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Yvonne Chaka Chaka

African music icon, Yvonne Chaka Chaka, has been awarded an honorary degree by a top South African public university – Rhodes University.

Incidentally, the award is not for her illustrious music career that has impacted the world but for her humanitarian work.

“The Degree of Doctor of Laws (LLD) (honoris causa) in recognition of your sustained, extensive and wide-ranging humanitarian work. This work includes your role as a Champion of the Global Fund to fight AIDS, TB & Malaria,” the university said.

The 53 year-old born in Soweto, beyond her music and humanitarian work is also known to be an entrepreneur and a teacher. She sang three of her songs during the ceremony where she was honored along with a top judge, Justice Dikgang Moseneke.

Source: africanews

Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Zylofon Media, Nana Appiah Mensah has offered an apology to Stonebwoy over the recent attack on the musician at the Champs Bar in Accra, last Saturday.

Nana Appiah Mensah in an instagram post wrote: “‪I apologize to team @stonebwoyb and all well wishers for the unfortunate ill incident that occurred.”

He further went on to blame the Transport Manager of the company for the unfortunate incident by adding that “The transport manager exercised a discretion characterized by reflex and over exuberance. An act I vehemently condemn and discourage from our society.”

Many have been surprised that the Transport Manager, who got sacked after the incident, is being held responsible despite music producer and Zylofon executive Bulldog being the most active participant in the feud.

Stonebwoy was attacked last Saturday March 10 by Bulldog of some members of Zylofon whiles holding a mini concert at the Champs Bar in Accra. The attackers reportedly injured his brother and tried to drive his Mercedes Benz away.

Reports say that Bulldog said he was assisting the Transport Manager to do his job.

Source: Ghana Celebrities

Members of the Zylofon crew led by music producer Bulldog reportedly attacked Dancehall artiste, Stonebwoy at the Paloma Hotel on Saturday evening. The crew is said to have stormed the premises to seize a Mercedes Benz allegedly given to the musician as part of his record deal.

According to eyewitnesses, gunshots were fired by Stonebwoy's faction during the altercation. The musician was holding a mini concert at the hotel at the time of the incident.

A younger brother of the musician, who was at the concert is said to have been injured and has made a complaint of assault and theft against Bulldog born Lawrence Nana Asiamah Hanson at the Nima Police station.

Eyewitnesses said Bulldog’s men hit Stonebwoy's brother, snatched his wallet containing an unspecified amount of money and attempted to seize the musician's Mercedes Benz.

Rumours have sparked the Dancehall artiste wants to leave the record label, which has blatantly been denied by staff of Zylofon media. This incident clearly shows that all is not well with Stonebwoy and the Zylofon group.

Source: myjoyonline.com

Nigeria's youngest child comedian, Emmanuella Samuel, will feature in a Hollywood movie shot by Disney Studios. The exact nature of the film is as yet unknown, but her role came to the attention of fans when she posted photos on Instagram of herself on set at Disney.

Her post read, "Thanks @disneystudios God bless everyone whose support has added to bringing us here. I never dreamed of being here so soon. I miss Success. I love you all."

Born on July 22, 2010, the seven-year-old captured viewers' hearts on social media and rose to fame in 2016 when she starred in her cousin, Mark Angel's comedy skit "This Is Not My Real Face Oh". Millions across the world saw the little girl and laughed at her true-to-life character, and the video has now propelled her to stardom.

Source: www.huffingtonpost.co.za

The final funeral rites and burial service of Ghanaian dancehall , Ebony Reigns has been moved to Saturday March 24. The dancehall artiste who passed on in gory car crash will be laid in rest on the above-mentioned date at the forecourt of the State House, Accra, and not on March 17,2018 at Independence square as reported earlier.

The change in date and venue comes as result of difficulties in securing the independence square on March 17 for her funeral rites because it’s been booked for another purpose by an unknown outfit.

Born Priscilla Opoku-Kwarteng, died on Thursday, February 8 , 2018 with two others, her friend, Franky Kuri who was buried on Saturday March 3,2019 and ‘bodyguard’ Lance Corporal Vondee Francis Atsu who will be buried on March, 23,2018 at Adidome Mafi in the Volta Region where he hails from.

Source: Ghana Web

 

Comedian Jerry, performing at Crack A Rib, at the University of Cape Coast auditorium

Standup act, Comedian Jerry says that standup comedy created by Ghanaians, for the Ghanaian people is beginning to pick up. Jerry revealed that Ghanaians these days patronize comedy made by their own people, hence the future of the industry looks bright.
In an interview with Aloud Africa, he stated; "formerly, Nigerians were running the game, but people are now beginning to patronize Ghanaian comedy so with time, it would be okay."
 
The Ghanaian-Nigerian comedian shares that unlike the past there are regular shows to perform on, and this has given the chance for upcoming talents to prove their worth.

"There are shows to perform on, we have Lekzy's monthly comedy show, Laughline. We also have iiKitchen which happens monthly too, and some other shows which happen", he said.

Ghanaian standup comedy has once suffered  a major setback. The industry years ago, saw complete dominance by its Nigerian counterparts. Nonetheless, the industry is beginning to match up to the challenge. 






Jerry is a standup comedian based in Ghana. His performances include; Laughline, Laugh Kitchen, Laugh a billion, LMHO, Crack a rib, and the Night of Theatre and Comedy. 

For bookings, contact: +233261397420

Controversial TV host  Afia Schwarzenegger has joined the all-new TV Africa, according to a report on Ghana Web.

Afia is said to have made this official in an interview with Nikki Samonas on TV Africa’s Morning show #Breakfastlive on Monday.

Sources also indicate that Afia will host a comic Political fact checking show Political Police, which will start airing soon.

TV Africa, since its relaunch on Monday, February 12, 2018, has seen famous public figures like actress Nikki Samonas, Parliamentary Aspirant for the 2016 Weija-Gbawe constituency, Obuobia Darko-Opoku, Khadijat EL-Alawa, Chris Attoh, Baby G, Kofi Laing and a lot more.

The TV station also has actor, Ekow Blankson as its General Manager, and movie producer Shirley Frimpong Manso, as its astute producer.

TV Africa can be viewed on DTT in Ghana and also on GoTV channel 175 and DSTV channel 362.

Source: Ghana Web

Ghanaian dancehall queen was reported dead after a fatal accident in the early hours of Friday.

Ghanaian gospel artiste, Noble Nketiah has disclosed that some men have been pursuing him for sex. The 38-year old musician who said he has been resisting gay proposals, believes his good looks are the cause of this.

Speaking in an interview, he said ‘This is a very difficult issue, I have been approached twice by men who seemed interested in me, but I turned down the proposals and asked them to direct their sexual desires somewhere. I asked them if I will be the man or woman, I guess that will be another topic for discussion some day. Due to this, they have stopped talking to me’.

Noble Nketiah who has been out of the music scene for some time now has bounced back with two new singles to be released in February. Explaining his absence from the music scene, he stated that he has been working with UNICEF to bring joy to the faces of malnourished children.

Source: ameyawdebrah.com

Arts and entertainment conglomerate, Zylofon Media has signed a three-year record label contract with multiple award-winning dancehall artiste, Shatta Wale known in real life as Charles Nii Armah Mensah Jnr.

 Ghanaian rapper-turned-pastor, Lord Kenya, has said that he knows more than five musicians in the country who are successful because they have sold their souls to the devil.

Lord Kenya was quoted by ultimatefmonline.com as saying that when he was in his prime as a rapper, he was invited to join Illuminati, which is believed to be a secret cult that makes entertainment personalities successful once they agree to work for the devil.

 “… a respectable person in society contacted me to join but I refused to yield to his demands. Some have sold their souls to the devil that is the truth…. if I have no record at all, I know at least about 5 of such musicians in the country”, he said.

The multiple award-winning rapper abandoned music and became a born-again Christian after saying that God revealed himself to him while he (Kenya) was going to buy marijuana.

Read more at ghanaweb.com
 

China has announced that Hip Hop culture along with anyone who has tattoos or has “no class” is banned from its media outlets. This crackdown comes after the media had a huge falling out with rapper #PGOne. He was engulfed in a scandal involving a married celebrity and, through his music, the rapper was labeled as misogynistic and sexist. PG One was also accused of and heavily criticized for promoting drugs with lyrics such as “white powder walking on the board.”

The State Administration of Press, Publication, Radio, Film and Television of the People’s Republic of China (SAPPRFT) is China’s largest media regulator and controls almost all of what citizens can and cannot see. Since they do not wish to associate the country with sexism or drug use, they have implemented rules which “specifically requires that programs should not feature actors with tattoos [or depict] hip hop culture, sub-culture (non-mainstream culture) and dispirited culture (decadent culture),” , a Chinese news outlet, reports.

GAO Changli is the director of SAPPRFT’s publicity department and outlined the following four rules for all media outlets:
•Absolutely do not use actors whose heart and morality are not aligned with the party and whose morality is not noble
•Absolutely do not use actors who are tasteless, vulgar and obscene
•Absolutely do not use actors whose ideological level is low and have no class
•Absolutely do not use actors with stains, scandals and problematic moral integrity

This is reminiscent of the late 80’s and early 90’s when NWA was criticized for their gangsta rap which ultimately gave birth to a new era of hip hop.

Source: theshaderoom.com

Photo credit: katyperry.com

American songstress Katy Perry will be touring South Africa for the first time in her 10-year music career.

Perry announced this on her Youtube Channel earlier today. She also mentioned 18 and 20 July as dates scheduled for her concerts.

Tickets are expected to start selling online at bigconcerts.co.za from 9a.m on Friday January 26. Ticket prices ranges between 575rands to 1,535rands.

Sources: thesouthafrican.com

Another legend has fallen. Father of South African Jazz, Hugh Masekela was reported dead earlier today, at age 78. He was one of the earliest African musicians to receive a Grammy nomination in 1968. Rest in peace. #aloudafrica

The Seperewa instrument, historically known as Sanku, is attested to at least the 17th century, as the then newly established Asanteman empire incorporated elements of its heavily Mande-influenced northern predecessor state Bonoman into its musical repertoire. Various harp-lutes similar to the sanku which were once exclusively played in northern Ghana (which culturally was much more heavily influenced by the Mali Empire and today is still inhabited by several Manden groups; the Ligbi, Bissa, Dyula and Wangara) eventually gave way to kologo and molo calabash-lute types instead. The harp-lute tradition since then was preserved predominantly among Akan groups in what became southern Ghana, with the only exception being the koriduo 6 string harp of the Dagari and Sisaala groups of northwestern Ghana.

King Osei Tutu, the mythical founder of the Asante empire, was said to have loved the instrument so much that his successor Opoku Ware caused a replica of it to be made in his memory. The instrument was wrapped in gold leaf, and placed among the paraphernalia of the Golden Stool, which Osei Tutu established as "the soul" of the Asante nation with the help of his counsellor, the great priest Okomfo Anokye.
The Seperewa was used to entertain kings, similar to a griot tradition followed by northern Ghanaian tribes, and was also played at palm wine bars, and at funerals. The instrument was said to speak kasa and was either used by itself or along with song.

British colonisation in the later 19th century saw the instrument decline in use as the guitar was introduced, and new chords and musical patterns from Europe entered Akan areas.

By the early 20th century, as the Akan kingdoms became incorporated into the Gold Coast colony, and Christianity was introduced by British missionaries, the Seprewa found its way into churches, Christian weddings and conferences.

For a period, the seperewa enjoyed a status as perhaps the centrepiece of Ghanaian highlife and palmwine music. That is, until the guitar’s entry, which saw several palmwine and highlife music transported to the new instrument as the 19^th century drew to a close. “So the guitar is actually playing the music the seperewa was playing in the 1930s,” says Colter Harper, the ethnomusiciologist who has spent some time studying traditional music in Ghana.

Besides its semblance to the guitar, the seperewa also shares a kinship with the harp lute and the kora, the famous string instrument from the Sahel region. “The music doesn’t sound like Malian music but the structure of the instrument is similar,” says Harper.

Before technology revolutionised how we hear music through ipods, phones and online streaming, it altered how that music was made. With the hi-technology equipment available to the music producer today, it can be said, is more synthesised than made. Today music instruments are superfluous, none more so than the traditional African music instruments like Seperewa.

Ref.: Music In Africa & Ghana Arts Center