Alabaster Box rocks Festival of Life, releases new album in London

The annual Festival of Life (FOL), which happened on Good Friday, April 18 at the gargantuan Excel Centre in London was not the same this year because Ghana’s Alabaster Box was there.

FOL is a one night event organized twice a year by the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG) in the UK, and is hosted by the global General Overseer of the church himself, Rev. Dr. E. A. Adeboye.

The festival seats at least 40,000 people from across 670 RCCG branches in the UK and from other parts of the world, and Ghana’s Alabaster Box was one of a few carefully selected and privileged gospel music ministers to share the stage with the RCCG General Overseer to minister on the night.

The group was the only acappella group and the only one invited from outside London to minister at the festival this year. That was the second time Alabaster Box performed at FOL. The first time was in November 2007.

Alabaster Box was billed to perform two songs on the night. But the awesome reception from the ecstatic massive crowd prompted event organizers to extend their performance period.

The group had actually left the stage after performing but they were called back and given the mics to perform again amidst thunderous cheers from the crowd.

Album release:

One of the hosts (MCs) for the night, Dr. Sola Irukwu used the occasion to announce the release of Alabaster Box’s third and new album “Level don Change”, and invited the group to minister that song, saying that it fits into the theme of the festival “My Cup Runneth Over”.

He said “it is my pleasure to announce to you that Alabaster Box has just released their new album at FOL tonight and the title is Level don’ Change – what an appropriate song for tonight – as we go through the Easter period we are believing God to move us to a higher level and this song carries that message.”

Prior to that, the Head Pastor of Jesus House, London and Chairman of all the 670 RCCG branches in the UK, Pastor Agu Irukwu had prayed over the new CD backstage and pronounced God’s blessing on it. Group Leader, Sammy Dowuona said “it was not an accident that Pastor Agu prayed over the CD because we were led to dedicate the title track ‘Level don’ Change’ to him on his 50th birthday celebration.”

Sammy said Pastor Agu is a very kind-hearted man who left the UK and came to Ghana to look for the Alabaster Box and invite them to his 50th birthday celebration in London.

“When we met him in Ghana he told us he decided to invite his best friends around the world to celebrate his golden jubilee and he thought of us as one of his best friends. We were blown away by his love and the place he has given us in his heart. Indeed he gave us a life line as a group and we believe God was at work through him,” Sammy said.

Touching on the new album itself, Sammy said the 10-track album is the third of Alabaster Box’s afroppella collections, and it took exactly 10 years since the launch of the second album in 2004, for the third to come.

“It is significant because the enemy tried everything to stop this album but it is here. The enemy is fully aware of the significance of the number three so he gave us a tough time with the completion and release of the third album.

“Now it is here and it is out. We believe it is destined to be a blessing to many around the world and everyone who buys a copy is sowing into a higher level of his/her own life,” group leader Sammy said. He said the album, particularly the title track “Level don Change” is already making waves in the UK, and they expect Ghana to and the rest of Africa to tap into the album even more.

Other tracks on the album at Halleluyah, Hakuna Wako Fana ana Yesu, Yen Agya, Bebre, The Grace, Thank, Oshe, I shall not die and a remix of Mama Africa.

Alabaster Box is due back in Ghana April 30th to start preparations toward the formal launch of the new album, after which the group will be meeting two booked appointments in Nigeria in June and in July this year.

But while in the UK, the group is due to hold two evangelistic concerts at Alperton Baptist Church in London on Easter Saturday and Sunday, minister at Praise Chapel on Easter Sunday morning, Safeway International Ministries. They will also participate in Integrity Conference at Trinity Baptist Church and also do a number of performances in churches and schools in Bath.

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azonto, origin of azonto dance

(AZONTO CRAZE) Having international carnivals for Azonto would definitely help to sustain the interest, development and popularity of the dance and most importantly promote Azonto as a Ghanaian asset. At this point, I would want to congratulate Flash Mob Ghana for coming up with the World Azonto Festival. This festival would indeed drive home the fact that Azonto is of Ghanaian origin. It's without doubt that Azonto originated from Ghana even though our neighbors are trying consciously and unconsciously to own it. I guess you have not forgotten about the Azonto-alingo fracas?

Azonto, as has been embraced now, is a Ghanaian dance which involves movement of most of the joints of the body in a rhythmic fashion. It involves knee bending and hip movements which are typical of most African dance forms. A very simple way of dancing Azonto is captured in the music video of FUSE ODG's “Azonto.'' Quite interestingly, daily activities involved in the way of life of a people are captured in the dance. Activities such as washing, boxing, lovemaking, driving, make-up application and others are depicted by the Azonto dance. Azonto is believed to have originated from towns like Bukom, Jamestown, Tema and other towns along the coast in the Greater Accra Region of Ghana.

 It's also said that Azonto became widespread as visitors from other parts of the capital visited a popular street bar called Club House where most people of Bukom also visit on weekends to do the dance. Information available suggests that the dance was initially called “apaa'' meaning “work,'' which also incorporated work activities such as washing, boxing, etc. Apaa was later changed to “Azonto,” a term used by the youth in SHS. It's also an undeniable fact that before Azonto became popular all over the country; youth in SHS had already taken to the dance.

In making Azonto very popular all over the country, names like Gasmilla, Sakordie, R2Bees, Castro, Stay J, Eduwojie, 4x4 and a lot more cannot be ignored but of much importance to me is the ownership of Azonto. Can any individual claim ownership of Azonto? “Who owns the Azonto dance? This question may sound trivial but if we do not have a united front to fight our neighbors over the ownership of Azonto, we may just be fighting a lost battle. I say this because some musicians in the country have already started raising their shoulders claiming that they originated the Azonto dance.

Hiplife artiste Akoo Nana now Nahna, made it categorically clear that he started the Azonto dance. He made this claim when he spoke to ETV's Ama Pokua Mensah on the program “Awake.'' On ETV's Late Nite Celebrity Show, FBS also declared that they originated Azonto and started doing the dance so many years ago. I see this situation as very funny yet annoying. When P Square released “alingo,” none of these artistes who are now claiming ownership of Azonto reacted in any way. However, they now deem it fit to claim ownership of Azonto after the release of Samini's “Azonto.”

I must emphasize that these artistes need to shut up their mouths and stop disturbing us that they own Azonto. Azonto is now a Ghanaian asset and we need to eschew individualism. Let's forget about who owns Azonto but rather come together to fight those who want to steal Azonto from us. If you are the originator of Azonto, so what?  Why don't you go ahead and register Azonto as your bonafide invention so that you don't find yourself in the shoes of MUSIGA?

Some few weeks back, as I watched Emmanuel TV, I came across a nice gentleman who had the evil one speaking and manifesting through him. The evil one made it categorically clear that most songs and dances that do not glorify God are used by the devil for his destructive activities. These songs and dances then become evil. Within the week, I watched a prayer and miracle program by Bishop Bonigas and in one instance, an evil spirit manifested through a young lady and said that Azonto is her name .The evil spirit revealed that her name - Azonto, which is also the current dance craze, is done in her kingdom which is found beneath water bodies. Need I say more? Absolutely no! I drop my “diabolic” pen. I rest my case.

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Who truly loves Kwadee: his mum, management, fans or critics?

                              
To those who wanted to chop off my head for writing in Flex newspaper last two weeks that beleaguered musician Jerry John Anaba aka Kwadee should quit music if he sought not to revert to his former mentally challenged state, his mother has said on Peace fm in Accra last week that she wanted her son to bail out of music.

Maybe, I was wrong for writing that he should quit music. Maybe the mother was also wrong for saying so. Maybe we both just wish to asphyxiate the talent of Kwadee because we hate him.

Sometimes, I get flummoxed by the fact that some people would want to wax hypocritical about certain issues when in fact they know it bodes ill for whom it may concern. I am not a doctor and haven't done any medical test to ascertain the fact that Kwadee is mentally ill at present but we are all privy to information that he has been mentally sick before and was even admitted at a mental hospital.

It was said in the news that followed his ill-health that the young man's state was as a result of smoking 'weed.' Marijuana is a contributory causality to mental disorders like schizophrenia (a mental illness in which a person becomes unable to link thought, emotion and behaviour, leading to withdrawal from reality and personal relationships), scientists say.

I am not a relative of Kwadee. I am not his friend. I have not met him before so what is my problem? You are stranger in the world of showbiz if you don't know that a majority of people in the industry, especially the musicians smoke marijuana and use other drugs. If you happen to go to shows especially at back stages, you will realize that they smoke chimneys to 'high' themselves before going on stage.

This is one practice that can make it dangerous for Kwadee to get back into music. Yes, I accept that he can as well be influenced even outside music but let us face fact; he will be greatly predisposed to 'wee' should he get back to music because he will be found in the midst of a lot of his friends who smoke.

I have spoken so much about Kwadee's situation since it started but I don't want to be seen as a prophet of doom. However, to prove the verity in the basis of my proposition of him quitting music, I would wish we intentionally do an experiment of cause and effect on Kwadee: He should be allowed to do music for one year, so we all RECORD our conclusions as to how his mental health will be affected.

After that, I am sure those badmouthing me will realize that it is better for Kwadee to be out of music and be mentally healthy than be in music and be mentally derailed. For if Kwadee does music and loses his mind, what will he gain?

He cannot have a successful career if he is not well. There is a cause to every effect and it will be advisable that we all help find solutions to Kwadee's problem and make sure he is well than force him to do music and predispose him to unfavorable conditions that will make him go back to his former mentally derailed state.

Now to those who say, I wish to see Kwadee's talent die out, hence my write ups enjoining his family to pull the reins on his music career, I thank you so much. I guess you are right. I really wish that Kwadee get out of music, otherwise my employers will not pay me again.

I am saying Kwadee should quit music because, if he doesn't, he may be predisposed to marijuana which when he smokes will make him very fit and healthy than he is now. He will then be able to churn out great hits that will place him on higher pedestals and that will disable me from writing articles again in my life.

Similarly, Kwadee's mum, I guess, per people's comments, doesn't wish her son well by saying he should not do music again. Ironically, when it happens that Kwadee still stays in music, it will make her mum poorer that is why she wants him out of the music trade.

Have those insulting the woman thought of why she doesn't want the son to do music again now and not earlier? Did anyone hear her say that Kwadee should quit music when he was in his insouciant stage at the beginning of his career?

While some of us are saying he should stop doing music, others think we will be killing his talent if he does, and he will have no other source of livelihood. They claim Kwadee is very strong and sound now and don't believe that someone who has been on and off a couple of times anytime he stepped the threshold of music can veer off again. So which of us love Kwadee the most?

Dear reader, let us all pray for our brother Kwadee and let any other musician who does drugs take lessons from Jerry Anaba's situation. It can happen to anybody so let's us show true love when it happens and stop being mischievous.

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Guru makes way into Ghanaian parliament

                           
Popular Ghanaian musician Guru might be proud and at peace with himself now after his popular catch phrase “Boys Abr3” made it to the Ghanaian parliament on Tuesday November 19th 2013 during the presentation of the National budget by Minister of Finance Honourable Seth Tekpeh.

Guru, who despite huge uproar by a cross section of Ghanaians including members of the Ghanaian parliament and the clergy stood firm to defend on all media platforms the use of Akayida in his popular song “Boys Abr3? was on Tuesday honoured as his catch phrase “Boys Abr3? which is now used to express the economic hardships of the youth in the Ghanaian society was on display on A4 sheets in the Ghanaian parliament to describe the budget presented.

It somehow sounds ironical when the same song which had at first been disregarded with its catch phrase “Boys Abr3? was not only popular on the streets but even in the Ghanaian parliament.

Congrats Guru, more ‘controversies’ on the way.

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Sarkodie is most searched Ghanaian musician in 2013?

                                             

Google has released their 2013 Zeitgeist of most searched items. Sarkodie takes the number one spot for the most trending musician in the last year.

Google says in a recent release that, “2013 could also be said to be the year of hiplife and Afropop, with the top 10 most searched for musicians all coming from the hiplife and Afropop genre. Occupying the #1 top trending Ghanaian musician positions is the fastest rapper in Ghana Sarkodie.

He beat EL, Shatta Wale, R2bees and Guru to retain the title as the most popular musician of Ghana.

Also featured on the list are Samini, Kwabena Kwabena, Edem Efya and Fuse ODG.

There weren’t much surprises in the top trending Ghallywood celebs with Nadia Buari, Yvonne Nelson and Jackie Appiah at the top with the first three 3 positions

In the sport category, Chelsea, Arsenal and Barcelona remained the top 3 most searched football clubs.

For the first time, the Ghanaian Black Stars featured on the top 10 most searched football teams list, coming #7 ahead of AC Milan.

Other Ghanaian-specific lists include Top 10 most searched cars, Top 10 Most searched Mobile Gadgets and Phones, Top 10 “How tos…”, and Top 10 “What is…”.

Globally, the #1 trending search of 2013 was an international symbol of strength and peace: Nelson Mandela.

Global search interest in the former President of South Africa was already high this year, and after his passing, people from around the world turned to Google to learn more about Madiba and his legacy.”

Zeitgeist - German for “spirit of the times” - is Google’s yearly look at the billions of searches performed throughout the year.

Google’s Year-End Zeitgeist uses data from multiple sources while filtering out spam and repeat queries, to build fascinating top-ten lists across pop culture, sports, music, politics, news, and more.

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Sarkodie launches 30-track SARKOLOGY album

                                                                

Multiple award-winning hiplife artiste Michael Owusu Addo a.k.a Sarkodie has launched his long awaited SARKOLOGY album which was to be released in August this year.

The album was launched on Saturday, December 21 at the Accra Sports Stadium with a show dubbed ‘The Sarkology Release Concert’.

The concert which started around 10pm saw many hiplife artistes on stage dishing out spectacular performances to the audience.

Among the tall list of artistes who supported Sarkodie on the night were Stay Jay, Kwaw Kese, Efya, Fuse ODG, Joey B, Raquel, Ephraim, Donzy, Dee Money, Buda, Mr. Silver, Phoot Printz, Scizo and many others.

The BET award-winner who performed almost all his hit songs climbed the stage to make his fans feel the new ‘Sarkology’ album around 12:45. His performance was prefaced with a documentary to launch the ‘Sarkology’ album.

After performing close to 40 tracks, he finally called the Ghanaian-UK based artiste Fuse ODG to join him perform their hit song ‘Down On One’ which was the last performance from the two-times artistes of the year bringing the event to close at 2:40 Sunday morning.

Sarkodie on the night gave Ghanaians reasons to buy his Sarkology album with his energetic performance which kept the audience on their feet for close to two hours.

“Thank you Ghana. Sarkology is out” are the last words the ‘Illuminati’ hitmaker said at the event hosted by Mc Coaches.

By special request from the fans, Joey B’s hit single ‘Tonga’ was performed two times on the night after they couldn’t stand the heat of listening to it for once. The whole stadium shouted in chorus “repeat, repeat, repeat” after Joey B and Sarkodie finished performing the track for the first time.

Sarkodie’s 3rd album ‘Sarkology’ has 30 tracks and features over 20 top African artistes like Banky W, Davido, Efya, Raquel, Joey B, Efya, Tiwa, Savage, Sian, Fuse ODG, Vector, Aka, Burna Boy, Obrafour, Mugeez (R2bees), Kwaw Kese, J-Town, Viviane, Lil Shaker, Timaya, 2face and Stonebwoy.

The album has hit songs like Illuminati, You Already Know, Down On One, Elija, Once Chance, Wobaadanaa and many others.

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I leave my audiences to God - Nadia Buari

                                                   

Popular actress Nadia Buari has displayed a part of her that majority of Ghanaians are not privy to, as she has dropped hints about her Christian faith.

The ‘Beyonce’ actress told a section of Ghanaian media at her press conference at the Golden Tulip weeks ago that she believes in God and as a result she would leave issues of whether people would be attending the premiere of her first produced movie or not, to God.

The beautiful actress would be premiering her movie titled, ‘The Diary of Imogen Brown’ on December 23, at the Accra International Conference Centre, the same day the popular and controversial duo, FOKN Bois, made up of Wanlov the Kubolor and Mensa are also premiering the sequel to their ‘Cos Ov Moni’ movie at the National Theatre.

However, the actress who was last Saturday captured being dragged away from media cameras by her rumoured boy lover, Jim Iyke, during the Ovation Carols and Awards Night, sounded unperturbed about the competition for audiences.

“I’m leaving that to God to decide,” she said.

‘The Diary of Imogen Brown’ is directed and produced by Nadia Buari and it is a true life story themed on the usage of drugs. It stars Nadia Buari, Jim Iyke, Soraya Mensah and a host of other names.

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Is Becca slowly fading from the Ghanaian music scene?

                           
Becca's management team - EKB Records, headed by business mogul , is undoubtedly one of the best artiste management outfits Ghana is blessed with.

From the time of picking Becca from Mentor 1 through to recording her, organizing Becca's Ball, winning of awards for her songs and music videos, and the deluxe annual Girl Talk concert; EKB Records has indeed done what Napoleon couldn't do.

The latest marketing and branding strategy for the artiste was stitching Becca's CDs to Graphic Showbiz so that anyone who buys the said newspaper gets the artistes CD for free; a strategy never done before in Ghana's music industry's history.

Kiki Banson really deserves an award for Artiste Management and Character Development. I say this because in Ghana, we don't have much of 'Kiki Bansons.' The so called artiste managers we have rarely identify true talents talk less of developing characters.

They always wait for someone to take the risk of developing a talent and after, jump unto the artiste and make capital out of him/her. That is not what Kiki Banson did with Becca. He took a risk and today it has paid off.

We need more of 'Kiki Bansons' in our showbiz industry. In spite of the above, Becca seems to be dying slowly. In order words, her brand and presence is fading at a steady rate.

The last time Flex newspaper spoke to EKB Records, they told us RLG sponsored the stitching of Becca's CDs to Graphic Showbiz by purchasing 50,000 copies for her fans.

However, we listen to radio and Becca's songs are not played! Go to the pubs, night clubs and spots and Becca's songs are not played! Watch the various television screens and Becca's music videos are not shown! Visit friends and relatives and Becca's CDs are not played! I spoke to some arts writers and they have even vowed never to write anything about Becca.

Currently, Becca is getting gigs from other African countries so her management may not see the need of investing money into Ghana's media as far as Becca's brand communication is concerned.

Though that may be a cost-effective alternative, the naked truth is that by the time Becca's management team turns to resuscitate her image/brand or career, it might have been too late

Ghana recognized, invested and made Becca who she is before the outside world got to know of her. Ghana and for that matter Ghanaians should not be taken for granted. A word to the wise...

Meanwhile, her manager admitted in an interview with Channel R 205 that they are doing more promotions outside Ghana currently. . As the old Akan axiom says, “ofie ne fie” (literally - home is home or home sweet home). 

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Nana Ama McBrown now prefers ‘Yellow Cece’

                                                   
 Talented Ghanaian actress-Nana Ama McBrown has been busy at work, shooting and producing her 7th movie-Yellow Cece, which will hit the market on Monday-23rd, December, 2013.

Nana Ama McBrown has in the past successfully produced hit movies like Alicia, ‘Diee Adie Wono’ and ‘Asofo Awarie’, featuring the likes of Lil Win, Jackie Appiah and Kofi Adjorlolo in her productions.

In order to make the Christmas a special one for her fans, the fans of Lil Win, Kofi Adjorlolo and Ghanaian Movie lovers in general, Nana Ama McBrown has tackled one of the most crucial issues in our societies in her latest movie-Yellow Cece.

In Yellow Cece, a young obstinate village girl-Cecelia, who had no respect for education stole from her mother and escaped to the city, in search for greener pastures - leaving behind her education, family and boyfriend-Lil Win.

In the city, she went through hell each day so to make it to the next, joining a gang of street girls who introduced her to smoking and a debauched lifestyle.

Then, Cecilia landed a job as a house help whose madam’s husband-Kofi Adjorlolo genuinely wanted to help her fix her life. But that was not enough for her, so she did something shocking.

With Cecilia in love with someone else, Kofi Adjorlolo deeply in love with her and Lil Win having come to the city to find his old village girlfriend, the story gets complicated and extremely funny.

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Nadia’s Jim Iyke in a nasty fight at East Legon

                                                        
Nigerian movie star Jim Iyke was involved in a brawl yesterday, at the Crave Café at Adjiringanor, East Legon in Accra.

According to an eyewitness account, some people were eating at the café, at about 5pm when a stout-looking gentleman in a black Range Rover with a Nigerian number plate, came to the café.

Jim Iyke also arrived about 20 minutes later in his Sports Chevy with a Nigerian number plate, and engaged the man in a heated argument over $10,000 which later turned into a nasty brawl on the street.

The eyewitness further explained that it became difficult for those around to separate the two, and at a point, Jim Iyke wanted to get into his car to pull out something which was suspected to be a gun, but he was prevented by those at the café.

The other man left but returned shortly with two policemen, one in mufti and other in uniform who arrested Jim Iyke and took him away.

But the eyewitness told The Ghanaian Times newspaper that barely 20 minutes later, the actor resurfaced at the venue, which created the impression the case had been ‘settled’ by the two policemen.

The Legon Police Commander in a telephone conversation, with The Ghanaian Times said, the men he dispatched to the venue had information of the scuffle, but those at the scene were reluctant to give the police in-depth account of what actually transpired, and so they were unable to bring the two men to the police station.

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Scientific has a new dream

                         
Scientific has been on a whole different level now and keep releasing classics After classics.

He just raised the bar a step further by featuring Quincy B who is the next Liberian artiste. His amazing voice will make you marvel!

"As they say, you can buy a school but you can’t buy class. With that I say there is a lot of good music out there but takes great artiste to put out a classic song. This song is for those who think their dreams are dead because people say they can’t make it in whatever they want to do", well Scientific is telling you it’s more than possible to get beyond your dreams.

This is another inspirational classic made for all! The song was produced by Infectious Michael who is also a Liberian and responsible for all the top hit songs in Liberia, and worked with a lot of European and American artistes. (I guess the name Infectious plays a big role in music productions.

After listening to this, It makes you get curious about what Is next on Scientific’s next song.

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Ghana Movie Awards need to grow in the right direction - Leila Djansi

                                                                   

Leila Djansi, has called the 2013 Ghana Movie Awards’ credibility into question, stressing that organizers need to do things right.

The film maker’s comment came after actress Joselyn Dumas was nominated for Best Supporting Actress for her role in the movie, ’Northern Affair’ in the just released nominations for the 2013 Ghana Movie Awards.

Joselyn Dumas is competing that category with Lydia Forson, Lisa Nana Yaa Awuku, Rose Mensah (Kyeiwaa) and Roselyn Ngissah.

Leila took to social networking site Facebook to vent her displeasure with the nominations. According to Leila, who directed and produced ‘Northern Affair’, she finds it difficult to come to terms with the nomination of Joselyn Dumas in that category, when she played the lead role in the movie.

Well, we do agree with her. We have not yet seen the movie but all publicity on the movie so far has suggested that Joselyn Dumas is the lead character in the movie.

“Ghana Movie Awards, what on earth? How can Joselyn Dumas be nominated in supporting actress, when the entire story of A Northern Affair was told from her point of view?,” she questioned.

“Guys guys guys, if we are going to do something let us do it right. Please. We can’t continue like this. Get it together and get it right. GMA is a laudable enterprise but it needs to grow in the right direction,” Leila appealed to the organizers of Ghana Movie Awards.

The 2013 Ghana Movie Awards night is scheduled for Monday, December 30th, 2013 at the Accra International Conference Centre.

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Tim Westwood will be in Accra for Ghana Rocks Concert on the 27th

                                               
He is a top DJ on prime time British radio living in London, and he is headed to Accra this Xmas season to headline a crack list of DJs and UK acts appearing at this year’s ‘Ghana Rocks’ Concert; GHOne TV’s annual urban rave, alongside a power-packed line up of top GH and Naija showstoppers who will rule the stage come Friday, December 27, 2013 at the Accra International Conference Centre.

Tim Westwood, credited with helping to bring African music to mainstream British urban scene is the most recognized urban DJ in the UK and beyond.

It will be recalled that he recently hosted Ghana’s own Sarkodie for the second time in his London studios during his Crib Sessions show on BBC Radio 1Xtra, where the Obidiponbidi did a super fantastic freestyle delivery.

This year’s Ghana Rocks Concert itself has a super line up of Nigerian, UK and Ghanaian artistes, which list, though, yet to be revealed, promises to be a party-of-a-lifetime.

It will be an Afrobeats edition, and will seal the annual event as Ghana’s official hippest end-of-year rave. It has over the years witnessed amazing performances from both home-based and visiting international acts.

A multiple MOBO awards recipient, Tim Westwood is a celebrity DJ par excellence, and is regarded as the most influential figure in hip hop in Europe, and a promoter of the Afrobeats genre on the UK scene.

Last year’s concert recorded a phenomenal attendance with over 4000+ youthful music lovers thronging into the Dome for the jam, and thoroughly enjoying the thumping and pulsating tunes that was delivered by over 2000watts of sound power.

Closure of the Dome, our biggest indoor event venue, means, however, that the event will be held inside the auditorium of the Conference Centre, and will be as electrifying as has been over the years.

In its 6th year, the 2013 edition of Ghana Rocks is brought to by Vodafone and powered by Charterhouse.

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I am comfortable bleaching my skin - former GMB's Nasara

                                                           
Former Ghana's Most Beautiful winner Miriam Abdul Rauf popularly known as Nasara says she sees nothing wrong with bleaching her skin.

Nasara, who won the beauty pageant’s title in 2009 but was later stripped of it, speaking an interview with Deloris Frimpong Manson on the Delay show over the weekend confirmed that she has bleached her skin but insisted it was choice for which she has no regrets.

When she participated in and was crowned Ghana's Most Beautiful, a TV3 reality show, Nasara was dark skinned. But lately, the former Ghana Most Beatiful title holder, who is not new to controversy, has become fairer sparking speculations that she is bleaching.

The mother of twins confirms she is bleaching but explain that, "in life we are all entitled to what we want to do...I choose to tone my skin and I don't think it's a problem because if it were a problem to me, I won't do it." In fact "I love it," she added.

Nasara said she not "regret it." Unlike "those days when the creams were so harsh and cheap now there are better creams that will just tone your body...and will just befit you," she stated.

Reacting to assertions that prolonged bleaching could cause skin cancers, Nasara said "In life, everything comes with the bad aspects of it...when you are doing something, sometimes you don't really need to think about the bad part of it. I am just doing it because I am comfortable with it and I don't even think about the negative part of it."

Nasara made the headlines in 2012 when she was accused of stealing a mobile phone and make-up kit of Miss England during a beauty pageant outside the country - an allegation she denied.

She was consequently stripped of her Ghana Most Beautiful title.

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I’m not raising funds on Facebook - Lydia Forson

                                            
Africa Movie Award-winning actress Lydia Forson has announced to the general public that she is not raising funds on any social network.

The announcement follows claims that the she is raising funds on Facebook with a new account bearing her name, images and information.

But the bubbly actress has cautioned individuals who have given or may be lured to give money to anybody on the platform to block that account.

“If I ever need to raise any money in the future for a project, people will hear about it first in the news and the account will bare my name or the name of the organization,” she told NEWS-ONE.

“Anyone who sends money to someone on Facebook posing as me does this at their own risk. People should do a little bit more research before they agree to send money to someone they have never met,” Lydia added.

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Ahonya.com, Ghana’s top online retailer makes debut in fashion ahead of Christmas

 
Ghana’s top online shopping site, Ahonya.com today announced its entry into the fashion categories with the launch of clothing and shoes categories for Christmas and beyond.



The collection on www.ahonya.com featuring over 20,000 products from more than 100 brands is the largest selection of fashion in Ghana – online or offline.



We are thrilled to offer Ghana the largest selection of clothing and accessories in one place, and bring a unique experience to customers – vast selection, low prices, convenient and trustworthy shopping,” said Gerard Yitamkey, Co-founder and CEO, Ahonya.com. “We are especially excited to start offering clothing and shoes to our customers just before Christmas.



Customers will be spoilt for choice with the new fashion store offering more than 20,000 styles and stunning designs across shoes, watches, men’s clothing, women’s clothing and more with prices starting at GHC 20.00.



Free nationwide delivery is available for all orders above GHC 60.



“It is our belief that customers will take advantage of our low prices and free nationwide delivery to buy gifts for their loved ones.” said Gerard. Ahonya.com also announced that, all orders that are marked as gifts will receive free gift packaging and scheduled delivery during the yuletide.



To help customers choose from this large selection and find products as per their needs, Ahonya.com provides detailed product information, options to filter products by styles, colour, occasions, price and personalized recommendations.



Ahonya.com still continues to provide access to thousands of products online for Ghanaian consumers.



As with all purchases on Ahonya.com, customers can shop with confidence and benefit from a safe and secure ordering experience, convenient electronic payment by mobile money or bank deposits, and a no-risk hassle-free returns policy.



With the launch of this new store customers can shop with ease and confidence on Ahonya.com from over 15,000 electronics, over 50,000 products from hundreds of brands, and more than 20,000 from a continually growing pool of retailers and designers.



Products on Ahonya.com range from; Tablets and eBooks; Computers & Accessories; Mobile phones & Accessories; Cameras & Photography; Portable Media Players; Toys & Games including video games; and now Clothing, Watches and Shoes.



Ahonya.com is also accessible on mobile devices allowing customers to shop anywhere.

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Metro TV presenter Ignatius denies sodomy allegations

 
Snippet of information received indicates that a Broadcast journalist at Metropolitan Television (Metro TV), Ignatius Annor has been embroiled in a sodomy scandal.

Per a secret recording, a young graduate alleges that the news anchor lured him into having anal sex with him at his Banana Inn residence on Tuesday, December 3.

According to Mingle, as he is known on “Instagram” , the Metro TV News presenter has been following him on the social media network where they exchanged contacts with the hope that he (Ignatius) will assist him get a job in the media.

In a recorded phone conversation with Ohenenana Kwame Amo of “Ekwanso Dwodwo’s ‘Akekakeka’s’” fame on OKAY FM, Mingle disclosed that the TV Presenter invited him to his Banana Inn residence with the promise to assist him get a job in the media and also an amount of money to help him have a stable life as a young graduate from the University of Ghana.

With his desperation to make a living, Mingle agreed to have an affair with the silky-voice Metro TV Presenter – but after the young man had finished his part of the deal, Ignatius failed to honour his part of the agreement by giving him (Mingle) Ghc10 as against the intended amount.

“…he was giving me pressure to come to his place and talk about something; when I got there he asked me to play with his manhood. Initially, I didn’t want to do it but he asked me not to be afraid and promised to give me money and a job…so I played and sucked his manhood till he ejaculated. After ejaculation, he failed to honour his part of the deal and gave me Ghc10 cedis and moved into his Black Nissan Altima with registration number 775-13, with the excuse that he has no money at that particular moment. I told him we did not agree on this amount and so if he hears anything outside, he should not blame me,” he stressed.

Reacting to the sodomy scandal on OKAY FM on Wednesday December 4, Ignatius Annor who was very furious refuted the allegation; averring that he does not know the young man and as matter of fact does not stay at Banana Inn.

He added that he had no time and was not ready to settle for such frivolous behavior of some people; thus his focus has to do with his work and not on someone who wants to ride on his name to fame.

“I don’t understand, who is that?… Honestly, honestly this is one thing I don’t have time for, I don’t know who this person is to be frank with you, I do not live in Banana Inn,I live at Teshie so I guess it’s a mix up somewhere. Yes I’m Ignatius of Metro TV and that’s what is it, I don’t know why somebody would want to capitalize on my fame to whatever it is but sorry I don’t know who this person is,” he told Ohenenana Kwame Amo on Okay FM.

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Castro defends Asamoah Gyan

Hiplife show stopper Castro has jumped to the defense of Baby Jet Asamoah Gyan over claims by some Castro fans that Asamoah Gyan “destroyed” the part he sang on Castro’s latest release Odo Pa.

Contrary to the claim that Asamoah Gyan’s portion on Odo Pa was not well executed, the African Girls hitmaker told Showbiz last week “Asamoah’s version is even the most loved part by most of my fans. Just visit the various social sites and you will know how people are crazy about his part. Some people even doubt if indeed it was he who sang that portion, but that is Asamoah for you, he is multi-talented”.

He revealed to Showbiz that unknown to many, he had been friends with the skipper of the Black Stars since childhood and had always known that the latter loved good music.

He denied that he was riding on the back of Asamoah’s popularity to direct some shine to himself in the face of the stiff competition on the music scene. “Asamoah is only doing what he loves to do”, he said.

He confirmed, however, that his collaboration with Asamoah Gyan has helped his brand and music to transcend the borders of the country because he is the only artiste whose music is played on Super Sports, feat most artistes could only dream of.

Before the release of Odo pa, Castro featured the Black Stars skipper on his African Girls album in 201l which revealed the showbiz spirit within him.

Currently, working on his fifth album, the Back and Front singer believes Odo Pa, the new hit single from the yet to be released album is a testimony of the good stuff to expect. He hinted of the album’s release next year when Asamoah returns home after the league and promised there will be “fireworks”.

The Toffee singer told Showbiz that his voice has always been that magical wand that pulls people to his music.

“For me, my voice is my identity because at the initial stages of being in the public limelight, it was that which gave me recognition.

“Till date, whenever I step out and ask for assistance from people, they blackmail me to sing for them. My voice gives me the power to excel.

“You can’t even imagine that when I go to the hospital to seek medical assistance, the nurses will say ‘use that voice of yours to sing for us before we attend to you’ and in most cases, I am compelled to do it. I never knew that my voice has given me such an identity” he said.

According to the artiste, his accolade” The Destroyer” which was attached to his showbiz name emerged from the fact that all the songs he comes out with become instant hits because he is versatile and cannot be clamp down by just one genre of music.

“I don’t just do any music but normally seek the views of my fans who tell me what they want and I give them just exactly that.

His debut album, Sradinam shot him into instant fame and he followed up with subsequent hit albums including Toffee, Comm Centre and African Girls.

“It has always been my prayer that God will bless me so that I can help the society, family and unearth talents that are hidden. My dream is to help bring talented but hidden young artistes to limelight.

“There are so many talents but because the music industry lacks the right structures like producers and record labels, many of these talents are left to go waste”.

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E.L arrested and handcuffed @ the ‘Guinness Big Eruption Concert’

              
Rapper cum music producer E.L was yesterday arrested for a reason not know as at press time.

In a series of tweet from the award-winning rapper, he was arrested and handcuffed yesterday by some drunken policemen.

According to E.L, the policemen asked of bribe from him. Read his tweets below (unedited)…

As sure as water is wet,&My GOD lives, the drunk police men who Handcuffed me for no Reason tonight will be Patrol Men till they die#markit

If the sun comes up tomorrow, the drunk police men who arrested and handcuffed me for no reason will never sleep again

U make cheap Liquor weigh you de take come worry my life

Dear @KwameNkrumah , Alomo ,Agya Appiah , Mandingo , Herb Afrique and Mandingo handcuffed me and threw me in a Patrol car tonight for bribe

Sit me for your Patrol car inside ask me say 'so what's up' ... Illiteracy & corruption Level is up.

E.L and Lil Shaker joined Akon, Big Sean, Samini and Shatta Wale at the ‘Guinness Big Eruption Concert’ last night at the Accra Sports stadium.

We shall bring to the public what really transpire before and after the police arrested the artiste.

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Ambolley is the true Hiplife ‘Grandpapa’ - Rockstone

               
Hiplife legend and Chief Executive of the famous Django Bar, Reggie Rockstone, has officially declared Gyedu Blay Ambolley as the real‘Grandpapa’ of the hip-life genre in Ghana.

Rockstone was one of the MCs at the ‘Glo Slide n Bounce’ concert in Accra last Saturday and when it was time for him to introduce Gyedu Blay Ambolley, he ended all debates over who is actually the pioneer of hiplife with his statement.

“This man is the true hip-life Grandpapa. He is the one who gave birth to this beautiful thing we call hiplife. Ambolley started this way back in Takoradi and I must say, he is a true legend,” Rockstone stated on stage.

Reggie Rockstone, in the early 90s, championed the hiplife genre in Ghana. But Ambolley is said to have pioneered the genre about a decade and a half before Rockstone.

The ‘Glo Slide and Bounce’ concert attracted over 10,000 music fans from all walks of life, who danced their hearts out to music from some of the country’s finest artistes.

Ambolley’s energetic stage performance and fantastic saxophone techniques thrilled the overly excited crowd with classic tunes like ‘Toffie’ and ‘This Hustling World’ among others.

Gyedu-Blay Ambolley, known as the ‘Simigwa Do Man’, hails from the port city of Takoradi, in the Western Region.

The irrepressible singer, songwriter, producer and “musical-life-force” exploded on the music scene 25 years ago with a jazzy highlife sounds called ‘Simigwa-Do’.

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