This evening (Friday September 14th 2012), the
Musicians Union of Ghana launched the first ever Ghana Music Week to be
celebrated from October 15th to 21st 2012. The ceremony is expected to
attract Ghanaian musicians and lovers of the industry to exhibit and patronize beautifully
made Ghanaian music. It will also be an avenue where musicians can launch their
new material.
The event was chaired by Honorable Mike Gizo, a onetime
Minister of State who in his welcome address mentioned the fact that he was
honored to have been called upon to chair the launch of the first ever musical event
of this magnitude to be held in Ghana. Also present at the ceremony were
Honorable Fritz Baffour, the Minister of Information as well as Baba Jamal, a
Deputy Minister of Tourism. Honorable Fritz Baffour treated the audience to a
performance of a blues song and was aptly backed by the band for the night with
Bessa Simons on keyboards.
Mrs Diana Hopeson, the immediate past President of MUSIGA
officially out-doored the logo for the Ghana Music Week and the actual launch
was done by Honorable Fritz Baffour.
The 2nd Vice President of MUSIGA, Bessa Simons in
his speech stated some of the objectives of the Ghana Music Week Celebration as
creating the industry’s biggest platform to bring together and encourage
participation of artistes, stakeholders, media and policy makers. It will seek
to recognize, promote and underscore the importance and value of all Ghanaian music
forms and to foster and promote a lifelong interest in music as a basic human
experience and a right within cultural expressions.
The Ghana Music Week will evaluate and reflect on musical
achievements and creativity in a constructive and educationally focused way as
well as recognize and reward stakeholders who have contributed to the growth of
the industry. It is hoped that this will serve as good enough grounds which
will lead to the creation of a Ghana Music Hall of Fame. Ultimately, the Music
Week will seek to increase social togetherness and harmony and promote economic
development through music.
The Launch was emceed by Lexis Bill and interspersed with
musical performances from AB Crenstil, Steve Bedi, Pat Thomas, Kesse, Paulina
Oduro, Racquel and Asabea Cropper. A lot of the musicians showed up to grace
the occasions as well as media persons and some Regional Executives of the
Union.
Definitely a step in the right direction with regards to giving prominence to Ghanaian music talent. We should have done this ages ago
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