent Agyapong Febiri – GhanaCelebrities.Com, and Eugene Osafo Nkansah – Peace fm.

I – Osarfo Anthony ( now with GhanaCelebrities.Com), managed to get accreditation from the organizers of Cannes film festival in 2012, but, Ghana Movie Award organizers could not secure my visa date earlier so the Embassy refused me visa; hence, my inability to attend the film festival.

A reliable source close to the organizers of GMA, forwarded to GhanaCelebrities.Com, the full list of Ghanaian movie actors who have been approved by the organizers of Cannes film festival to attend this year’s 67th edition starting from May 14 to 25, 2014. Below is the list:

Jackie Appiah: 12F540GC97, Yvonne Nelson: 11T56NM640, Juliet Ibrahim: 14L481WL422, Nadia Buari: 11Q935NW366, Yvonne Okoro: 11R333NA508, Chris Attoh: 12K431NG460, Fred Nuamah: 11V954MM836, John Dumelo: 11X886KL265, Van Vicker: 12L792NN521, Majid Michel: 11O213ND254, Prince David Osei: 12M491NK640

According to our source, the organizers of GMA actually sent 40 names (including some Kumawood actors) to the organizers of Cannes film festival but the latter approved only the 11 stars above.

Again,riffing through the list carefully, one would note that none of our Kumawood or Twi-oriented movie actors/actress is/are in the list. WhenGhanaCelebrities.Comcontacted Fred Nuamah, he refused to comment on the issue.

However, in 2012 when the organizers of GMA failed to take any Kumawood actor to the Cannes, the main reason Fred Nuamah gave on Peace fm’s ‘Entertainment Review’ was that, majority of the Kumawood stars don’t have website or online presence – Wikipedia, Google, LinkedIn, Instagram, Tweeter, Facebook, WiseGeek, etc. hence, their disqualification by the organizers of the film festival.

In a separate interview with Kumawood actor Kwaku Nkansah aka Lil Win who won – Best Supporting Actor, some weeks back, he told GhanaCelebrities.Com that he has not heard anything from the organizers of GMA concerning the trip to this year’s Cannes.

He explained further that, the organizers have not called for his passports to secure any visa for him for the film festival.
GhanaCelebrities.Com is still following up on this story to fish out which entertainment journalists Fred Nuamah and his team shall be taking to this year’s Cannes film festival. Keep your fingers crossed.

JOHN DUMELO ENDORSES SHIRLEY OVER LEILA

Shirley Frimpong Manso and Leila Djansi have been touted by movie critics as not just being the two female leading film makers in Ghana, but the leading film makers in Ghana who are putting the country on the international map for the production of quality movies – but there has been little talk on who is superior of the two. In fact, their rivalry, be it friendly or competitive has not been stoked until award-winning actor; John Dumelo stroked it last week.

During the premiere of the latest movie from the stables of Sparrow Productions, John Dumelo, who stars in the movie alongside the likes of Jocelyn Dumas, and O.C Ukeje took the stage and stated, “There is Hollywood, there is Bollywood and then there is Shirley Frimpong Manso making Africa proud.”

His statement came after producer/Director of the movie had passed her comments on the movie and the cast. According to Shirley, “John’s role and performance in the movie is the best thus far.”

Ironically, John Dumelo won his first major award at the 2013 Ghana Movie Awards in his performance in the Leila Djansi film, ‘Northern Affari’ which also featured Jocelyn Dumas.

Shirley’s latest movie, “Love Or Something Like That’ was showcased last week at the National Theatre and was heavily attended by many including Hon. Oye Lithur and other dignitaries, movie stars and movie fanatics.