Beginning a project and having it go down the drain can be nerve wrecking. It can make you loose all hope you once cherished some time ago. Before you began, you dreamt of the success, you smiled at it, you smelled it and you began to think it. At that moment, troubles and trials seemed like grass beneath your feet. With all the thorns, some piercing you and some giving you a smooth walk, you were only seeing and feeling grass, smooth or rough.
Wednesday, March 14, 2012
GhSchedule.Facebook.Com
A few realisations I have made concerning the social network site, Facebook. Nothing personal. And if this happens to have a bearing on your particular self, that was not the intention.
Mondays on Facebook are inundated with motivational quotes and status updates, possibly giving enough energy for the coming week. Tuesdays come with a continuation of the Monday status’ updates. Still quite high on motivation.
Mondays on Facebook are inundated with motivational quotes and status updates, possibly giving enough energy for the coming week. Tuesdays come with a continuation of the Monday status’ updates. Still quite high on motivation.
Dear Men. . .
In as much as you would want your women to be submissive and all the other qualities that you yearn for, I feel you sometimes slack on certain things in terms of your being yet you never take it lightly when she, on the other hand slacks.
For one thing, every woman, naturally, is a submissive woman. Seriously. If you are the man you are supposed to be, she will be the woman she is supposed to be.
For one thing, every woman, naturally, is a submissive woman. Seriously. If you are the man you are supposed to be, she will be the woman she is supposed to be.
Until Love Finds You. . . .
(This piece was inspired by an excerpt from Michelle McKinney Hammond)
Age is just a number so am not going to give any age limits here. But then let’s see, . .you are next to the only single person amongst your friends, you no longer get their companionship for a boys day out. You don’t get to shop with the girls anymore and even if you do, they buy diapers and baby food and wipes while you are left, primarily with an apple in your shopping basket!
Wednesday, March 7, 2012
His Royal Design Highness, Nana Kwadwo Duah
It was back in 2007. I was then having my academic industrial attachment at Ultra Films in Bubuashie. In the same building as Ultra Films was Oxygen, a brand & design firm run by Nana K. With my very curious self, I usually wondered why the seemingly shy designer almost always walked with his head bowed. He never talked much, not that I heard and he locks himself up when he is in a design mood! The design of his from that time, which I remember is a small sticker for the Ghana@50 celebrations.
Monday, January 9, 2012
Ties That Bind. . .Leila Djansi's Movie
This is Africa. We do not adopt children. A woman must make her own else she will not be woman enough. Her husband will be ridiculed and he may be pressured to have children with another woman. The childless woman will be considered a witch. Childlessness could be a barren woman, or a woman whose children keep dying for one reason or the other. She is a doctor, and has had two miscarriages for a reason only known to her and a friend. She lets her partner suffer too because they have a situation none of them can help. Because of this condition, and society, she wanted to stop marriage despite the heart throbbing love she feels for her man. She knew the pressure of constantly losing her children could swallow her.
There is this American woman living in Ghana. She came here to heal. She had a bad childhood and grew up to become a spiteful mother to her own child despite not ever wanting to be so. She could care less about her own crying baby. Her own childhood was tormenting her and she had no control. She did something back in the States which she now regrets. She has to however live with it and yet find courage to face her demons. She has to go back to the States and face her twelve year old “nightmare.” Through her two other friends, she finds courage, embraces herself and decides to go back.
Then there is a woman, who has long been suffering from a health condition which neither she nor her husband knew how bad it is. She does get pregnant but for some reason, the society still considers her barren. Coincidentally, the piece of land she inherited from her parents is as barren as her womb. Her mother in law gave her no peace, called her a witch at any opportunity and made her feel bad. But she had a husband who loved her. A man who chose her over his mother and stood up to put his mother out of his home so his wife will have peace.
These are the stories of the three main women in Leila Djansi’s new movie, Ties That Bind. The premiere was held at the National Theater on the 30th of December and the turnout was very impressive. As the movie film rolled, and judging from the audience response, it was clear that indeed people were enjoying the movie. Women, childbirth, African customs and tradition, beliefs and love are the themes that intertwined beautifully to tell this story.
The set for the movie was very much like we will see in most of our villages and smaller towns and even in parts of the bigger towns. The language was comical and engaged a brilliant mix of some local languages with English. The subtitles were definite and without flamboyance. A lot of emotions came to play as the movie rolled with the most emotional part being when one of the characters run so fast that her friend had to struggle to keep up. Where was she going? I heard people ask. The next scene and her language got the entire auditorium to be quite, very quiet. As her friend complained about her sorrows, she took her to the barren land that carried the secret of her scorn and her bitterness.
Ghanaian, Ama K Abebrese, Nigerian, Omotola Jolade Ekeinde and American Kimberly Eliseare the three main leads in the movie. With captivating acting skills and beautiful directing by Leila Djansi, they played their roles and told the story of how some, and infact most women suffer from child-related issues. Hw ignorant some of our cultural practices are and how we even mistreat the sick and women in labor by taking them to churches, The Holy Fire Church, in this instance, while we downplay the effectiveness of orthodox medicine.
Leila, who triples as the writer and producer of this movie also made use of a beautiful array of old Ghanaian actors. Indeed one does not need recurrent scenes to make an impact in a movie. Grace Nortey’s one scene and barely two line language accompanied with her facial and bodily expressions were too effective to be ignored. Kofi Middleton-Mends and Kofi Adjololo also had cameo roles. John Dumelo, David Dontoh and musician Paulina Oduro had recurrent roles. Rapper Okyeame Quame also had a cameo role as a comedian.
Ties That Bind is what I classify as a fiction but too real to be so. Such situations are still happening and am grateful that this director chose to tell our story as is happening without flowery and poetic language and over glamorous costumes, which by the way hardly exist now, even in our palaces.
Leila Afua Djansi, kudos. Indeed, am bound by your Ties That Bind!
Wednesday, January 4, 2012
My Mind Dey!!!
Some say good girls fall in love with bad boys. Some say good boys cannot take care of their women because they are often boring. Some, and I dare say majority of women would love a mix of these two. But yet, the number of good girls who keep falling for bad boys seemingly keeps growing. For this, and on this subject is the entire theme of Irene Logan’s “My mind dey” track.
With the piano and guiter starting and the drums joining in, this beautiful jazzy love tune has been replaying in my head ever since I heard it in Adams’ Apples Chapter six.
The lyrics begin with Irene’s sultry voice singing, “Boy I love you. . . I no dey lie. . . boy I need you. . . cant deny. . . when you no dey. . . my heart dey go. . . when am with you. . . I don’t wanna go. . . I don’t wanna go my baby. . . ooooohhhh. . . . boy I feel you. . . I no dey lie. . . boy I need you. . . cant deny. . . when we kiss. . . it feels like heaven . . .when we touch. . . I don’t wanna go. . . I don’t wanna go my baby. . . .Boy my mind dey for you boy my heart dey I no fit how I miss you my baby boy my mind dey for you boy my heart dey I no fit how I miss you my baby. . . . . .
Of course while enjoying the love and company of such persons you will have some friends and family advising you against them. The man might not be suitable for society’s expectation and well, your friends and family might mean well and get your head, but seriously, if only they could say that to your heart. . . and so Irene’s beautiful voice continues to indulge in her love professing for her man. . .
“Friends dey talk say. . . make I leave you, . .. Friends dey talk say. . . you will never come, . . but when you are around, . . things dey better. . . hell I miss you, . . oh I don’t want to go my baby. . . Boy my mind dey for you boy my heart dey, . . I no fit how I miss you my baby, . . boy my mind dey for you boy my heart dey . . .I no fit how I miss you my baby. . .”
Irene is so in love with this man she is singing about in this track. I bet a lot more females will find themselves connecting with Irene on this record. He may not fit into your family and friends expectations but heck your heart is chasing him, and so Irene continues and tells him. . . “Baby I want your love, . . I need your love . . .oooooooo don’t leave me out. . . baby baby come closer now, . . put your arms around me baby, . . . don’t leave me out it’s so cold. . . Don’t leave me out it’s so cold. . . don’t leave me out it’s so cold . . .I want you baby. . . baby its so cold don’t leave me out. . . it’s so cold. . . Aw) di me oh, . . .aw) di me oh don’t leave me out it’s so cold. . . put your arms around me. . . show me that you love me only. . . oh baby am tired . . . in the cold. . . . . .
Wednesday, December 14, 2011
Derailed Illusions
Common knowledge in the entertainment industry in Ghana is that consumers do not pay entertainers their due. We do not pay royalties. Radio stations, TV stations, the websites, in fact, almost nobody pays royalties in Ghana.
This means common knowledge number two is that we know our artists and actors are generally relatively broke. Please, do not make an example of one artist or actor who has made it. The catch phrase here is “generally relatively broke.”
This piece has been inspired by a number of factors with the most annoying one being entertainers who overrate themselves. Those who just think that so far as their faces and voices are popular, they have to earn a lot of money, from, say, one musical appearance. I have had a lot of annoyance concerning musicians especially and their so-called managers who demand amounts for shows, irrespective of the audience of the show and the rate and venue. They just feel that so far as they have been called for a show, they have to be paid, say, GHC3,000. The show, whether it is to be staged at the Dome of the Conference Center with all the security apparatus that comes with it and an entrance fee of GHC50 per head or whether it is to be staged on the relatively small compound of a junior or senior high school with no entrance fee at all or whether it is to be staged in a small night club or a university hall with an entrance fee of GHC5, these managers feel their rate should be the same. It gets me to shake my head because, for one thing, even one brand of a manufactured consumable commodity is sold at different prices at different places. Managers, I am bidding you to learn about price discrimination. It will go a long way to project your artist’s image and scope.
The second inspiration stems from artists who simply overrate themselves. I mean, come on, you have two or three albums out, none got a single hit. You have this current album with one song that has a catchy chorus which the public hold on to and you start to think event organizers must pay you amounts which, come to think of it, seems like you sometimes want to cover your entire cost of production from your previous album or two from the pocket of the event organizers. Meanwhile, what will you be doing on stage? Will it not be miming? You will start off by singing some excerpts from some other tracks which the audience will seriously not like, then you will do your popular track, get two girls to wine their waist and leave the stage after eight minutes. Mind you, the cheers you get are usually for the girls who inevitably face the audience with their asses.
The third reason is actually a plea. When an artist is called upon to perform on a platform, aside been paid to entertain, I think it will help them a lot if they start to actually realize that it is probably the most effective way for them to know how well the public really appreciate them and their music and to use those platforms to work on their subsequent acts. Aside that, it is also a way for them to build on their fan base. Stop threatening event organizers with “if you do not pay GHCX amount, my artist will not perform.” Ask questions. Ask for venue, entrance fee, time of program and even other artists on the bill. Go in there and win hearts. Build your fan base. Listen to the cheers but do not let it get to your head and if the boos come through, walk off as quickly as you can.
My friend, Nana Kojo Duah of Oxygen once wrote on facebook that if your badly painted photograph is nowhere visible in the city, then your celebrity status is in your head. Well, there is some truth in there, isn’t it?
As we all appreciate that royalties are not paid in Ghana, relatively, and as we can only hope that MUSIGHA is working feverishly on getting this anomaly corrected, may I suggest again, that these artists and musicians should think of other ways of making money aside demanding annoying payments and getting on stage to mime. If business will affect their creativity, as is usually the case, they should get other persons to run their businesses for them. With their status, getting even one shop somewhere and stocking it with perfume or shoes or clothes and telling the public about it via the social networks will definitely ensure a good source of income for them. Jay Z’s riches is not just from music, is it?
We have had a number of popular persons who have made so much money in one point in time but have been so broke that some have died pitiful shameful deaths with less than a dollar in their name at the time of death. There are others who have had to sell off their possessions and have come out, rather courageously to tell the public that indeed they are broke. With all these forerunners of riches to rags performers, the younger ones now should take cue and realize that the truth is –entertainment alone in Ghana can ruin you. Mind you, there is the pressure of the public expecting you to appear in good clothes, cars and what have you. Meanwhile, this same public is not paying you your due.
People, come on. . . this truth is common sense. You will go broke if you should depend on arts alone in Ghana. It will kill you. When you are able to make some money from your one moment hit singles, save, invest, and make more money.
Unfortunately for you, your trade has barriers. As you age, you will be called upon less and less for performances. You need to plan for your future. Above all, the public will never forgive you if you mess up.
Reason folks. Knowledge is easy to acquire now. Do not be fooled by the plenty coins you are making today. They can wither!
This means common knowledge number two is that we know our artists and actors are generally relatively broke. Please, do not make an example of one artist or actor who has made it. The catch phrase here is “generally relatively broke.”
This piece has been inspired by a number of factors with the most annoying one being entertainers who overrate themselves. Those who just think that so far as their faces and voices are popular, they have to earn a lot of money, from, say, one musical appearance. I have had a lot of annoyance concerning musicians especially and their so-called managers who demand amounts for shows, irrespective of the audience of the show and the rate and venue. They just feel that so far as they have been called for a show, they have to be paid, say, GHC3,000. The show, whether it is to be staged at the Dome of the Conference Center with all the security apparatus that comes with it and an entrance fee of GHC50 per head or whether it is to be staged on the relatively small compound of a junior or senior high school with no entrance fee at all or whether it is to be staged in a small night club or a university hall with an entrance fee of GHC5, these managers feel their rate should be the same. It gets me to shake my head because, for one thing, even one brand of a manufactured consumable commodity is sold at different prices at different places. Managers, I am bidding you to learn about price discrimination. It will go a long way to project your artist’s image and scope.
The second inspiration stems from artists who simply overrate themselves. I mean, come on, you have two or three albums out, none got a single hit. You have this current album with one song that has a catchy chorus which the public hold on to and you start to think event organizers must pay you amounts which, come to think of it, seems like you sometimes want to cover your entire cost of production from your previous album or two from the pocket of the event organizers. Meanwhile, what will you be doing on stage? Will it not be miming? You will start off by singing some excerpts from some other tracks which the audience will seriously not like, then you will do your popular track, get two girls to wine their waist and leave the stage after eight minutes. Mind you, the cheers you get are usually for the girls who inevitably face the audience with their asses.
The third reason is actually a plea. When an artist is called upon to perform on a platform, aside been paid to entertain, I think it will help them a lot if they start to actually realize that it is probably the most effective way for them to know how well the public really appreciate them and their music and to use those platforms to work on their subsequent acts. Aside that, it is also a way for them to build on their fan base. Stop threatening event organizers with “if you do not pay GHCX amount, my artist will not perform.” Ask questions. Ask for venue, entrance fee, time of program and even other artists on the bill. Go in there and win hearts. Build your fan base. Listen to the cheers but do not let it get to your head and if the boos come through, walk off as quickly as you can.
My friend, Nana Kojo Duah of Oxygen once wrote on facebook that if your badly painted photograph is nowhere visible in the city, then your celebrity status is in your head. Well, there is some truth in there, isn’t it?
As we all appreciate that royalties are not paid in Ghana, relatively, and as we can only hope that MUSIGHA is working feverishly on getting this anomaly corrected, may I suggest again, that these artists and musicians should think of other ways of making money aside demanding annoying payments and getting on stage to mime. If business will affect their creativity, as is usually the case, they should get other persons to run their businesses for them. With their status, getting even one shop somewhere and stocking it with perfume or shoes or clothes and telling the public about it via the social networks will definitely ensure a good source of income for them. Jay Z’s riches is not just from music, is it?
We have had a number of popular persons who have made so much money in one point in time but have been so broke that some have died pitiful shameful deaths with less than a dollar in their name at the time of death. There are others who have had to sell off their possessions and have come out, rather courageously to tell the public that indeed they are broke. With all these forerunners of riches to rags performers, the younger ones now should take cue and realize that the truth is –entertainment alone in Ghana can ruin you. Mind you, there is the pressure of the public expecting you to appear in good clothes, cars and what have you. Meanwhile, this same public is not paying you your due.
People, come on. . . this truth is common sense. You will go broke if you should depend on arts alone in Ghana. It will kill you. When you are able to make some money from your one moment hit singles, save, invest, and make more money.
Unfortunately for you, your trade has barriers. As you age, you will be called upon less and less for performances. You need to plan for your future. Above all, the public will never forgive you if you mess up.
Reason folks. Knowledge is easy to acquire now. Do not be fooled by the plenty coins you are making today. They can wither!
Monday, September 12, 2011
Decisions. Maturity. New Venture - Kwaku David Photography
Ace photographers Steve Ababio, Nana Asihene and Emmanuel Bobbie helped him believe in himself. Ababio taught David Sakyi about making considerable business out of photography. As he already had a camera, a gift given him by his brother-in-law, Steve advised him to start his career with five free weddings. Reasons were that he could use those to learn faster and no one could hold him responsible, should there be a loss of data. He shot his first wedding on 31st January2009 in Tamale. His first wedding in Accra was on 11thSeptember 2010. Nana Asihene taught him about flair and creativity and capturing moments while Emmanuel Bobbie taught him about lighting, the essence of all photography.
David Sakyi stumbled into photography. He was given a camera as a gift. He was not so enthused about it but as his then pregnant wife was about to deliver, he decided to learn more about the camera so he could use it to document his baby’s growth by way of photographs. From using the camera at home and outdoors, he started shooting church activities and later got advised by a Reverend Minister friend to take photography seriously. Now, the brain behind Kwaku David Photography is one of strength, determination and a basic believe that anyone can do anything they set their mind to.
David Sakyi could not get into the medical schools of both University of Ghana and the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology. After his training as a Biochemist, he went into missionary work and was transported to Nairobi, Kenya, to start a branch of the Lighthouse Chapel International in 2002. Later in 2008, in a search for a new career direction, he decided to start his own business, doing CD labeling and businesses related to video production here in Ghana.
While still searching, David had a chat with a friend who had started a consultancy after having been in a similar situation. David wanted to become a motivational speaker but lacked one thing; a wealth of personal examples. This friend, a Reverend Minister, suggested that he focus on photography as he had started taking shots in the church. Very disappointed at the suggestion, it was on his drive back home that it hit him that his good friend, Steve Ababio was into full time photography and was doing exceptionally well. He thus conditioned his mind to get as much help as he could to enable him start on his own.
Born in August 1973, David attended the Ridge Church School. Just before his Common Entrance examination, his father’s job relocated him to Malawi. The family went together and young David stayed there from age twelve till twenty. He returned to Ghana in 1993 but could not gain admission into the Medical school of the University of Ghana, Legon. He stayed out for a year, did a diploma course in management of information systems at the time and applied again to the Kwame Nkrumah University Science and Technology Medical School the following year. He still could not get it and was offered Biochemistry which he pursued. He graduated in 2001 and is a Spartan (a member of the Independence Hall of KNUST).
David also free-lances with the media department of the Lighthouse Chapel International from time to time and holds two words of counsel he got from the Right Reverend Dag Heward-Mills close to his heart. He was tutored on the principle of emulation which equipped him to copy from those who were ahead of him in his chosen field and be sure to copy well as that was the only way any person coming from behind could catch-up and possibly overtake the forerunners. The second advice was for him to learn to break protocol in formal settings, so he could be able to take certain shots fast enough before anyone could come and walk him off the restricted area.
Currently, Kwaku David Photography is one of the growing benchmark photography professionals in Ghana. He sees the entire world as his studio and takes shots anywhere he finds interesting enough. He can be reached on +233-266-609474.
Tuesday, August 9, 2011
AWWWWW I MET THE GIRLS!!!
Upon real time pressure from my friend, Jay “Crab” Gyebi, and an invitation from Nana Hemaa, the Director, I made my way to one of the Silverbird cinema halls at the Accra Mall on Monday evening. The occasion was the official launch of the new exciting and captivating television series, Meet The Girls, which is scheduled to start showing on ETV this Thursday, 11th August at 9.30pm and a repeat on Sundays at 12noon.
The show is basically about four friends, each with a unique character and their own drama who live together. Once in a while they get guests either at home or at different locations. They meet these guests, or rather, these guests meet them and they get chatty with them. The conversation flows and the guest may not even realise that it can pass for an interview. These girls are Nana Ayesua Tham, the mother figure who loves to cook and yes, she is confident of her delicious sexy self and does not agree with Lisa, the Diva figure amongst them that being bigger does not exude sexiness. Alisa Sowah, the diva, is the self conscious always-have-to-look-good madam who spends hours in the bathroom, obviously polishing up. She cannot do without make-up and even though yesterday’s screening had Stephanie Benson as their guest, obviously the diva diva amongst them, Lisa still prepped up enough to match up.
Now to Jay Gyebi, that annoying friend of mine! Forgive me if I sound negatively biased but yes, Jay is annoying. In the series, she is the zealous executive who obviously has her nose tied down in work. Refreshingly, she is the idea developer of the show. At the launch, she was posing shy, but I know better!!!. Then we have the seemingly fun to have around, you-cant-hate-you-cant-love Pinnock Frost Asiedu. By size she is the smallest, and by character, I will say she is the baby amongst them.
Stephanie Benson, the Ghanaian international singing sensation was the guest. She agreed to meet the girls on condition that they will go jogging first before settling to have a chat. After she commanded the jogging session, she sat to have breakfast with the girls. The conversation started amongst all five of them. obviously not scripted, the conversation veered from her personal self, upbringing, her marriage at twenty years, her faithfulness to her husband, her five pregnancies with her still unbelievable body, her chocolate factory in London, her mine in the Ashanti Region, her very hot first son, and her last baby who she says is a good kisser!
Obviously a lot of fun to chat with, Stephanie let go, said what she felt like saying, talked admiringly about her husband and adoringly about her kids. They spoke about food, being healthy and loving yourself. I would say Stephanie made the girls’ work easier because she gave out a lot of information. She held a conversation with the girls, not an interview.
It is my hope that when they get a boring guest, they will be able to manoeuvre around the person and still be able to bring entertainment to bear.
Stephanie Benson was at the launch herself, and so was Okyeame Kwame who admonished the producers for not crediting Richie, whose beat they used throughout the show.
Let’s hold on, relax, and prepare feverishly to meet the girls.
The show is basically about four friends, each with a unique character and their own drama who live together. Once in a while they get guests either at home or at different locations. They meet these guests, or rather, these guests meet them and they get chatty with them. The conversation flows and the guest may not even realise that it can pass for an interview. These girls are Nana Ayesua Tham, the mother figure who loves to cook and yes, she is confident of her delicious sexy self and does not agree with Lisa, the Diva figure amongst them that being bigger does not exude sexiness. Alisa Sowah, the diva, is the self conscious always-have-to-look-good madam who spends hours in the bathroom, obviously polishing up. She cannot do without make-up and even though yesterday’s screening had Stephanie Benson as their guest, obviously the diva diva amongst them, Lisa still prepped up enough to match up.
Now to Jay Gyebi, that annoying friend of mine! Forgive me if I sound negatively biased but yes, Jay is annoying. In the series, she is the zealous executive who obviously has her nose tied down in work. Refreshingly, she is the idea developer of the show. At the launch, she was posing shy, but I know better!!!. Then we have the seemingly fun to have around, you-cant-hate-you-cant-love Pinnock Frost Asiedu. By size she is the smallest, and by character, I will say she is the baby amongst them.
Stephanie Benson, the Ghanaian international singing sensation was the guest. She agreed to meet the girls on condition that they will go jogging first before settling to have a chat. After she commanded the jogging session, she sat to have breakfast with the girls. The conversation started amongst all five of them. obviously not scripted, the conversation veered from her personal self, upbringing, her marriage at twenty years, her faithfulness to her husband, her five pregnancies with her still unbelievable body, her chocolate factory in London, her mine in the Ashanti Region, her very hot first son, and her last baby who she says is a good kisser!
Obviously a lot of fun to chat with, Stephanie let go, said what she felt like saying, talked admiringly about her husband and adoringly about her kids. They spoke about food, being healthy and loving yourself. I would say Stephanie made the girls’ work easier because she gave out a lot of information. She held a conversation with the girls, not an interview.
It is my hope that when they get a boring guest, they will be able to manoeuvre around the person and still be able to bring entertainment to bear.
Stephanie Benson was at the launch herself, and so was Okyeame Kwame who admonished the producers for not crediting Richie, whose beat they used throughout the show.
Let’s hold on, relax, and prepare feverishly to meet the girls.
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