NADIA BUARI AND JIM IYKE -LOOKS LIKE MARRIAGE IS KNOCKING

Oh so romantic....true love never dies no matter what, These two are really in Love. The deliverance of Jim Iyke by T.B Joshua has really made him turn straight and he is ready to do things straight now.

The guy must have really change from his formal life. The two had romantic tweets on their twitter handle. Nadia Buari: .... She touched the firm line of his mouth with her fingers. "What kind would u like" he smiled ruefully. "A fast one."!! The End!!

Nadia Buari: .... "What kind of weeding would u like?" he asked, and stole another kiss before she could reply. "The kind that turns u into my husband."...

Nadia Buari: .... When you and your man/woman are wrinkly & old: Look at each other with the eyes you first saw each other. **True Love Never Dies!**

Jim Iyke: .... Fr yrs she stands in d space beside u in d eye of dark storms. she makes smth as unfathomable as luv seem easy. shes d 1. Heaven testifies!

SARKODIE’S 30 TRACK "SARKOLOGY" ALBUM TO RELEASED SOON

Multiple International Award Winning Ghanaian Rapper Sarkodie will stop at anything to push high his well built image as he prepares for the release of his fourth studio album Sarkology which although he can’t disclose when exactly it will hit the world market believes it should be out be out before or in December. Taking fans through a journey of how Sarkology will be and sound like, the Illuminati hit maker disclosed the album will be a 30 track album and as such a double CD with productions from 13 of the finest beat producers from Ghana including Kilbeatz, Magnom, Nshorna and other talented beat makers the artist wished to sell to the world. Explaining why a 30 track album, Sarkodie disclosed he had worked hard enough to even release a higher number of tracks on the album but had to cut it down as each song that made it to the album makes the lesson he wishes to teach a whole. Sarkodie believes Sarkology should be able to teach each rap artist the basic rudiments of rap. Sarkodie has already released some few singles off the album and is expected to drop another banger titled DOWN ON ONE which features pioneer of the TINA movement FUSE ODG on October 10 2013.

 

LORD KENYA'S EVANGELISM MINISTRY BOOMS

Like the Biblical saying, “many are called but few were chosen”: that statement seems to be playing a greater role on the face of our musicians who crossed carpet to the other divide thus from gospel music to secular music.

So far, many names have come up in this regard and most of them are doing stuff behind the scenes without much information about their new found love. Lord Kenya is one person who crossed carpet to the Holy Ghost divide and it made serious headlines in the entertainment industry.

Though there were many big names like Ofori Amponsah who was also arrested by the Holy Ghost and it became such a big deal in our industry, not much is being heard or seen of him afterwards but Lord Kenya seems to be every where one goes like MTN.

Whilst Ofori Amponsah declared that he had been called by God to become a prophet to the people, Lord Kenya was certain that he is to evangelize to lost souls therefore the name Evangelist Lord Kenya. Despite his rough edge beginning where some people even doubted the originality of his calling, the former Slip Music artiste has overcome all pull him down strings and is pushing hard close to the kingdom.

A walk around town is a clear proof that the Lord in evangelism is currently the hottest evangelist in the country as his posters are seen in almost every corner in the capital announcing his programme with one church or another.

We at Flex newspaper are very happy for Lord Kenya because his ministry is on the ascendancy and this goes ahead to prove to his followers that he has been accepted by the church folks. It can be recalled that our own Kwame Dadzie published a piece where he was doubtful whether Ofori Amponsah`s new gospel songs will be accepted by the Christian folk. We only hope Kwame will not come across as a prophet of doom.

We must state here that after the first weeks in his (Ofori Amponsah`s) promotion, not much is being heard of him again especially with his songs. More questions are running through our minds than answers and we only hope his own ministry he started in Accra will also flourish just like Lord Kenya`s ministry. Ofori Amponsah was noted to have prophesied unto the lives of some journalists in the country who testified that really and truly the man is now a born again Christian.

Now the next thing we are trying to do is to visit one of the churches he (Lord Kenya) has been billed to preach and we will bring reports of how the power of God moved through him to the people. Flex newspaper reporters have spotted a poster of Lord Kenya and gospel songstress Celestine Donkor ready to deliver at a programme through the power of God at a church in Kwashieman and we hope to be there to experience the power of God to do wonders among the people.

May be what is working for Lord Kenya is his ability to cease every opportunity he gets to preach the word of God to people who hear him from near and far. We remember a performance at the Empire back in the day concert where he preached on stage when he was supposed to perform.

He also hijacked a Dr Cann entertainment interview and preached for close to 10 minutes when the real interview had ended. Lord Kenya is undoubtedly now the leading evangelist in Accra and we know he is doing much better even in Kumasi.

KUMAWOOD MUST IMPROVE AND LEAVE ECOW SMITH-ASANTE ALONE!

Any smart person can understand why Kumawood's actors Agya Koo, Kwaku Manu, Akrobeto, Lil Win, Nana Ama McBrown and few others have joined in the chorus of the chiefs and people of Asankragua among others to lambast actor, Ecow Smith-Asante for his comments that Akan-speaking movies are nothing to write home about.

Well, it's an industry that has given them their livelihood.

Ecow Smith-Asante had said Kumawood movies referring to movies made in Kumasi are inferior and it is targeted at people “who do not know jack about lighting, sound, good acting among others and are not ready to know”, referring to the people of Asankragua, Sefwi Wiaso. My point is that, Ecow was spot on and right in his assertion.

Kumawood movies spearheaded by Agya Koo helped in lifting and standing up to the invasion of Nollywood movies in the country several years ago.

In those years, especially in the mid-2000s, Nollywood movies flocked the Ghanaian market and became the toast of many Ghanaians as a result stealing the shine off Ghanaian movies.

During that time, Kumawood movies kept the Nollywood ones at bay but few years on, the former has grown into total mediocrity. The movies being churned out regularly have forced many to question the direction they are going.

Kumawood boasts of the highest number of producers of movies in the country thus their influence cannot be downplayed.

Even though, they tend to focus more and produce movies based on Ghanaian culture, they most often ridicule themselves, as they either do not have enough information on whatever story they are tackling or they tend to disregard everything that needs to be adhered to in movie making.

Most of the English-speaking actors have complained about their inability to work with Kumawood actors and producers because of their disregard for scripts.

A great chunk of the movies are produced with the actors adlibbing and as a resul, their dialogues is most often disjointed.

People argue that, with Kumawood one can get a good laugh. A good comedy movie ends with laughter but gradually that side of the industry has been turned into a laughing stock.

The question that lingers on, is comedy the only genre of movie that can be produced from Kumawood? What happened to the other genres?

Even when the story being tackled is a serious one, some comic elements are added which end up defeating the purpose or aim of the story. An actor can be versatile but when he does not fit a particular role, he should not be casted. After all, there is a reason why the movie industry is referred to as a make believe industry.

Another thing that comes in mind is the foul language used in the movies. Insults and the use of foul language has become the order of the day in Kumawood movies. It is even worst now with the influx of the new crop of actors.

Another headache is subtitling. A non Twi-speaking Ghanaian watching a Kumawood movie would usually fail to understand what the movie is about. Subtitles are always done poorly. If preparing banku in Twi is translated into English as "help me drive the banku", you will probably understand why Ecow is fuming.

There are lots of problems in the industry which need to be addressed rather than attacking Ecow for stating the obvious, a sentiment many Ghanaians share.

Aside mentioning names of some towns and places, Ecow was absolutely right and his comments shouldn't be labeled as 'ignorant' and 'unfortunate'.

The reactions to what he said should be channeled into helping and growing the industry. How many of the Kumawood actors truly didn't know that indeed their industry has degraded the entire Ghana movie Industry with the kind of movies they churn out almost on a daily basis?

For now Kumawood is seen as not too serious industry always turning serious stories into comedies. That should be addressed immediately. Where in the Ghanaian culture do you have a lion flying to a household, kill people and also dance Azonto?

Having attended the last three African Movie Academy Awards in Nigeria, I can say that, movies that get recognition are movies that are similar to those produced from Kumawood, only that they have been done well. They portray the local settings and typical traditional African settings.

Kumawood professionals should be serious with their industry and work on areas which they fall short of instead of insulting someone who is offering them free consultation. 

“NO MONEY, NO ELECTIONS” - ACTORS' GUILD PRESIDENT

If you are one of the critics who wonder why the Ghana Actors Guild has not organized elections to elect new executives, the guild's President says; “no money, no elections.”

The media (including Flex newspaper) have been on the neck of President of Ghana Actors Guild Mr. Odoi Mensah to organize an election for the union since his tenure of office has elapsed. Some critics have even unfairly tagged him as the 'Mugabe of Ghana Actors Guild' who wants to lead the guild forever.

In an exclusive duologue with Flex newspaper on why the guild has still not organized a general election, Mr. Odoi Mensah revealed that the guild is cash trapped, hence their inability to organize an election. “We have planned the election but we don't have the funds to do so. The structure of the guild's election is such that all our regional branches would have to do their separate elections.

After that, the National Executive Council (NEC) would sit and agree on the general congress elections. All these require huge sums of money. The very members of the guild who criticize the guild for failing in doing certain things are the very ones who don't pay their dues! They don't even attend meetings so we can all brainstorm for the way forward as far as raising funds for the guild is concerned!” Mr. Odoi lamented.

So when will the guild organize elections? Mr. Odoi concluded: as I've told you, everything boils down to money. As soon as we get money, we shall do the election! No money no elections! People who insult me for still holding on to the office should rather help us in getting funds! Criticizing without any recommendation is unnecessary!

Two years ago, precisely 28th Sept, 2011, the Greater Accra Regional Secretary of Ghana Actors Guild Mr. Lucky Caleb told your authoritative Flex newspaper that the guild intended to organize a general election because that year marked the end of Mr. Odoi Mensah's tenure of office but they lacked funds to do so.

If the information Mr. Caleb gave to Flex newspaper two years ago is anything to go by, then Mr. Odoi Mensah has stayed in office for 10 years; 2 years in excess of the guild's prescribed 8 years maximum tenure of office. However, Mr. Odoi has stayed that long not because he is a fiendish despot who refuses to make way for another person to lead Ghana Actors Guild, but because the guild does not have the requisite resources to organize elections.

The time is now or never. Ghana Actors Guild needs support. Let's all as media practitioners, use our platforms – radio, television, print, websites, blogs, etc. to call on corporate Ghana and local and international donor and grant agencies to come to the aid of Ghana Actors Guild.

“I Wish I Could Have My Privacy” – Sarkodie

Ghana’s finest and fastest rapper, Sarkodie says he wishes he could enjoy his privileges as a public figure and still have his privacy.

Speaking on Citi Fm, he further revealed that although he was enjoying certain privileges as a public figure, the attention he gets makes him very uncomfortable sometimes.

“I wish I could have the privileges and still have my normal life which I know it is not possible. I don’t enjoy it when for instance people look at the way I eat my meals in restaurants. Sometimes people don’t even understand why I visit places like the washing bay.”

According to him, as a public figure, there was a major threat to his security since he was not sure people really liked or hated him. He revealed that most of the lyrics he wrote were based on his feelings, sentiments, and experience in life.

“I like to be real, if I feel much loved, I do those kind of songs,” he said
Explaining the reason for what many describe as bragging in his raps, he said that “rap is competitive and you always have to brag to give the impression that you are the best”

He also said it was a privilege for him to place eighth in the 2013 list of Top 10 Richest/Bankable African Artistes compiled by Forbes and Channel O.

“It is a great feeling. If it came from Ghana then you can say I was given that privilege because they understand what I am doing but this is from Africa and this serves as an encouragement to work harder.”

“KUMAWOOD MOVIES ARE DESTROYING THE MOVIE INDUSTRY AND AKAN CULTURE”: DAVID DONTOH CONFIRMS

Ace Ghanaian actor Mr. David Dontoh has whined scornfully at Kumawood movies –“they are destroying our movie industry and the Akan culture.”
Flex newspaper excerpted a recorded tape of an interview actor David Dontoh granted to Accra based radio station Prime 89.1 fm which is actually about Mr. Dontoh’s take on the Kumawood movie industry. Mr. Dontoh’s voice can be heard audibly remonstrating Kumawood films – movies produced in the Akan language or film makers in Kumasi (Ashanti region of

Ghana). It was as though he was in a trance.
Though many movie critics believe Kumawood movies portray and sell our true Ghanaian culture than the English ones, Mr. Dontoh begs to differ. He harangued in the tape(unedited): “what they are rather doing is what….they are not destroying the film industry but destroying Ghanaian culture! Destroying the values of Akan culture in their films!

Yeah its….the way you shoot the films….you don’t…you don’t…. portray or interpret or tell the Akan culture the way it must be told using proper universal film language, you understand? Agya Koo comes and stands there, I am not picking on him as an actor, he is an actor and aa…he may not know the implications of what he does, but Agya Koo comes to stand and for 5 minutes he alone stands on the screen talking and keeps pacing back and forth and talking and the camera is on him.

All that you are telling whoever is not a Ghanaian is that, these people…. are they that erratic? Are they….don’t they have what we call sense to talk something sensible to people! Is that how every Ghanaian behaves? In fact, a lot of people outside think that every Ghanaian is a comedian because that is what they have labelled our films, a comedian!

Why is it that the whole world everybody thinks that Americans are very powerful, disciplined and authoritative human beings? It’s because of what they’ve seen Americans doing in films! You don’t see an American and think that he is poor because they don’t tell you that they are poor! What you tell them is the ideas they make about you, you understand?

And so we….that is why I am saying that the Akan culture or the Ghanaian culture, traditions, customs, whatever, we have to advertise our culture and portray it well to those outside Ghana so that they can say that for instance if you go to Ghana you can’t just pick a lady and marry her. In as much as you are telling a story, don’t forget there is always two sides of the coin.

There is always day and night, you understand? So if you are shooting a movie and wants to show the bad side of the person, compare it to the good side of the society, so that the person watching will now be able to make sensible logic of what you are doing by weighing the two sides.

But you don’t show only the bad side and make it look like that is how everybody or everything is, no! That is wrong. That is why I am saying that the Kumawood films, most of them are rather destroying not the film industry, but the Akan culture, the Ghanaian culture and then all those things!” Touching on the crew behind Kumawood movies, Mr. Dontoh thinks Kumawood film makers don’t use professionals.

“And then…unfortunately, they are not using the right people who know how to make the film well in making those films. That is why in as much as they are destroying our culture, they are also destroying the industry because they are not using the universal film language in making the films.” Mr. David Dontoh heaved a deep sigh of relief as he brought his submission to an end.

Just 3 weeks ago, Ghana’s promising actor Ekow Smith Asante also said similar things Mr. David Dontoh has said in the voice recording Flex newspaper have in our possession. Ekow said the Kumawood movie makers ignore everything that makes a good movie and only pay attention to the story lines based on themes like witchcraft and others, which people in Asankragua, Sefwi Wiaso, Yaw Wiaso and the rest love.

Smith-Asante’s comments, made on Joy FM’s Rhythms A2Z, were originally targeted at the producers of the Kumawood movies; whom he said were only passionate about making money and not developing the creative arts. He definitely bit more than he could chew when he said the target market for those inferior movies are people who do not know jack about lighting, sound, good acting and other things and are also not ready to learn.

The nagging questions that are begging for answers are; why is the Accra or English oriented actors not criticising their movies too? Is it that they don’t see anything wrong with the English movies? Is it that they are afraid of criticising their own? Can’t they see their movie industry is dying at a speedy rate? Is it that the Accra based actors don’t respect actors in Kumawood?

Are they trying to sabotage or blackmail the Kumawood industry? Well, whatever the reason may be, we live in a democratic dispensation, hence, we should agree to disagree without greed to grow Ghana’s movie industry. Until then….MOTWUM!!