STOP THE "NEGATIVE CAMPAIGN" AGAINST GHANAIAN COMEDIANS

Until his performance at last Saturday’s 1018 Laughs event, not many lovers of stand-up comedy had taken DKB as a “serious” comedian. But the loud and sustained applause that greeted him at the Accra International Conference Centre was enough testimony that he had arrived and could rub shoulders with the big boys of the genre.

An elated DKB, real name, Derrick Kobina Bonney who spoke to Showbiz on Tuesday couldn’t hide his pride after what he claimed was a “revengeful motivation” from his critics whose disregard for him spurred him on to put up the good performance.

He said that even though he had confidence in himself, some of the messages he received and read online prior to the show were rather discouraging to his person.

He said he was however poised not to disappoint the “many eyes” that were on him and he looked forward to nothing short of a good show.

“Since Saturday, I have been receiving congratulatory messages. I never knew Ghanaians were that much interested in comedy. I knew Ghanaians loved comedy but the calibre and sort of people who have sent messages to congratulate me is evidence that many Ghanaians appreciate what we are doing.

“I won’t hide the fact that I was initially nervous when I came on stage but I overcame that feeling and told myself I had to make Ghanaians proud of their own comedians and that was a personal assignment I had to undertake on the night”, he said.

Despite the fact that DKB has been applauded for the great show he put up, some critics have also expressed concern about his emphasis on his rather “unpolished jokes” on the night. But DKB didn’t take it lightly when the question was put to him.

“I don’t know what was vulgar or unpolished about my jokes on the night. I have read all those opinions and think it is rather unfair to me. I was only reflecting on the typical character and behaviour of the various tribes in Ghana. What I said about the people of the Ga tribe is what they are known for. I am a Ga myself so I knew what I was talking about.

“When we talk like this, we make it seem like I didn’t put up a great show because some of these Nigerian comedians crack jokes on sex and more but we think it is okay. Perhaps, the messages in some of my jokes were not well interpreted,” he said.

Last Saturday night was not DKB’s first appearance on the platform of the 1000 Laughs series. He was on the bill in 2010 but he was not given that much recognition compared to last Saturday’s performance because he was new in the game at the time.

For now, if there is anything DKB it would want Ghanaians to do for comedians, is that they stop the “negative campaign” against them and support them.

He said that often, the media had been the worst culprit of the “crime” of telling negative stories about Ghanaian comedians when many of them have not even had the opportunity to watch any of their acts.

He threw the challenge to such critics to come and witness the new breed of comedians being groomed in the comedy fraternity at the Comedy Bar which is held at the Silver Lounge of the Accra Mall at the end of every month.

“I am not saying that they should sing our praises. That is not it at all. My only problem is that they should also not criticise us so harshly when they don’t have evidence to back their criticism.”

DKB, the current host of Boys Boys on Viasat 1 who represented Ghana in the Big Brother Africa Star Game in 2012 and also on the M-net Comedy Club in Uganda said his performance last Saturday was not just a flash in the pan.

He said he had mastered the act of stand-up comedy since 2005 and just needed the right platform to “reveal” his worth in that field.

He admitted that the 1000 series platform was a huge one and he couldn’t have messed up when given such a great opportunity.

CHASE FOREVER COVERS NAIJA JUICE MAGAZINE

Ghanaian musician, Chase Forever covers the latest edition of Naija Juice Magazine as the first Ghanaian to feature on the cover of the magazine since 2011.

The Ghanaian recording artiste and songwriter was born, Fianko Bossman, on June 24 in the mid-eighties, in Hackney Town, London.

He started writing song verses and performed any chance he got at a tender age. He participated in every talent show organized by his school.

In the year 2000, he joined a rap group called Souljas Inn and was considered one of the best battle rappers in Ghana. Souljas Inn’s first single, ‘One Day’ was featured as a soundtrack in Shirley Frimpong Manso’s film, 'Perfect Picture'.

He has written songs for numerous Ghanaian artistes including, Becca, D-Black (a 2009 Channel-O award nominee), Jane of Stars of the Future fame, Mimi of Big Brother Africa fame, Adina of Stars of the Future fame and Richie of Lynx Entertainment.

He has also performed on the same stage with well-acclaimed international stars like Mario and Shontelle from the United States.

He was nominated twice for 2012 Vodafone Ghana Music Awards (VGMA 2012) and won “male video of the year at the 4Syte Music Video Awards.

He is known for his popular songs 'Finally', 'Lonely', 'Tell me your name', and 'Fire'. Also, his videos were shown on all major Ghanaian TV networks and foreign networks such as MuchMusic, VH1 Soul, Channel O, Trace, and MTV.

He just released maiden album titled, Unappreciated at a launching ceremony which attracted the creme de la creme of Ghana’s entertainment industry.

On Thursday, August 7, he will also release his new video for the remix of his song, 'Pull Me Down' featuring Samini.

CECILIA MARFO ISSUES DISCLAIMER

Gospel musician Cecilia Marfo has issued a disclaimer against a chief planning to sue the Church of Pentecost on her behalf.

“Our attention has been drawn to the fact that a chief has taken it upon himself to sue the Church of Pentecost on behalf of our gospel artiste, Cecilia Marfo.

Our artiste, who in recent times had some issues with her church over a prayer centre she is operating at the Afienya Road on the Mateheko First Bridge Bus stop,” management member Stephen Kenneth Nakujah noted.

We therefore want to clear the air that management of Cecilia Marfo; Flex Entertainment is appreciative to anyone who has from day one, supported her Ministry as a gospel musician and called to encourage and advise her when the issue came up,

"We also state categorically that we dissociate ourselves from anyone taking the Church of Pentecost to the court on our behalf or in his capacity. We love all our die-hard fans and sympathizers who were worried since this issue cropped up," he the statement further read.

He indicated "we are still members of the Church of Pentecost, and nothing can stop it. We respect the Church as the Church of God, and we respect the rules and regulations of the Church and so if the Church uses its powers as far as the constitution of the Church is concern."

"We respect that and will make sure that we resolve the misunderstanding between us and the Church,” he added.

Stephen Nakujah also urged all who love Cecilia Marfo to calm down for she is as fit as a fiddle. She is not worried at all. She has decided to be silent on this issue because, she doesn't see it as a problem.

She knows that everything was planned by God to send out a message to the world.

"I WANTED TO BE A GYNECOLOGIST"- JOHN DUMELO

Actor and entrepreneur John Dumelo has revealed what he really wanted to do as a child before he ended up on the silver screen as an actor.

John Dumelo who appeared on ‘Hanging Out with KOD’ shows over the weekend disclosed that growing up as a child, he had always wanted to a gynecologist. When host of the show Kofi Okyere Darko (KOD) asked what his childhood dream was, John said “I wanted to be a gynecologist because I had always wanted to help women so I wanted to do that can help women”.

John said it’s unfortunate he couldn't pursue his childhood dream but he is very happy in the movie industry where in finds himself now.

Asked about how he deals with negativity in the media, John revealed that negative comments and stories in the media among other things have kept him going all these years. He disclosed, “Negative comments motivate me to even push harder …and the fact that I want to affect people’s lives positively urges me on.”

He also revealed that his biggest challenge as an actor has to do with interpretation of roles in movies. “I will read through a script thinking that the role I would be playing is very easy but when I get on set, interpretation of roles has always been a challenge for me.”

John also about his plans of getting married, he disclosed, ”I want to get married hopefully next year, the false stories are too much and I want to spare myself from heartbreaks”. When KOD asked John about what he is looking out for in the woman he intends marrying, the actor stated “Someone who understands my career, a religious woman, very supportive and a woman who can take care of the house.

John disclosed that for now, he has his own construction company, a film school and will be opening his hotel soon. He advised that as human beings, we should be prayerful and ask God for directions in everything we seek to do; and we must remain humble at all times.

On the same program, John reveals his political ambition intimating emphatically that he wishes to be the President of Ghana one day.

He explained that it is not because his name is John as some people say but really he wishes to lead Ghana one day to do things differently and turn things around positively in the country.

He jokingly added that if he becomes president of Ghana one day, KOD would be his Chief of staff.

MUSIGA URGES 5-MEMBER GHAMRO TEAM TO FOCUS ON ‘CLEANING’ BODY

The leadership of the Musicians Union of Ghana (Musiga) wishes to congratulate the Court appointed Interim Management Team of the Ghana Music Rights Organization (GHAMRO) and urges them to work assiduously to deliver on the mandate the court has given them.

The Human Rights Court presided over by Justice Essel Mensah, on July 11 ordered members of the old board to step aside.

The ruling dissolved the previous GHAMRO Board led by Mr. Carlos Sakyi, after Nana Kwame Ampadu and one hundred others, filed a suit against the former interim Board for, among other issues, non-accountability, lack of transparency and overstay in office.

The new Interim team includes Kwame Nsia Appau (Okyeame Kwame), Nana Aboagye Dacosta, Enoch Agyapong (producer/publisher); plus Kwao Sessah Acquaye and Dorothy Habadah- representatives from the Attorney-General’s Department and the Copyright Office respectively.

We wish to congratulate Nana Aboagye DaCosta on his appointment as Chairman of the new team, at their first meeting on July 29, 2014.

Recognizing that they have just six months, we hope to see an immediate preparation towards the delivery of their mandate including but not limited to processes of reviewing the working constitution of the Organization, formation of an independent election committee, the listing of qualified voting members of the organization and to organize and supervise a fair elections to usher in new board of directors for the organization.

All right owners and members of Musiga are by this publication requested to be patient as its leadership would do all in its power to ensure the new team is up to the task.

Signed

Nana Darkwa

Head of Communications,

MUSIGA National Office

JERRY JUSTICE FOUNDATION SUPPORTS THE ELDERLY AT HELP AGE GHANA

The management of Jerry Justice Foundation has donated items worth thousands of Ghana cedis to Help Age Ghana, a non-profit organisation that advocates and takes care of the needs of elderly people in the country in Osu, Accra.

The items donated to the Help Age Ghana included household items such as diapers, clothes, among many others.

The Jerry Justice Foundation is a Ghana-based non-governmental organisation (NGO) which aims at supporting the needy in the community and create public awareness on ageing issues and the problems facing older persons.

Presenting the items to the management of Help Age Ghana, the founder of the foundation, Jerry Justice Mensah, said the donation was the organisation’s widow’s mite of helping bring comfort to the elderly and needy who are sometimes abandoned by their families.

Receiving the items on behalf of Help Age Ghana, the Programmes Officer in charge of Day Centre at Help Age Ghana-Osu, Mr Aaron Odua-Mensah, commended the Jerry Justice Foundation for its kind gesture and urged other kind-hearted persons and organisations to come to their aid.

He also pleaded with the National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA) to reduce the free health insurance for the aged people from 70 to 65 years, saying, “Aged people have a higher health risk compared to younger people currently.”

CHASE PREMIERS DEBUT ALBUM IN STYLE

Ghanaian R&B singer, Chase Forever, on Saturday night thrilled a section of his fans and industry players, who witnessed the release of his debut album, 'Unappreciated'.

The launch was held in grand style at two separate ceremonies held at the Mplaza Hotel and Club 45 at Airport Residential Area in Accra.

It started with a VIP launch ceremony at the Mplaza Hotel in Accra, which was strictly by invitation.

Presents were some influential persons in society and some of the crème de la crème of Ghana’s entertainment industry including; Yvonne Nelson, John Dumelo, Efya, Prince David Osei, Elikem, James Gardner and others.

After that ceremony, the launching ceremony continued at the Club 45 where quite a number of celebrity guests and Chase’s fans trooped to party the night.

A number of artistes who passed through to support the show at the club included; Paydae of R2bees, Efya, Nana Boroo, Esbee, Richie, Keche, Kobby Maxwell, Bright and a host of others with Commotion as one of the MCs of the evening. Elikem, Yvonne, John Dumelo and other actors also attended that event as well.

Chase, born Fianko Bossman, performed some of the songs on the album to the delight of Club audience.

Among the songs he performed were 'Survivor', 'Pull Me Down', 'Boozman Anthem', 'Dance For Me', 'Crazy Love', 'Lonely', 'Blow You Away', 'Cookie', 'Don’t Cry When I’m Gone' and 'Crazy Love'.