For many celebrities in Ghana and
around the world, getting a partner of choice to marry is never a
challenge. The problem, however, is keeping the relationship ‘intact’
till death do them part as the marriage is constantly threatened by the
trappings of fame, including constant advances from members of the
opposite sex.
For hiplife/hip-hop, rapper and songwriter, Okyeame
Kwame, the road to marriage was quite a rough one following some major
hiccups in his relationships with women but when he settled down five
years ago with his sweet heart, Annica, he appears to have had things
smooth sailing so far.
Yesterday the couple celebrated its fifth
anniversary with a call on fellow celebrities in marital and romantic
relationships to do well to avoid the pressures from outside their
unions and build genuine friendships with their partners as a sure way
to preserve their relationships.
“We work together, play
together, and indeed do everything together and that is what is keeping
us going,” Okyeame Kwame said and added that, “The nature of my job as a
musician is such that if I leave my wife out completely, we are likely
to grow apart so she is always by my side“.
His excited wife says
it has been interesting knowing Kwame and that their belief in God and
constant reading of the Bible as well as trying to apply the Word of God
to their lifestyles has worked for them.
The couple is blessed with two children, Bota Nsiah Apaw and Sante Antwiwaa Nsiah Apaw.
Okyeame
Kwame has been a professional singer for more than 15 years and is
still a force to reckon with in the Ghanaian entertainment industry.
He
began his musical career as one half of the hip-life group, Akyeame in
1997. They enjoyed six years of success releasing four albums until in
2003, Kwame and his partner Quofi, decided to try their hands at solo
careers.
In 2004, he began his solo career and saw even more
success come his way as his career quickly skyrocketed. In 2009, Okyeame
Kwame picked up the much-coveted “Artiste of the Year” at the Ghana
Music Awards, as well as Joy FM’s Nite With The Stars Award.
Okyeame
Kwame also founded his own record label, One Mic Entertainment. He has
over the course of his career produced countless hits, and won many
awards and performed on many stages worldwide.
Mr Versatile as he is also called is currently the public relations officer for the Musicians Union of Ghana (MUSIGA).
Over the weekend, Police
Superintendent Kofi Sarpong, a popular gospel musician, was spotted by
the cameras of 'News-One', cruising in town with one of his three
children.
The musician said the boy, Nana Kobby Sarpong, is his
second child. The last one, he revealed, was born on July 24, 2012, the
very day President Atta Mills died but this news has been kept from the
public.
It has always been reported by the media that Kofi
Sarpong is married to a lovely woman by name Salomey, a very private
person who does not want to be in the public eye and that they have
three children.
“Oh three is enough. If God has blessed us with
three children, why should we ask for more? So I can say yes, we stopped
making babies after the third one,” Kofi Sarpong said this when
NEWS-ONE asked him when he would have another child.
The
award-winning Police Officer, 'News-One' gathered, has decided to put a
hold on the release of his third album because the second one,
‘Agyenkwa’ is still making waves.
“I was advised that releasing
the third one now would take the shine off the second album, the
‘Borborbor’ one, which is still doing fine on the market. So I had to
slow down the third album a bit,” he revealed.
Kofi Sarpong
indeed has a herculean task combining his duties as a senior Police
Officer with that of a leading gospel musician and an award-winning one
for that matter.
He is arguably one of the gospel musicians with the fastest growing fan base in Ghana now.
His ‘Agyenkwa’ album became an instant hit soon after its release.
It
has unique traditional ‘borborbor’ rhythms from the Volta Region and a
compilation of soul-touching melody with a couple of danceable tunes.
The
police officer won Gospel Song of the Year award with his debut ‘Meto
Ndwom’, and has consistently maintained his reputation as one of the
most celebrated gospel musicians in Ghana and a toast of music concerts
throughout the country.
His presence on the music scene has
played a significant role in strengthening police-civilian relationship
and he has become an unofficial goodwill ambassador for the Ghana Police
Service.
Superintendent Kofi Sarpong is under the record label of Media Excel Production, managed by Ernest Kwasi Ennin.
News circulating has it that, Joey B’s popular song, ‘Tonga’ has been banned by the Musicians Union of Ghana (MUSIGA).
According
to the report, “Nana Kwame, the host of OC Showbiz Review on Skyy Power
FM, Takoradi confirmed to the reporter that, the ‘Tonga’ song has been
banned by MUSIGA. This was also confirmed to the Master Planner by the
Composer himself, Joey B.”
Ghana.com can confirm that Joey B’s
‘Tonga’ song has not been banned by the Musicians Union of Ghana
(MUSIGA) as it was reported. Reacting to the story on Monday’s edition
of the mid-morning show, ‘Brunch2Lunch’ on Radio Univers, Joey B’s
manager, Gee told Bra Chef, host of the show that MUSIGA has not banned
the song.
He added that the false information circulating is a
game plan by some media men to send a message to Charter House,
organizers of Ghana Music Awards not to nominate the song for this
year’s awards ceremony. He continued that the song ‘Tonga’ is not
profane and they have submitted it to Ghana Music Awards organisers.
A
check by OMG!Ghana.com on MUSIGA’s twitter handle also proved that the
song which features BET award-winner Sarkodie has not been banned.
Tweets by MUSIGA read:
Musiga
is not a music censorship board… so we dont ban songs..we only appeal
to members not to be explicit @GhanaMusicWeek @1RealJoeyB
— Musicians Union-GH (@Musigagh) January 19, 2014
We disassociate with such reportage @kaychills @ghanamove
— Musicians Union-GH (@Musigagh) January 19, 2014
Legendary highlife musician Nana
Kwame Ampadu has commended the MUSIGA executives led by Bice Obour
Kuffour for establishing the (Aging Musicians Welfare) AMWeF Fund.
Nana
Kwame Ampadu was speaking at a meeting on Friday January 17th at MUSIGA
where the first distribution for the AMWeF took place.
The
distribution is based on funds raised by the AMWeF fund raising team
since inauguration in August last year in fulfillment of the purpose for
the establishment of the fund.
The AMWeF fund was launched as
part of the AJUMAPA vision of the President of the Union, Bice Osei
Kuffour to raise funds to support the many ageing and elderly musicians
who are currently going through various degrees of emotional and
financial challenges.
The Fund will make periodic financial
distributions to support qualified musicians above sixty years and
disabled musicians in times of need.
The distribution covered
beneficiaries from Greater Accra, Volta, Eastern, Western and Central
regions. The Northern, Upper East, Upper West, Brong Ahafo and Ashanti
regions will receive their donations in next week.
Another
veteran highlife musician Amesese Abrakyireba Kofi Sammy called on
corporate Ghana, well meaning individuals and philanthropists to support
the fund.
Speaking at the meeting, the MUSIGA President Bice
Osei Kuffour aka Obour expressed appreciation to organizations that have
supported the AMWeF Fund so far and urged others to do same. He
congratulated the elder musicians for their contribution to society and
urged them to continue to be mentors of the upcoming generation.
Present
at the meeting were representatives of the Volta, Central and Eastern
regions who received the amounts on behalf of the beneficiaries in their
regions. Others included P.K Yamoah, A.K Yeboah, Rev Sam Cooper and
Kwabena Donkor.
Afro music sensation, Kojo Antwi has
eulogized late broadcaster Komla Dumor who died last Saturday disclosing
that his death is as painful as that of Bob Marley, Nelson Mandela and
other legends.
According to the music maestro, he is yet to come
to terms with the death of Komla Dumor, who hosted the BBC 'Focus on
Africa' Programme until his death.
Kojo Antwi said Africa has lost a great asset and son.
He
made these remarks in an interview with Myjoyonline.com Tuesday after
signing the book of condolence opened at Joy FM in honour of the former
Super Moring Show host on Joy FM.
According to the 'Adiepena' hit
singer, "This is the feeling I got when Bob Marley passed away, this is
the feeling I got when Lucky Dube passed away, this is the feeling I
got when Nelson Mandela passed away. That's how I can described what
we've lost."
Kojo Antwi recounted that, he "was privileged to
have had interviews with him when he was with Joy FM. The last time I
met him was just like a year ago. A company called Stratcomm was having a
show that I was part of; I was the main act and Komla was the host."
Even
as a musician, Kojo Antwi said he learnt a lot from the broadcaster: "I
loved the way he approached his work with professionalism and if you
want me to talk about Komla, [when] radio became big in Ghana, Komla
could have decided to live in here and [considering] his caliber, he
would have lived like a king but he left it all to go and fight for us
as Africans.
"When he reported things about Africa, it was no
more the White man's perception of Africa; It was somebody who is an
African, who had lived here and he knows Africa very well and that's
what we need," Kojo added.
Komla Dumor's exemplary life, the
music maestro acknowledged, is very crucial to Africa; "We need that
professionalism, people who will come in to set standards, people who
will uplift the image of us as Africans."
Asked if Ghana and
Africa will ever get another 'Boss Player', as the late Dumor is fondly
called, Kojo Antwi said he believes that, "he left us some kind of
footprints and I want the youth to look for those footprints and go
further than Komla did. It is possible."
While refusing to give
details, the music maestro hinted that he "may" compose and record a
tribute song in Komla Dumor's memory.
He used unprintable words in a song
title “Me no need no award” to establish his displeasure after he lost
the Reggae/Dancehall Artiste of the year award to female dancehall
artiste Kaakie, at last year’s Ghana Music Awards ceremony.
He
caused commotion and broke glasses at the Accra International Conference
Center after the awards, and insulted award winner Kaakie and
Charterhouse organizers of the awards. That whole VGMA drama and
controversy was dancehall artiste Shatta Wale’s claim to fame again,
after almost a decade in hibernation.
It’s been almost a year
now since he suddenly became the most sought after performer in Ghana.
As the popular saying goes “A lot of water has passed under the bridge”
in 2013 and the “Enter The Net” hitmaker has ‘cleaned up his closet’,
putting all the problems he had with people behind him.
Within
2013, he apologized to Kaakie and Samini and ended the year with a
public apology to Charterhouse during his performance at Ghana Rocks
concert at the conference Center on December 27, and Charterhouse
immediately accepted his apology with no hesitation. So obviously Shatta
Wale was on a clean sheet to be nominated for the awards and perhaps
win on the awards night, but trust Shatta Wale to take you by surprise
just when you thought all was settled.
Shatta Wale, arguably the
musician with the largest following in Ghana at present, has emphasized
that in spite of all his apologies and expression of remorse, he still
stands by the line in his song that states that he doesn’t need any
award and that he doesn’t have any expectations at all as far as this
year’s upcoming Ghana Music Awards is concerned.
Speaking on
Peace FM’s “Entertainment Review”, Shatta Wale said he thinks that last
year was the right time for him to win an award, but since he couldn't
win, he has taken the whole issue of awards out of his mind.
“If
I say I don’t need an award, I really mean I don’t need it to make a
hit in Ghana. I don’t need any awards! If Ghana would really appreciate
the kind of work I am, doing I don’t have a problem but if they don’t
give it to me I will always create my music”.
Shatta Wale defused
the speculations that he is desperate for awards, and that was why he
apologized to Charterhouse at the time he did. “Basically, I just
decided that let me just let bygones be bygones because we were entering
a new year, so why don’t we forget certain things and move on, but it
is not basically because of the awards”.
He said right from
childhood he never had any thoughts of doing music, to win awards,
because according to him the real award comes from God. “I don’t have
that kind of mind from birth. I don’t know who gives awards in music
apart from God and it is God who rewards. If Charterhouse feels I have
insulted them and they don’t want to give me an award I don’t have a
problem with them. It is their life it is their company. So I don’t have
problem with them; I just felt that let me just apologize to them and
just do what a child would do when he offends his parents”.
Asked
if he is expecting any nominations and maybe win any awards, Shatta
said he doesn't even know how an artiste is nominated for the awards,
and Ghana Music Awards is really not part of his plans this year because
he has a lot of travelling to do and it is possible he might not be in
Ghana during the awards. But whatever happens his management will deal
with it and he would still be performing and creating his music.
When
Kwasi Aboagye host of the show, asked him if he would cause another
commotion this year if he doesn't win any awards, he said; “Then they
shouldn't nominate me and they shouldn't even invite me to the awards
night for them to have another Osama bin Ladin kind of thing. They
shouldn't invite me when they know they are not going to give me any
award”.
He said, he was nominated without his knowledge last
year, and he does not expect Charterhouse and the VGMA board to repeat
the same mistakes.
Checkout pictures of Shatta Wale time at Peace FM.
Ghana’s celebrated Artiste of the
Year 2009, Okyeame Kwame, who is working tirelessly to release his new
album, ‘African Connection’ this year, has denied rumours that he has
plans of contesting the presidency of the Musicians Union of Ghana
(MUSIGA).
Okyeame also denied having organised a meeting with
some of the musicians and stakeholders in the industry behind closed
doors to announce his presidential ambition.
Okyeame Kwame noted
that he is solidly behind the current president of MUSIGA, Obour and his
administration and that he has no intention of contesting the seat to
become the president of the union.
“It is not true that I want to
become the president of MUSIGA. I am not interested in that position. I
have a lot to do as a musician. My career is more important than
becoming the president of MUSIGA which will not be beneficial to me and
my career as a musician.”
Speaking in an interview with
'Beatwaves', Okyeame said the current president of MUSIGA is a very good
friend of his and he is doing a very good job for the industry.
“I
am satisfied with Obour’s performance so far and will always support
him in his efforts to build a vibrant music industry for the country. I
will not betray him as a friend to contest for his position.”
Okyeame
Kwame who recently launched his latest single, ‘Try Another Time’,
which featured Nigerian musician J Martins, stressed that he did not
want to waste his time and energy discussing issues that will not be
beneficial his career.
“Based on his achievement so far I
personally think Obour is still the best person to lead MUSIGA. He is a
good friend and doing a good job for the industry. I have worked with
him and I think he is the best to lead MUSIGA.”
Okyeame Kwame,
however, called on all musicians to come together and work as a team to
help the industry to progress, adding that together the musicians could
change the status quo which has rendered the industry poor, although it
represents wealth.
