OBINIM'S CHURCH SINGS BISA KDEI'S 'METANFO’

Any time the issue of what gospel music is comes to the fore, there are divergent opinions and that stokes unending controversies. Some time ago, I wrote that I would sing Bisa K Dei's Metanfo and Baaba in church and people thought that I was just starting an unnecessary debate. Of course, I did and I was not scorned nor intimidated by anyone in the church.

Last week, just as I was zapping through my TV channels, I came across a channel called OBTV which I believe belongs to Bishop Daniel Obinim of the International God's Way Ministry. As usual, I got my dial stuck to watch his service, which I always consider a sub-discipline of entertainment on TV. So, just as I was watching Obinim's entertainment show, I heard his professional musicians sing Bisa K Dei's song 'Metanfo' after the Bishop had purportedly healed a certain woman of her illness.

On any day, the real Ghanaian Christian would shudder to sing this song in church just because they think the person who sang it dresses in a certain way or does songs that are generally unchristian. It still engenders the old debate of what gospel music really is, and whether or not the personality of who sang a song could be a factor of describing his genre of music.

It is one of the reasons why I was shocked when none of Bisa K Dei's gospel songs were nominated in the Ghana Gospel Industry Awards. We are growing as a people so we must learn to embrace reality and stop being overly hypocritical.

SARKODIE IS A NEW OBRAFOUR AND THE BEST RAPPER ALIVE – HAMMER

Veteran recording engineer who was very instrumental in the origination of hiplife, Mr. Edward Osei, popularly known as Hammer of the last 2, has opined on the debate of who the best rapper in Ghana is at the moment.

He told Flex newspaper that a good rapper must be one that is intelligent, clever and one who has the ability to knit words that will appeal to the senses of the listener. He added that a good rapper should make use of literary devices in a tactful manner. He also noted that even though rhymes make rap interesting, it must be done such that at the end of it, it makes sense to the one listening.

Hammer noted that even though he admires the likes of Obrafuor and that Obrafuor had been the best during his time with his deep proverbial lyrics, Sarkodie is master at the moment.

“I have never seen any rapper as intelligent as Sarkodie for now because of the speed he uses to compose verses. He can just sit down within 10minutes and create something good. You can’t believe it. Unlike Obrafuor, Sarkodie is about comedy and he is not a teacher or someone who really wants to bring up serious message like Obrafour did. The times have changed and Sarkodie is a new Obrafour. He is the best,” Hammered reiterated.

He also mentioned other rappers like Jay So, Edem and Manifest as some of his favourite rappers.

TUUTULAPATO BACK IN THE CLASSROOM

After being out of school for about two academic terms, kid rapper Cosmos Boako aka Tuutulapato is back in the classroom.

Tuutulapato had not been in school because he had no relative in Accra to take care of him. It had been said that an uncle of his who would be caring for him had traveled so until he returned from his trip the boy had been in Breman Asikuma, where his parents are, without going to school.

He was sent to his hometown Breman Asikuma in January but was not allowed return to stay with his former manager Buffalo, who had taken care of him for 3 years because according to the family Buffalo exploited him. It would be recalled that Flex newspaper in our quest to ensure that the little boy has the best of education has done a couple of stories in this wise and had even suggested that the parents be invited by child rights organizations for advice if they didn't take Tuutulapto to school.

It is however good news that our advocacy has yielded results. Tuutulapato is now at Ford Schools Limited in Teshie Nungua and is in Basic Three. According to his new manager Kennedy Addae, Tuutulapato was enrolled in the school about three weeks ago and has been attending school since.

Until Tuutulapato left for Breman Asikuma early this year, he was a pupil at the British International School. It is hoped that whoever is caring for him has the strength and will power to do so, so that the child has the best of education.

Meanwhile, Tuutulapato is out with a new song called 'God is My Savior.' In the song that features Kwame Yoghurt, Tuutulapato talks about the fact that aside all rumours being peddled about him, God keeps blessing him in what he does.

Being in a new school, having new manager and a new song to hit the airwaves soon, it is also hoped that the TV3 Talented Kid gains more prominence and firm footing in the Ghanaian music industry.

DUMELO MADE ME COMFORTABLE – BERLA MUNDI

GHone TV Presenter, Berla Mundi, has described her first acting experience in Yvonne Nelson’s upcoming movie, ‘Single Married & Complicated’ as “challenging”.

The beautiful young lady played the character of Trish whose marriage is falling apart. Her husband is not attracted to her anymore so she adopts various strategies to win him back.

Berla told News-One yesterday that she at a point forgot her lines during the making of the movie.

However, she was coached and supported by some of the established main actors in the movie, adding, “John Dumelo even made it more comfortable for me.”

She also congratulated Yvonne Nelson, the producer of the movie and director Pascal Amanfo for giving her the opportunity.

“Ok everyone knows how it feels when you do something for the first time, especially when it’s with people who have been in the game for so long… I felt the jitters and was uncertain about my performance because, yes, I am a TV presenter, but when it comes to acting it’s a different ballgame altogether.

“But I must thank the producer, Yvonne Nelson and director Pascal Amanfo for the chance to grow, direction and for the encouragement. Playing a role that was played by a seasoned actress in the first part of the movie was challenging…I had to make sure I nail the role so people won’t compare me to her and say she did a better job…I forgot lines, I had to be coached at certain points but it went absolutely well… And John just made it even more comfortable for me… And I thank God and everyone for the support,” she revealed.

Berla is described as an eloquent, enterprising, industrious and daring young lady. Her soothing voice and interesting personality with unique style, coupled with her amazing ability to drive away a storm with her charming smile have enabled her to win the hearts of many within the few years she popped up on GHOne screens.

Born on an April Fools’ Day, she is a Psychology and Linguistics graduate of the University of Ghana and co-host Rythmz with Black Boy.

GHANA MOVIE INDUSTRY WILL DIE SOON - SOCRATES SARFO

Movie producer Socrates Sarfo says Ghana's movie industry will go down the drain sooner than later.

In an interview on the Scoop on Hitz FM, Mr. Sarfo revealed his decision not to fund movie production from his personal resources because, it is not economically sensible to do so in the industry's current state.

He would rescind his decision only when he sees visible changes he has been fighting for take effect, he stated.

"An industry has been created to kill an industry. The movie industry has been sacrificed for free TV viewing and when the quality falls, which it will soon, the people won't even want to watch it for free on TV anymore due to poor quality," Socrates grieved.

According to him, despite the support the industry is enjoying from President John Mahama, stakeholders do not believe the future looks bright.

He maintained, the only time he would be involved in movie making is when he is sponsored, contracted by someone or a group.

I DON'T BEFRIEND PEOPLE WHO HAVE UGLY ATTITUDE - JOSELYN DUMAS

Bubbly Ghanaian actress and television personality, Joselyn Dumas' friendship is not open to all; certainly not for people whose attitude she considers ugly.

In a rare radio interview, the actress, noted for her admirable figure, said she  doesn't befriend people who have a different thinking frame because she does not have a bad attitude.
According to the award winning actress, because she is not ugly in character, she attracts beautiful people, and so befriends only pretty people.

Joselyn made the revelation while answering a question on the topic: "Can a  man and a woman be just friends?" on the Super Morning Show on Joy FM with Kojo Yankson last Friday.

"I don't befriend ugly people naturally because I don't think I am ugly so I attract very beautiful people - men and women. I've never made an ugly friend, all my friends are beautiful," the talk show host stated.

Expanding her views on the topic, the actress noted that there is nothing wrong with a male and a female agreeing to be platonic friends.

"You can be friends [with] the opposite sex and be platonic friends but at the end of the day, it's what you both want, it takes two to tango so if you are my friend and we just want friendship that's what it's going to be if we both want to take it a step further it's always easier because we've already been friends and we know what we like and we don't like," Joselyn Dumas noted.

She added that, "if you have a friend and you are just friends and you both agree that you just want to be friends, there is nothing wrong with that."

The actress further stressed that, friends who are not in tuned with what she wants, respect her decision "otherwise we can't be friends anymore."

'Friends with benefit'
Joselyn Dumas had held the view that the popular phrase, 'Friends with benefit' did not necessarily connote sexual relationship but friendship in which both parties are there for each other.
She said, "we've all had a friend with benefit. It could be different benefits but we've all had a friend with benefit....when you need something, they are the people [you go to] as well."
After renowned playwright Ebo Whyte, also a guest on the show, explained that the popular term is associated with friends who engage in sexual activity without commitment, she disclosed that she has had a friend with benefit.

"Oh yeah absolutely," she said and added that "sometimes too I think where there is a tag with a relationship, it becomes a problem, then the expectations are quite high but we have a friend with benefit, we see how it goes. If it goes well and we eventually decide that look we [are] going to take this a step further kudos but once this is my boyfriend, this is my girlfriend or I am married, there is that pressure... I personally don't want that at that particular moment so I would have a friend with benefit."

Joselyn noted that she holds that view because "there is that pressure of wanting to please all the time but when it is a friend with benefit, we both have that mutual understanding that at the end of the day, I don't owe you so much."
Ebo Whyte commenting on "Can a  man and a woman be just friends?" said "I will say yes and no.... What do you want in a friend?" and that friendship without sex can be a fantastic one.

"I do know that a lot men have never given themselves the opportunity of looking at a woman as more than a sexual object and they don't know how much they are cheating themselves because the women you haven't gone to bed with is such a fantastic woman in relating when she knows that this is not on the card," he said.

The playwright noted that, "once sex comes in, the whole dynamics of a relationship changes. It is possible, it is difficult but that is no reason why we should not give it a try and it's all in the mind and your orientation."

Ebo Whyte, who is also a counselor, advised that, "friendship should be allowed to grow" because women generally "don't see themselves as sex objects. They wish you would admire and respect me for who I am as a person, for my mind not my body."

Communications Specialist and Consultant, Nana Darkoa Sekyiamah agreed with Ebo Whyte and stressed that "it's entirely possible for men and women to be platonic friends. I also think it's entirely possible for men and women who have previously been in a sexual relationship to become platonic friends. What's important is what you have in common."

Sedem Ofori, Senior Producer and Head of Thought Leadership Unit at Joy FM,  held the view that there is nothing wrong with adults choosing to have sex and remaining friends.

"It depends on what you call friendship and what friendship means to those two people. They could be friends and sleeping and doesn't make it any less a friendship," he noted.

According to him, it is sometimes an idealistic expectation when friends approach a relationship with the presumption that they will not be having sex because "what it means is that you will be spending a lot time together. You will be sharing very intimate sides of your personality and experiences together that naturally puts you in a position where you feel attraction for each other."

JACKIE APPIAH, BECCA, JOHN DUMELO, HUNDREDS MORE STRANDED IN BRAZIL

Daily Guide report is claiming Ghanaian entertainment icons were among hundreds of Ghana soccer fans who got stranded at Forteleza Airport on Saturday evening, after the pulsating 2-2 Ghana-Germany match at Forteleza.

The paper reports that Jackie Appiah, John Dumelo, Gyedu Blay Ambolley, slept on bare floor at the airport because there was no flight to take them back to Natal.

John Dumelo and Jackie Appiah

Members of the World Cup committee responsible for their care could not be traced. Due to this mishap, the soccer fans had to sleep on empty stomachs at the airport after the Ghana-Germany game until the next day.

The Ghana fans slept like refugees at the busy airport in the full glare of other nationals. There were threats to deal ruthlessly with the committee respon­sible for their appalling situation when they touch down at their home base in Natal. The fans made deafening noise to display their anger until they were flown back to their Natal base on Sunday morning.

Attacks

It took the intervention of some stoutly built men, who prevented the charged fans from manhandling the com­mittee members at the Mardunas Hotel. They have had enough of the poor treatment since their arrival in Brazil for the World Cup, the fans complained.

At the Mardunas Hotel on Sunday morn­ing, they held placards with inscriptions that they wanted to return to Ghana. Some of the fans, wearing red bands, pas­sionately appealed to President Mahama to fly them back home to save them from hard­ship.

Stranded

While some fans were angry because of the difficulties in moving from the Natal airport to their home base in Mardunas Hotel, several others were also stranded at the Natal airport Saturday afternoon hoping to travel to  Forteleza to watch the Ghana-Germany game.

These fans were loaded in buses from the Mardunas Hotel to the airport with a promise of being flown to watch the match.They however had the shock of their lives when they were left at the airport since there was limited space in the aircraft. Music star Becca was said to be among the unfortunate fans who could not get a flight and become stranded at the airport.

After creating chaotic scenes at the busy airport, Brazilian authorities chattered buses to send them back to the Ghana village where they watched the game in their rooms.