KWABENA KWABENA & OTHERS PARTY WITH FANS IN LUTON ON DECEMBER 21

For those in Luton and its environs, Christmas is definitely going to come early for them as the party will kick start on 21st December 2013 at the Lewsey Farm Community Centre(8pm) where multiple-award winning Ghanaian artistes-Kwabena Kwabena will headline this year’s pre Christmas & New Year Bash to be organised by Gye Nyame Entertainment.

Apart from Kwabena Kwabena who will perform at pre-Christmas bash, the event will also witness interesting performances from Nana Quame, Turas and the traditional touch will be provided by the Royal Echoes Band & Obedrokootia Cultural Group.

After successfully staging this year’s ‘Unity Fest’ Concert which saw performances from Ghana’s Obrafour & Amamere Cultural Group, and the recently held ‘Black History Night’ which featured Ruff & Smooth, Bossu and others, Gye Nyame Entertainment is well prepared to spice this Christmas up with quality Entertainment for you.

And since Christmas is about sharing and giving, Gye Nyame Entertainment will be donating to the poor and the needy at selected homes, special needs hospice for the young & the Luton Food Bank in Bedfordshire to enable the underprivileged have a wonderful celebration this festive season out of the proceeding from the concert.

GIFTY OSEI TOURS USA FOR THREE MONTHS

Sensational award winning female gospel artiste Gifty Osei who is known best for her wild stage antics has started her tour in United States of America.

The tour that will take her for three months started a month ago. Gifty Osei has for the past weeks played a lot of major shows in the States. Following the feed backs of her performance, the audiences have really accepted her and want more of her as Ghanaians know Gifty Osei for.

In the coming weeks, your most authoritative Flex newspaper will be outlining the number of States she has visited and performed and will be visiting to perform as well. The information currently on our desk has it that she has more than twenty shows to perform before she comes down to Ghana.

Mame Gee as she is affectionately called will be touring states such as New York, New Jersey, Ohio, Texas, Virginia, Washington, Florida, Colorado, California, Hawaii, Maryland, Georgia, Alaska, Montana, Mississippi, Michigan among other States.

The “Fefeefe” artiste Gifty Osei has already performed in New York City. A stage she mounted with Great Ampong, another Ghanaian Gospel artiste who is also in the USA.

Speaking to Flex newspaper, Gifty Osei was grateful to God for leading her steps to the righteous path. According to her, even though she has not finished her tour, the little she has done is very encouraging.

“God has really used me as usual to bless many. I am praying that He will continue to use me for the benefit of His children. I have received a lot of testimonies in this tour,” Mama Gee,” added.

JOHN PAINTSIL CAN'T DATE ME - ACTRESS KISA

Controversial Ghanaian actress and rising musician Kisa Gbekle has dispelled claims that she has an amorous rela¬tionship with ex-Black Stars' player, John Paintsil.

She told NEWS-ONE she has never in her life met John Paintsil.

"John can't date me because he is happily married and he is not even my friend. I have not met him before. But I would not mind meeting him. I will be grateful meeting him actually," the sexy looking Kisa said.

But she said "no comment" to a question about if she would date him when the opportunity presented itself.

Reports about their alleged clandestine love affair started when Kisa mentioned John Paintsil in her third single titled, 'Twerk'.

Questions are being asked about why she chose John Paintsil out of the millions of Ghanaian men she knows.

But Kisa said, "Actually the song is about a new dance call Twerk. So I was in the studio recording and 1 needed a name to rhyme with. I needed a foot¬baller to make it creative and the name that came on mind first was John Paintsil. I also mentioned his name because I admire him so much. That line means that he saw me twerk-ing and he gave back pass. Back pass as in he passed the ball backwards. Seeing my ass and could not contain it and he gave proper back pass pi to watch me well."

Kisa started showbiz from Junior High School where people used to call her Suzzy Williams because she looked a little like her.

"I used do stage drama and dancing, so when I went to Senior High School (SHS) I joined the drama troupe. I came out as one of the best and when I completed SHS, the Volta Regional Theatre sent me to Ghally wood, which I did well there too and had the Best Supporting Actress.

After Ghallywood, I went to Kumasi to do some movies there with my Ghallywood mates and came back to Accra. I met Director John Izedonmi and he gave me the first role in 'Stand By Me' in the English sector. Later Abdul Salam took me and made me his secretary for Venus Films. I did a couple of movies there too and Director Pascal Amanfo also featured me in his movies," she explained.

"As for music, I've loved singing since 1 was child but 1 never thought I could actually do it when I grew old. But [my] music started this year April and I dropped my first [song] called 'Azonto International'.

YOU CAN'T COMPARE D'BANJ'S SUCCESS TO MINE - REGGIE ROCKSTONE

Hiplife Grandpapa, Reggie Rockstone, has implied the definition of success lies in the eyes of the successful.

He was reacting to a question by host of Good Evening Ghana Paul Adom Otchere who wanted to know why despite his fame in music, he has not achieved much as some Nigerian artiste like D'banj have done.

"Why should D'banj be more successful than you internationally?" the host asked on last Thursday's show.

Although Rockstone acknowledged that Nigerian music is ahead of Ghana, he said it doesn't have to mean their musicians are more successful than him.

Reggie believes an entertainer’s success must not be merely seen in an artiste's global reach or the amount of money he has. "What is your definition of success?” Reggie responded in his cool, relaxed fashion.

"Cos D'banj has two more cars than me? Not really. They got two books written about me..There is a whole documentary about me", Rockstone pointed out.

Dapo Daniel Oyebanjo popularly known as D'banj is a Nigerian singer-songwriter, harmonica player, and businessman. He has won several music awards including the awards for Best African Act at the MTV Europe Music Awards 2007, Artist of the Year at the MTV Africa Music Awards 2009 and BET Awards of 2011 for Best International Act: Africa.

D'banj is currently best known internationally for his 2012 summer hit "Oliver Twist", an up-tempo dance fusion of Afro-Beats and electronic dance music that topped the African charts 2011 and was a top 10 hit in the UK singles chart in 2012 reaching #2 on the UK R&B chart.

Reggie explains that schools in America read his book titled "Living the Hiplife: Celebrity and Entrepreneurship in Ghanaian Popular Music."

The 344 paged book was written by Jesse Weaver Shipley, Associate Professor of Anthropology at Haverford College and published this year.

The book examines the production, consumption, and circulation of hiplife music, culture, and fashion in relation to broader cultural and political shifts in neoliberalizing Ghana. There is also a documentary produced by the writer to go with the book.

Reggie Rockstone, a 2004 Kora Award winner, did not talk about the other book but said students in American universities study his work.

He continued that D'banj have not added anything unique to his music. "D'banj didn't create what I do. There is no style that is called D'banj" he said.

He said the Nigerian musician "probably" drew inspiration from Ghana's hiplife genre and 2face, another popular Nigerian star acknowledges Reggie's influence in his music.

The popular Ghanaian music icon said he doesn't have to be popular than D'banj just because he started the hiplife movement.

Using a Twi proverb "man was born to play his part, not to doing everything", he said everybody must add to what he comes to meet.

Hiplife is a popular music genre in Ghana that mixes hip-hop beat making and rap with highlife music, proverbial speech, and Akan storytelling.

Reginald Osei is a rapper of Ghanaian descent, born in United Kingdom but lived his early years in the United Kingdom. He has been living in Ghana continuously since he pioneered the Hip-Life movement in 1994. He pioneered the Hiplife art form and has played an important role in the development of this uniquely African genre in Ghana's capital Accra.

In 2004, Rockstone won the Kora Award for the Best African Video and he performed in front of a 50,000 person crowd in Ghana, together with Shaggy.

In 2006 he recorded a track with the Jamaican Dancehall singer Beenie Man called 'Chukku Chakka' (in reference to Rockstone's 1999 hit, 'Eye Mo De Anaa', which sampled Fela Kuti).

Reggie Rockstone is the Son of legendary Fashion designer, Ricky 'Ricci' Osei (Saint Osei).

ELIKEM DENIES BONKING ODARTEY LAMPTEY’S WIFE

Fashion Designer/Actor and one of two Ghana representatives at this year’s Big Brother Africa reality television show, Elikem Kumordzi, has denied ever bonking ex Black Stars player Odartey Lamptey’s wife, Gloria.

He’s flatly rejected the claims, suggesting the equation doesn’t add up, and that those spreading the rumors are “fools”.

Elikem who is currently in Namibia, has broken his silence barely twenty four hours after Lamptey went public over his wife’s infidelity of some 20 years.

Punching holes into the allegations, he adds that he must be some “ganster” of gigantic proportions to achieve that.

“So fools. Do the math. Even if I was with sam1 for 5 years how am I the father of a 10yr old. Kwasia. means I was 15. Den am gangster. Lmao.”

“Father of someone’s children?? That ABEIKU SANTANA is doing his job. It’s how he feeds his family,” he added.

In a Friday morning rant, he went on further to suggest he’s never heard of the name Odartey lamptey, saying he was for the first time going to google him today.

“Ok.It’s comn to me nw. thats d guy who said things against his wife jst 2 divorce her. Then wnt on to marry anoda rite away? Leme google him”

Kumordzi’s denial comes after several fingers were pointed at him, and some other persons including a former teammate of Mr. Lamptey, as fathers of the children.

A sad development, the former Anderlecht player says he’s had reason to question the paternity of their three children.

“…I thought they were my children but upon a DNA test, I got know that are not biological children,” he told Accra-based radio station, NEAT FM.

“The issue is in court so I’m pleading, because it is a legal issue I don’t want to go through so many things, but I am 100% sure that the children are not mine after 20-years.

“We had five children but two passed away so it is left with only 3,” he added.

Lamptey’s wife, Gloria, has since filed for divorce.

99% OF MUSIGA MEMBERS DON’T PAY DUES

Reliable information available to Flex newspaper has it that 99% of members of the musicians union of Ghana MUSIGA do not pay dues.

In Flex newspaper’s quest to find out whether members of MUSIGA pay dues as expected of them, the revelation we had was a rather disappointing one. Read a notice to all registered MUSIGA members from the Welfare Department of MUSIGA with the subject; Payment of welfare dues, (unedited):

I wish to draw the attention of all registered MUSIGA members to the fact that, payment of welfare dues by members has not been very regular; therefore irregular payment of welfare dues has affected the effective running of the welfare administration, especially in terms of giving member’s benefits.  The welfare department of MUSIGA has long been depending on the coffers of the mother Union to foot welfare activities which must not be under normal circumstance. Brothers and Sisters, now is the time for the welfare department to stand on its own not depending on the mother Union for financial assistance on welfare issues.

In view of the above, I wish to appeal to all members of MUSIGA to pay their welfare dues regularly. PLEASE NOTE: with effect from 15th July, 2013, the Union/Welfare will not pay any benefit to a member who has not fulfilled his or her obligations as a member of the Union/Welfare. Thanks for your co-operation. NO CONTRIBUTION, NO CHOP. KEEP IN MIND.

In a chat with Mr. John Victor Owusu, the National Welfare Officer of MUSIGA, he said “the very musicians who criticize MUSIGA for not assisting them are the very ones who don’t pay dues. As I speak with you, MUSIGA members who have paid their full annual dues since this new administration took office will not be more than 5 people. The worst culprits are the regions. They don’t pay dues!

Flex newspaper had the privilege of going through the list of defaulters and to our utter dismay; we saw names of current respected young musicians who fly all the way to Dubai, South Africa, Nigeria, etc. just to shoot one music video. Some even resort to the media to criticize MUSIGA for not doing much for musicians but default in paying GHC 5 per month or GHC 60 per annum as union dues.
As the old axiom says “little drops of water makes a mighty ocean.” Flex newspaper is by this publication calling on MUSIGA members who owe union dues to honour their indebtedness because it is those monies the union can mobilize for members’ welfare. Until then…..MOTWUM!!

SARKODIE SUED GHC.90,000 OVER SARK LOGO

Two stories around awards winning musician Sarkodie will obviously be making headlines this week and the weeks ahead of us if management of the “illuminati” hit maker refuse to approach the one with legal chains with tact and swiftness.

The first story is about the fact that Sarkodie and Nana Ampadu have signed a memorandum of understanding to record some of his old tracks for commercial purposes.

According to a Flex newspaper source who is a member of a new management team formed for Nana Ampadu, recording is likely to start next week all things being equal and that agreement has been reached to make Sarkodie “inherit” some  of Nana Ampadu`s intellectual property.

On the other hand, Sarkodie is on the verge of losing his Sark Collection brand to one gentleman by name Obuobi Jeremiah who initiated the idea of starting a clothing line for Sarkodie and after several discussions with Sarkodie and his management members, provided the design, style, logo, art work and the brand name Sark. Jeremiah Obuobi is doing business with the brand name OBJ CLOTHING therefore he suggested the brand name OBJ SARK 1. In a writ of summon dated 23rd October 2013, Sarkodie including two of his core management members Isaac Duncan -Williams and Sammy Forson of Y-fm are to appear at the Akufo- Addo, Prempeh & Co Chambers, who are the solicitors and legal advisers for OBJ CLOTHING.

Among other demands, the lawyer in charge of this copyright infringement case Barrister Kwabena Boye Adjekumhene is demanding a whooping Ghc. 90,000 to be paid to his client, being the fee due to the plaintiff for creating the artwork,  to render proper accounts of all shoes, clothing and accessories to which the artwork created by the plaintiff has been applied and sold in order to aid the court as to the quantum of damages.

Hearing facts of the case as reported to Flex newspaper, Obuobi Jeremiah who happens to be the Chief Executive Officer of OBJ Clothing introduced this clothing line idea to Sarkodie`s management including the logo, art work and after consideration, he (Obuobi) was asked to supply samples of the product line he was talking about. Out of this burning desire to work with the most bankable artiste in Ghana, he proceeded to Kumasi and started sewing foot wears with the Sark design and artwork on them. During one of the Rapperholic concerts, OBJ Clothing provided all the T-Shirts which were used by management and followers of the artiste and some given out as “freebies” to Sarkodie`s fans at the concert inside the Dome of the Accra Conference centre.

Obuobi presented the samples to Sarkodie and his management team but there was no favourable response from them until he read in the news that Sarkodie had launched his Sark Collection clothingline without his knowledge. Flex newspaper reporters saw some of the sample products and can confirm that production process really started. When Obuobi realized that his artwork which is his  intellectual property had been infringed upon, he wrote to the copyright office of Ghana to seek redress. Mr Atiemo at the Copyright office wrote back to Sarkodie and his management people but there was no good deal out of it, until he left the country to the United States of America where he is residing now.

Though Obuobi started talks with Sarkodie`s management especially Sammy Forson, promises to make payment for using his artwork was not forthcoming therefore his resolve to use Barrister Kwabena Boye Adjekumhene and his Akufo-Addo, Prempeh & Co Chambers to come to his aid. As of Monday during press time, there were indications that the writ had been sent to Sarkodie and his two management members. Flex newspaper is even gathering that, the extension of this case might include other individuals and institutions who have used this artwork for their publicity activities.

If Sarkodie and his management fail to appear before OBJ`s legal advisers, they might meet them at the High Court of Justice: Commercial Division anytime soon or issue an injunction to close down the Sark Collection shop at Dzorwulu. It is our wish at Flex newspaper that Sarkodie and his people will respond to this quickly to avert any issues that might affect the career and brand of the best rapper of our time.