Open Letter to Becca

Ghanaian music has gone through a lot of metamorphoses. It is heartwarming that despite a lot of shrewd criticisms about making music that we can lay full claim to, we have some entertainers who can stand the test of time.


I heard about your Children’s Ball. The media campaign that followed it and the success of it has clearly showed that indeed you are a force to reckon with.


At the last GMA, your performance was very great. You wowed a lot of people. They applauded and days later, that performance was still being spoken of. Some say you copied Beyonce something something. Forgive me, but chuckles. Does Beyonce sing in Twi? Does she combine “Amirika” and “Daa Ke Daa” in a performance?

What am driving at is that maybe her performance was the inspiration for your GMA performance. What I saw is; you took that bit and added Becca to it. Now that makes it original. After all, all car makers copied and added bits and pieces to the original idea to make the new models their own. Copying is part of creativity. On this dear, don’t mind them.

When you decided to withdraw out of the Mentor Competition, people must have said, as we will on any issue at all, that if you know how to get fame, why come to Mentor? I wonder what they must be saying now!
On hearing your first single “You Lied To Me” on radio one hot afternoon, made bearable by the air conditioner in the office I was then having my attachment, one of my managers said, and I quote “ah but this girl is this good, why did she even go for a Mentor audition?”. From that moment he became a fan.
I have watched you from afar. You do live band. Now that is another plus. Girl, you are worth your salt. Let whoever does not understand take a lick before talking.

I love art. Ghanaians appreciate good music. We relate so well with it, it beats me as to why anyone will pack loud screams and unnecessary jargons backed with beats and think they are making music! When they fail to launch for the first time, they blame the whole world but themselves. Again, chuckles.

You have a captivating smile. Your photographs are always good. You are a beauty. Thank heavens for the photographers you use. Some can make some very pretty faces look rather terrible. Your management must be a pillar on which you hold. You are doing well.

You are soaring. With your singing, live band and acting prowess, you are on your way to “diva” status. You are still far from it but you are getting there, and quite quickly. You will get there.

Becca dear, with all humility, with the blessing of the Deity you believe in, with the support of family, friends and fans, and of course, with EKB Records, may you go as far as is humanly and musically possible.

May you continue to make positive strides and as much as possible, please do well to keep the rumor mill quite on negativities associated with you. Make them always talk about you, in truth and with all positive intentions.
Source: ghanamusic.com

When it comes to marijuana, I plead the Fifth – Rocky Dawuni

For someone who believes and practices the ideologies of Rastafarianism, it is usually not far-fetched for that person to smoke its symbolic herb, marijuana.

While many will not hesitate to associate themselves with the herbs, Ghanaian and International reggae artiste, Rocky Dawuni was caught at a very tight corner on that issue during an interview on Personality Profile on Drive Time on Joy 99.7 FM Thursday.

When a listener requested host, Kwabena Anokye Adisi popularly known as Bola Ray to quiz Rocky if he also uses the herbs, Rocky was quick to say, “That’s personal you know, I think everybody has the freedom to do what he does.”

Just when he thought he was off the hook, Bola Ray quickly hit him with a much firmer question: “Do you smoke Marijuana?”

Rocky noticing he was in a tight corner, had to fight the world before coming out to say, “That’s a pointed question and I will say I plead the Fifth,” sending the whole studio agog with laughter. This was a clear indication that this super star was running away from his own shadow.

As per the Fifth amendment in the United States Constitution, to plead the Fifth, is to refuse to answer a question because the response could provide self-incriminating evidence of an illegal conduct punished by fines, penalties or forfeiture.

Is Rocky hiding something? – Does he smoke the herb or not?
He however swiftly admitted that he is a vegetarian when asked if he was one.

“Yes I am a vegetarian, no meat, no fish, no eggs. I believe in really keeping the tempo clean…everybody is free to do what they want to do,” he emphasised.

Born in Ghana to a military family, Dawuni grew up in a political atmosphere and was deeply influenced by tribal, soul and reggae music as a means for change.

Tagged as Ghana and possibly Africa’s Bob Marley, Rocky burst on to the African reggae scene in 1996 with the release of his debut recording, The Movement which had great hits such as Sugar and What Goes Around.

That album shot him into instant fame receiving great reviews both locally and internationally including a review in the New Nation, one of England’s most influential weeklies, where Rocky was touted as Ghana's Bob Marley.

Rocky also has Crusade, Awakening, Book of Changes and his current, Hymns for the Rebel Souls to his credit. Click here to buy full album - Hymns for the Rebel Soul from iTunes.com or Amazon.com

Hymns of the Rabel Soul released in May 2010, has received several international awards and nominations including NAACP Image Award for Outstanding World Music Album.

Songs on the album was also featured on EA Sports’ FIFA World Cup and FIFA Soccer 2010 video games which have sold millions worldwide. You can also download for free 'African Soccer Fever'.

He recently trilled hundreds of fans at the Tamale Sports stadium at the 2011 Independence Splash and also in Kenya at the Songambele 2011.

Rocky Dawuni has been slated to perform at the Hollywood Bowl with Stevie Wonder and Tonight Show's Rickey Minor at the KCRW World Festival on July 24.

Please check out some of Rocky’s videos like “African Reggae Fever” and “Walls Tumblin Down” which are making huge waves around the world!

Source:ghanamusic.com

Kwaw refuses Ofori Amponsah bail out .U.S. fans disappointed

Ghanaian Hip life heavyweight Kwaw Kese refused, according to eye witnesses report, to perform (mime) at a concert last Saturday, to give main artist Ofori Amponsah the chance to take a breather to return later when a major live band hitch was detected minutes into the highlifer's first solo concert at the Park Central Ball Room in New York City on March 26, 2011.

It was the first of six Ofori Amponsah concerts in the U.S organized by Hashim Haruna's Boogie Down Production. Ofori had opened his show a little after 3am only to realize that his band was playing a completely horrible sound, and even Ofori's vocal output, too bad enough for consumption.

Source: ghanamusic.com

Praye collaborates with Degg J Force 3 for Clean Africa Campaign Song

Ghana’s sensational hiplife group, Praye is collaborating with their Guinean counterparts Degg J Force 3, to preach sanitation in Africa with a song titled Sunu Ghetto.

Sunu Ghetto is a four-minute upbeat fusion of Hi-Life and Afro Pop driven by a catchy rhythm.

It is sung in both French and English, with phrases in local languages from both countries. The song deploys images of ‘the broom’ ‘good hygiene’ and ‘clean ups’ to encourage and promote environmental cleanliness and better sanitation.

Speaking on Daybreak Hitz on Hitz FM with the host Louis Sakyiamah, Praye explained the reason behind their collaboration Degg J Force 3 and to put up this project with support from the World Bank.

“The initiative has great potential to reach mass audiences across Africa, with its multi-lingual elements and the popularity of the artists. It will function as a popular mass multi-media tool to help raise awareness towards ridding many African cities, towns, villages and communities of filth, thereby, helping to achieve one of the most critical MDG’s” added Praye.

An accompanying video is with appropriate imagery to complement the song’s lyrics and develop a strong visual narrative that contextualizes the problem and communicates the principal messages and solutions.

Significantly, the video reflects the experiences of Guinea and Ghana, but is intended to be adapted/adopted/domesticated for use in other African countries.

Poor sanitation is one of the most persistent challenges facing the world’s poorest countries today, undermining efforts to reduce poverty and disease.

It is estimated that in most of Africa, 40 per cent of the population lacks access to safe drinking water, whilst 80 per cent lack access to basic sanitation facilities.

The implication for public health is particularly striking as nearly 65 % of common diseases such as cholera, malaria, dysentery and diarrhea are compounded by poor sanitation, unsafe water and environmental degradation.

Progress with Millennium Development Goal 7, to half the proportion of persons without access to safe drinking water and provide proper sanitation appears to be slow, despite increased attention by governments and many development agencies.

The need to raise mass awareness towards reversing the sanitation decline and environmental degradation is therefore critical.

Praye also intimated that they are embarking on a nationwide tour that aims at getting them closer to their fans.

The tour involves performances at various venues across the country, autograph signing sessions and one on one chats with their fans.



Story by Natogmah Sugri Mohammed/Hitz FM/Ghana