There have been several talks in the country that try to compare Ghanaian comedians to their fellow colleagues in Nigeria.
The
little discussions I’ve had with some of my countrymen point to the
fact that Nigerian comedians are far better than Ghanaian comedians.
Their arguments are based on the fact that Ghanaian comedians do not
learn in order to adapt themselves to various situations. I guess such
was the opinion of George Quaye, a TV presenter and Public Relations
Officer for Charter House.
For some time now, there have been
misunderstandings between David Oscar – a Ghanaian comedian (popularly
known for his comedy series – Laugh a Minute – on Viasat 1) – and George
Quaye. Speaking on Neat FM’s Entertainment Ghana yesterday, David Oscar
shed more light on the beef between the two.
According to him,
George described Ghanaian comedians as ‘wack’ (without value) which did
not go down well with him as a comedian. If such a careless statement
had come from any other person, he wouldn’t have had any problem; but
for someone like George who knows the challenges Ghanaian comedians are
facing, such pronouncement should not have come from him.
“The
reason why I was even more shocked because he made those comments was
that this same George met me somewhere around 2011 or 2012 and asked me
about Corporate Comedy Series. I told him how far we’ve come and was
even telling him how difficult it was to raise sponsorships and all of
those things.
So if this same man having had this conversation
with me sits on his TV show and act oblivious to the fact that there are
actively working comedians in the Ghanaian entertainment industry and
say Ghanaian comedians are ‘wack’, then that to me is rather
unfortunate”, David emphasized.
He believes that our system keeps
on feeding Ghanaians with Nigerian contents and that explains why
Ghanaians appreciate Nigerian comedians more.
However, George also pointed it out
that he made that statement in order to ‘ginger’ Ghanaian comedians for
them to sit up and improve on their skills. When asked if he was
prepared to retract that statement, George had this to say:
“On
the contrary, I would have hoped David Oscar would be grateful to the
fact that the statement I made has probably pushed them to prove me
wrong. I feel that those harsh words I used on them has angered and
annoyed them so much to prove me wrong. So for David Oscar to refer to
me as a worm, fool, and idiot on social media, I thank him.”
Conversely,
David does not think those words motivated them to work extra harder
since they (Ghanaian comedians) have been working very hard every day.
So if George decides to treat him with contempt, he will likewise treat
him with an equal measure of contempt.
Telecommunication networks in the country are now using Ghanaian comic actors for their commercials to boost sales.
Vodafone
hired the services of Funny Face, Airtel also signed Kalybos for their
commercial and Kumawood poster boy Kwadwo Nkansah popularly known as
Liwin was seen not long ago on MTN billboards and their TV commercials.
After
the above mentioned actors had their share of the big budgeted
commercials from these telcos, Glo is next to follow the trend. Today,
Zionfelix.com cameras captured the Kwaku Manu on set with some of Glo
ambassadors shooting a commercial for the telecommunication.
Few
of the Glo ambassadors Zionfelix.com spotted on set of the commercial
were Irene Logan, Gyedu Blay Ambuley, Koo Fori and others. Officials
Zionfelix.com talked to refused to disclose details of the contract but
we were told the cash involved was good for a person like Kwaku Manu.
Nollywood actor, Ramsey Nouah, has
disclosed that he will not go into politics just like his colleagues who
are embracing the profession.
Ramsey stated that he is a serious minded person and as such, does not have the time for politics.
According
to the actor, “I am a creative minded person. But the truth I have come
to understand is that you could say ‘I will never be there’ but
circumstances might even make you do things. Personally, I’m not a keen
person, I am not very good at dealing with politics, it is really tough
for me.”
He said actors campaign for politicians as their own way of showing support for who they feel is capable of leading the people.
Talking
about some celebrities who attend political events, the actor explained
though he can’t tell if they have any personal gain, but such have
helped Nollywood, the present dispensation, which has really contributed
to the growth of the sector.
Ace Ghanaian rapper, Michael Owusu
Addo, popularly known in showbiz as Sarkodie, has been unveiled as the
2014 Ambassador for the Ghana National Breastfeeding Campaign.
The
multi award-winning artiste is to use his fame to promote the culture
of breastfeeding among nursing mothers across the country.
In his
acceptance remarks as the ambassador, the rapper explained the
importance of breastfeeding to the wellbeing of children and nursing
mothers. He was speaking at the launch of the 2014 World Breastfeeding
Week by the Ghana Health Service (GHS) on Wednesday in Accra.
According
to him, breastfeeding prevents babies from frequently falling ill and
thus saves parents from spending their scarce financial resources on
medical bills.
“Breastfeeding is very essential, and it is to
save yourself the cost and the stress of going to the hospital all the
time just because your child has fallen sick because he/she has not
taken the right nutrients which are derived from breast milk,” he said.
He urged young mothers to constantly breastfeed their babies for at
least a period exceeding six months.
He added; “I will let my
followers know about the importance of breastfeeding exceeding six
months… I will do everything I can to promote the idea. I will use my
social media platforms to educate the public on the need to breastfeed
babies.”
The ‘Give It to Me’ rapper disclosed that the rate of breastfeeding among young Ghanaian mothers was very low.
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.
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.
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.
