Few days ago, it was reported that
some gunmen stormed the home of Daniel Ademinokan in Abuja, seeking for
Stella Damasus. Later, she went on Twitter to state that she won’t be
cowed for standing for the truth.
In case you missed it,read it HERE and HERE
In
one of her new messages on Twitter, Stella maintained that she is not
moved by any threat. She stated that she will not stop speaking the
truth. Read what she said below;
“No matter what anyone tries to
do, it will not stop me from speaking the truth and standing up for the
rights of women and young girls. These are the kind of things that get
people scared of and run away from; standing up for their rights. It’s a
pity that we say Nigeria is a democratic country, but where is the
democracy when people cannot speak their minds for fear of threats like
this or danger of being killed.
“I am not one of those who shout
in the morning and then at night I go behind the public and accept
“Ghana must go” from those who are causing these problems. We all see
what is wrong and what is going on. Shutting me up will not put an end
to the issues we are facing. If we don’t deal with these things now,
what kind of society are we leaving behind for our children and their
children? Definitely not a place where they can live in freedom and
peace.
“This is not a popularity contest but about speaking the
truth and standing up for what is right. They should shift the focus
from me and place priority on the matters at hand, and place it on the
safety of Nigerians, rescuing the abducted girls, deleting the bill that
legally puts our little girls in the hands of paedophiles, paying
attention to the amount of women dying from domestic violence daily,
unemployment, inadequate health care, proper education, pension funds,
economic development and all the other things that are affecting the
nation.”
The Ministry of Youth and Sports
unveiled a number of musicians, actors, and veteran footballers as
Ghana’s official Ambassadors for the 2014 Brazil World Cup.
They
include; Becca, John Dumelo, Jackie Appiah, Grace Ashy, CK Akonnor,
Tony Baffoe, Abedi ‘Pele’ Ayew, Kwame Ayew, Augustine Ahinful, Samuel
Osei Kuffour, Tony Yeboah, Azumah Nelson, and Ali Jarrah.
The
ambassadors, among other things, are responsible for campaigning to the
corporate world and the general public for support towards Ghana’s
journey to World Cup glory. This includes: the campaign to raise funds
to enable the supporters union of Ghana to travel to Brazil in order to
support the Ghana Black Stars. The ambassadors will be making a call to
the public to text ‘SCORE’ to 1474 at a cost of 70 pesewas per SMS.
John
Dumelo, who is one of the ambassadors, has revealed that so far, they
have solicited for over $ 2million. He made those remarks on Hitz FM
when the host, Andy Dosty asked him how much they – ambassadors have
collected.
“I can’t give you the actual figure because I don’t
readily have all the documents in my hands but I can tell you that we
have solicited well over $ 2million dollars” John said. John went
further to reveal that their ambassadorial work is purely voluntary –
they received no pay. “On the letter of appointment, it was indicated
that it’s a voluntary work. There was no pay in it” John ended.
Veteran actress Maame Dokono, aka
Grace Omaboe, may consider playing a role in a movie for free if that is
what it will take to entice film makers to use the services of veteran
actors who have been made ‘redundant’ in recent times.
The
66-year-old veteran actress who is disappointed that old actors have
been sidelined told Showbiz last week Tuesday that she was willing to
render her services for free if the message of the movie is good.
“I
love acting and I am ready to work for free if the story is one that
drives home a good message that will bring about positive change”, she
said.
“However, when I say I will work for free, it doesn’t mean
I will bear my own transportation to and from location, board and lodge
among others. All I am saying is that, I will not charge a fee for my
services. Anyway, this doesn’t also mean I will be doing it for free all
the time. I will have to get paid at some point in time.
“I need
to go back to acting again because I am bored and I get lonely
sometimes. I miss being on set and being in front of the cameras. I miss
seeing myself in movies and I am finding it difficult to understand why
film makers do not want to use us anymore.
“ The last time I
played in a major movie was about five or six years ago although, I
played a mother role some seven months ago in a short film, a
documentary of Ananse. And I am not alone here. Almost all the old
actors have been sidelined. They haven’t been on set for a long while.
“Veteran
actors are still being used in Hollywood and even neighbouring Nigeria
so why can’t it be same down here. Why do they rather want to use
make-up and powder to push young ones into elderly roles? And sometimes,
they even do a bad job of it so why not use people who are naturally
elderly? This just beats my mind”.
According to the mother of six
and grandmother of 10, she tried finding out why the old actors were
not being used and she was told they were not bankable.
“From my
own investigations, I am told the film makers say we are not marketable
but I don’t think that is true because there are a few films that have
featured some of my old colleagues and they have done well on the market
so what are they talking about?
“I also heard we are expensive
but that is also not true. So far as I know, they haven’t approached us
so how can we charge them? We are not expensive but they should give us
something that will make us happy. We can always negotiate.
“ I
think the film makers should reconsider their decision not to use the
old actors. For some of us, that is all we know and it is also our
source of income so being out of work has become very stressful. Most of
us have even fallen ill duet to that.
“ You see, going on set
can be therapeutic for us. We get to interact with people. We get to
talk, laugh, among others. We become active and that is de-stressing
enough. We also earn some money to keep body and soul together. This
will prevent some of us from going round begging for money and being
ridiculed sometimes in the process. I tell you, it has not been rosy for
some of us” she said.
Maame Dokono who currently runs a school,
Graceful Grace Academy in Adenta said the situation is very bad for
some of the veteran actors.
“I am relatively comfortable but I
am bored. I get to visit my children and grandchildren abroad but still
it can be boring sometimes. I spend my time interacting with my pupils
when school is in session but I get really lonely and bored when the
kids are on vacation. I can imagine what my colleagues who used to
depend solely on acting must be going through this challenging times”,
she said.
Despite the fact that Maame Dokono feel sidelined
lately, she has no regrets at all choosing acting as a career. “Acting
has taken me to a lot of places and I know I have impacted positively on
a number of people especially women and children”, she said.
Maame
Dokono who also ventured into radio and TV said that she was trying to
get back on TV to do story telling like she used to do with By The
Fireside but it has not been easy. “Getting sponsorship has been a
challenge but I believe there is light at the end of the tunnel. One
needs a lot of money to come out with quality production and I hope some
sponsorship will come my way soon.”
Asked if she would go back
to politics, Maame Dokono who tried and lost twice the primaries of the
Birim North on the New Patriotic Party(NPP) ticket said she had no plans
of doing so.
“You need a lot of money to do politics and I
cannot afford that kind of money right now. I tried twice at the
primaries and lost on both occasions and I don’t think I want to do that
again. I think I will rather help from behind the scenes.
Last night in South Africa, the
Durban’s International Conference Centre witnessed great performances
from some of Africa’s most talented artistes including-Sarkodie,Tiwa
Savage, Fally Ipupa, Michael Lowman, Don Jazzy, DJ Clock, Beatenberg, DJ
Kent, Big Nuz, Toofan, D’Banj, Davido and several others as part of
activities for the 2014 MTV Africa Music Awards (MAMA).
Apart
from the tall list of performances, various musical artistes on the
African continent were awarded for their excellent works and
creativity—as music made in Africa was celebrated.
From Ghana,
Sarkodie made us proud by winning the Best Hip Hop artiste of the year
award…The event was put together by MTV and Zulu-Natal Province.
Other
highlights of the evening included a moving acoustic guitar tribute to
the late, great Nelson Mandela by Afro-Soul star Simphiwe Dana, who
performed in front of a giant timelapse video art work by Transform
Today nominee and street artist Rasty, while Ladysmith Black Mambazo
brought the house to its feet with their unexpected mash up “Acappello”
and “Y-tjukutja”. Marlon Wayans, the host highlighted the plight of the
kidnapped Nigerian schoolgirls.
Legendary stand-up comic, film
and television sensation Marlon Wayans hosted MAMA 2014 with his
trademark humour, making a triumphant entrance on a blinged-up rickshaw
and engaging the audience with his easy charm. Celebrity guests
attending the event included Khloe Kardashian, French Montana, D’Banj,
Nomzamo Mbatha, Goldfish, DJ Fresh, John Vlismas, Kajal Bagwandeen,
Emmanuel Adebayo, Minnie Dlamini, Sizwe Dhlomo, Dorcas Shola Fapson, DJ
C’ndo, Efya, Omotola and Riaad Moosa.
Check below for highlights from the event + the full list of the winners
Full list of the winners-2014 MTV Africa Music Awards
Best Male: Davido (Nigeria)
Best Female: Tiwa Savage (Nigeria)
Best Group: Mafikizolo (South Africa)
Best New Act: Stanley Enow (Cameroon)
Best Live Act: Flavour (Nigeria)
Best Collaboration: “Y-tjukutja” – Uhuru Ft. Oskido, DJ Bucks, Professor and Yuri Da Cunha (South Africa/Angola)
Best Hip Hop: Sarkodie (Ghana)
Best Alternative: Gangs of Ballet (South Africa)
Best Francophone: Toofan (Togo)
Best Lusophone: Anselmo Ralph (Angola)
Artist of the Year: Davido (Nigeria)
Song of the Year: “Khona” – Mafikizolo ft Uhuru (South Africa)
Best Video: Clarence Peters (Nigeria)
Best Pop: Goldfish (South Africa)
Best International: Pharrell
Personality of the Year: Lupita Nyong’o (Kenya)
MTV Base Leadership Award: Ashish J. Thakkar (Tanzania)
Transform Today Award by Absolut: Clarence Peters (Nigeria)
Ghanaian Movie stars, Grace Nortey,
David Dontoh and Sinking Sands actress, Ama K. Abebrese, are among those
whose names have been making the rounds as having been offered roles in
Idris Elba’s movie being shot in Ghana.
Elba arrived in Ghana for the production entitled, ‘Beasts of No Nation,’ more than a week ago.
Directed
by Cary Funkunaga, ‘Beasts of No Nation’ is a film adaptation of
Uzodinma Iweala’s 2005 novel that takes its title from the 1989 album –
‘Beats of No Nation' – by Fela Ransome Kuti, the late Nigerian Afro beat
artiste.
Iweala’s book tells the story of Agu, a child soldier
in an unnamed West African country. Elba according to reports is playing
the Commandant – the ruthless head of the guerrilla group – that forces
Agu to join their ranks.
The movie is expected to be Elba’s next big production in Africa, after playing Nelson Mandela in ‘Long walk to Freedom’.
Veteran Ghanaian movie stars, David Dontoh and Grace Nortey, were spotted on set at a location in the Eastern Region of Ghana.
Ama
K. a onetime Africa Movie Award best actress, according to News-One
sources, was also in there, playing the mother of Agu in the Movie.
What is not clear is the identity of the boy who would play Agu.
The CEO of Sonnie Badu Ministries,
Badu Homes and the Worship Radio, Sonnie Badu has added another business
to his list of businesses.
The music icon has opened a day care
centre in London to cater for toddlers and children. The Day Care Centre
dubbed Dizney Day Care caters for children aged five years and below.
The
International Gospel Sensation who also doubles as a football agent, an
Aircraft and Jet Consultant, believes his love for children made him
invest in a Day Care Centre. He further believes that aside from his
singing prowess to win souls for the kingdom, his God given gifts should
also be channeled into his business life, hence the establishment of
the Day Care Centre.
In an interview at his base in London,
Sonnie explained that “being a gospel musician does not mean you have to
be poor, but you actually stand the place and chance of receiving ideas
to help change your generation”.
“I have great passion for kids;
they are our future leaders, so I believe giving them a great
foundation is a good fundamental for their future. Also nursery in
London is big business”. Sonnie further called on all Ghanaians to join
hands in prayers for the over 200 girls who had been kidnapped in Chibok
in Nigeria.
The Dizney Day Care which has officially started
operation was launched by Pastor Kingsley Appiagyei of the Trinity
Baptist Church in London.
Meanwhile, Sonnie who just rounded the
“Teach Me How To Worship Concert” that drew many souls to Christ in May,
is preparing for the biggest live recording project on August 2 at the
New Psalmist Baptist Church in Baltimore, USA. The project is dubbed
“Africa goes Classic in America” and would feature three top American
stars. There would be hymns and spiritual songs by Sonnie Badu. The
project would be backed by String for Christ Orchestra.
Tickets
for the “Africa Goes Classic in America” are available on
www.sonniebadu.com and it are pegged at $15, $25, $50 and $35 for
standard, couples, for a group of 5 and for VIP respectively. Dress code
for the event is black tie for men and native attire for women.
The
“Africa Goes Classic in America” is supported by the Worship Radio,
Sonnie Badu Ministries, Plan It live, Afrique and Smartty’s Management
and Production.
After allegations early this year
that he has been sidelined by movie producers in the Ashanti region for
openly displaying his political colors and rallying behind the National
Democratic Congress in the 2012 elections, the Fanti speaking witty
actor, Clement Bonney, says his support for the ruling party will remain
unshaken.
Describing movie producers who have refused to engage
his services because of his political affiliation as “immature”, Mr
Beautiful as he is affectionately called, stated that political
differences should not bring about enmity between people.
Reacting
to a texter’s question to an entertainment program on ETV over the
weekend on why he joined politics, the audacious actor wondered why
celebrities who openly mounted campaign platforms and compose songs for
the New Patriotic Party’s 2008 and 2012 presidential candidate were not
given the demeaning same treatment.
“Four years ago celebrities
in this country supported Nana Akufo-Addo, but no one raised concern
about their involvement in politics, so why the fuss over mine. I can
assure you that I’ll forever remain NDC and support President Mahama
1000 times,” Mr Beautiful vowed.
Adding “anybody who thinks that
way is immature. Our political affiliations should not make us enemies…I
will continue to support President Mahama and NDC.”
Asked about
why he speaks Fanti in movies when most of the productions are done in
the Ashanti region and the scripts written in Asante Twi, the well-known
local actor retorted that he feels proud holding the flag of his mother
region, the Central region.
“I have received calls from ‘big
men’ and respected people of the Fanti land including chiefs for
speaking my native Fanti in all my movies. I can speak very good Ashanti
Twi, but I won’t use it for movies. I’m proud of my language and if a
producer gives me a script in Asante Twi I’ll reject it. My people back
home have been praising me for promoting the language,” he said.
Touching
on why movie production has been concentrated in the Ashanti region and
why other regions cannot do their own production, Mr Beautiful, in an
apparent swipe at Ghana’s populous region, stated that the Ashanti
dialect permits the use foul languages hence it is easy to use it for
movie production.
“The Northern belt frowns on the use of foul
language, it is the same in the Volta and the Southern coastal belt…,
those part of the country do not allow it either but those at the middle
belt of the country consider the use of foul language as normal, so it
is easy to produce movie in that part of the country because you have
the liberty to say all the bad things,” he explained.
According
to him the assertion that movies in the local dialect have no future is
true, explaining that “the movies are full of insults and anything made
of insults certainly has no future. That is how the language is
structured…it is full of insults.”
