Samuel Amankwaah sings W’ayɛ M’agya

By: Forgive Adjoa Forfoe Date : Thursday, 07 April 2016 14:31 - See more at: http://www.graphic.com.gh/entertainment/music/61641-samuel-amankwaah-sings-w-ay-m-agya.html#sthash.tvQjwj3s.dpuf

By Forgive Adjoa Forfoe
Thursday, 07 April 2016 14:31

 He has been singing since he was 12 but Samuel Amankwaah has  been let down several times by those who promised to help him come out with an album.

However, the Diploma in Health Information graduate from the Kintampo College of Health kept soldiering on and he is now ready to share with the world his maiden album,  W’ayɛ M’agya. 

Samuel

 W’ayɛ M’agya will  be launched on Sunday, April 10 at 2pm at  the Liberty Assemblies of God Church, Abuakwa in Kumasi. The eight track album has songs such as Fakyɛ Me, Odomfo Agya, Tekyerema Apem, W’aye M’agya, Edin Jesus, Mansusu Da, a praise and a worship medley.

On Fakyɛ Me, a slow- paced song, Samuel asks for forgiveness from God for all his mistakes. 

W’ayɛ M’agya, a fast-paced song, talks about how God saved him when the people he trusted abandoned him, while Mansusu Da, is about how he never dreamt that God could transform a wretch like him to become the man he is in society today.

Though this is his first album, his vocals, lyrics, coupled with the melodious tunes and mastery of his delivery is evidence that the young gospel musician studied well underground.

Touching on what inspired him to compose the album, Samuel, who currently works as a Health Information Officer at the Mankranso District Health Directorate, told Showbiz on Monday that  “Spreading the gospel through music is my main reason for this album, since evangelism is the core duty of every believer. 

 “Also, I just want the world to know that as humans, we can’t put our trust in our fellow men when faced with difficulties. We should rely on only God”, he stated.

Samuel, a native of Santasi -Atasemanso in the Ashanti Region recorded his songs at Kumasi- based Wapicollo Studio and is managed by Eric Boakye with Gospel General of  Boss FM in Kumasi as his promoter.

Bismark celebrates mothers with Mama

By: Forgive Adjoa Forfoe Date : Monday, 04 April 2016 16:57

- See more at: http://www.graphic.com.gh/entertainment/showbiz-news/61418-bismark-celebrates-mothers-with-mama.html#sthash.IuLecqZx.dpuf

By: Forgive Adjoa Forfoe Date : Monday, 04 April 2016 16:57

- See more at: http://www.graphic.com.gh/entertainment/showbiz-news/61418-bismark-celebrates-mothers-with-mama.html#sthash.IuLecqZx.dpuf

By Forgive Adjoa Forfoe 

 Monday, 04 April 2016 16:57

Although the absence of a producer prevented him from releasing  his first album, Akyεdie, on the market in 2014, gospel musician, Bismark Takyi, is determined to make it this time round, with or without one.

And to show how determined he is, Bismark released a single, Mama, last Wednesday on the market. 

Mama, which celebrates mothers, has Bismark calling for the blessings of God on his mother and all mothers for the good values they imbibe in their children.

Bismark

A line from the song reads: From the moment I was born, you filled my life with love…..you are the tree that I will always lean on, thank you mama, for your love and care, I will always appreciate, God bless you.

The 3:50 minutes song, rendered mostly in Twi and a few lines in English, has a mid-tempo rhythm, and although dedicated to mothers, begins with praises for both parents.

The melodious tune makes for both a soulful and deeply sobering reflection on mothers and a soothing sound to the ear. His clear voice, choice of words and breath- control are all on point.

The degree holder in Administration from the University of Ghana told Showbiz in a chat on Thursday that apart from celebrating mothers, he also chose to release Mama long before the Mothers’ Day celebration in May, so as to bring variety into mothers’ songs on the market.

“My mother’s encouragement inspired this song because I can play all the musical instruments  very well now and have been teaching people how to play over the years, all because my mother encouraged me when I started learning how to play the guitar and was making mistakes.

“ I think people should listen to Mama because I tried to portray the African mother very well,’’ he said.

Bismark, a native of Brɔfoyeduru in the Ashanti Region and the Operations Manager for X Origin, a printing company at Adabraka, Accra, is currently working on releasing his second album, Higher Heights, in August this year. Mama is off the Higher Heights album.

Other songs which will feature on the album include Grateful Lord, Ene Me Nyɛ Adwɛn, Alpha and Omega, Adom, Adoration and Hosanna featuring SP Sarpong.      

Felix: I’m ready for big guys of broadcasting

By Forgive Adjoa Forfoe 

Friday, 01 April 2016 13:24

Felix Ekow Dadzie is living his dreams as a TV star and talk show host three years into broadcasting. It is a passion he has nurtured since childhood with Ghanaian actor, Chris Attoh as his idol and an ultimate ambition to reach the heights attained by the late BBC broadcaster, Komla Dumor.

Far from being the finished article, Felix Dadzie has an audacious self-belief that he is capable of rubbing shoulders with some of the ‘big boys’ of broadcasting such as Bola Ray and Israel Laryea who spent more than a decade to establish their credentials and credibility.

Felix

‘‘I think I can match up to them in terms of delivery, style and presentation. It’s just that for now, I don’t have their kind of exposure. But I will be hosting a new programme, The Chart Show, on GTV Life soon and I know that will help put me out there. 

“I think that no matter where you are, if you are able to work right, the right people will locate you for your promotion.

“I need just a week of exposure to what they have been exposed to and I would match up to them,” Felix told Showbiz about his career ambitions.

Felix who hosts Experience, a daily programme on Zoe TV and Expectations, a weekly show on GTV respectively told Showbiz that Attoh and Komla Dumor were the biggest influences on his career choice because he grew up determined to become a journalist and a lawyer. But the BBC remains his ultimate destination.

“I used to watch Chris Attoh on TV every time and told myself I would be like him. And before I got the opportunity to go on air, I rehearsed how to speak and read like Komla Dumor each time he presented BBC World News.”

Right from his secondary school days, Felix Dadzie kept his eye on the big picture, determined to fulfil his dream of working in the media which compelled him to abandon General Science at Opoku Ware SHS for General Arts at Osei Tutu Boys SHS in Kumasi.

And at the University of Ghana where he obtained a Diploma in Sociology, working in the media remained his ambition.

But his entry into the media was, perhaps, an act of God as his pastor, Kelvin Kobiri of Zoe Outreach Ministry, took him to Live FM to be trained for news reading for seven months, having previously heard him undertake voluntary interviews in church.

After his training and introduction to broadcasting at Live FM, he also worked for some other media houses, including Zoe TV, and eventually at GTV where he hosts a daily programme Experience and a weekly show Expectations (aired Saturdays at 9pm) respectively.

He is also nursing an ambition to become an actor like his idol, Chris Attoh.

Felix admits he is having a time of his life in broadcasting as he directing his energies into a profession he is passionate about.

‘‘I believe if one is passionate about something, the person should concentrate on that area and develop him or herself there, instead of wasting resources and learning to be jack of all trades,” he said.

Yaa Yaa, others for maiden PAMA festival

  By Forgive Adjoa Forfoe

 Thursday, 07 April 2016 14:22

Afro pop singer, Yaa Yaa, will perform at the the maiden Poetry, Animation, Music and Fine Arts (PAMA) Festival at the Silverbird Cinemas at the West Hills Mall, Weija on Friday, April 15.

Other performers on the night alongside Yaa Yaa include Kacey Moore, Rhyme Sonny, Tackman,Nana Asaase, Afro Maestros among others.

 PAMA which is expected to be an annual event to celebrate poetry, animation, music and the fine arts, seeks to create a platform for the creative arts industry players to exhibit their works, express their craft and passion to drive change.

Yaa Yaa

Powered by BEKOFI, an event management company, in partnership with the Silverbird Cinemas, the event is in two segments. 

There will be an art exhibition at the Silverbird foyer from 11am- 6pm. Artists registered to partake in the art exhibition include Graphic Designers, Illustrators, Painters, Photographers, Digital and Pencil Artists among others.

The main event is a combination of the poetry, music performances and screening of selected animations from NAFTI at the main cinema hall from 6pm to 9pm.

Emmanuel Bonney, Executive Director of BEKOFI, organisers of the festival, told Showbiz in an interview that ‘‘This festival was inspired by our desire to create a platform for people involved in poetry, animation, music and the fine arts because there are untapped talents with regards to creative arts in Ghana and there are so many young people with amazing potentials. 

“We believe that it’s time to focus on people who are using their creative abilities in these areas. In fact, there’s a greater need to develop these activities’’, he added.

PAMA is supported by NAFTI, Toon By Turf, ddp, Creo Concepts, Parables, STORYBOARD Films, Rhythmz Africa, HMA Studios,Palm media, among others. 

Some of the media partners include PLUZZ FM, RegardPost, FLEX, plugghana and GhMovieFreak.

Mum’s ‘teasing’ led to passion

By Forgive Adjoa Forfoe

 Friday, 25 March 2016 07:50  

Life is replete with inspiring stories of people who turned their adversities into opportunities and success stories.

And for people such as model-turned-makeup artist, Monique Gyenfi, teasing by her mother rather pushed her to discover her hidden talents and passion.

In discovering her real passion and purpose in life, Monique saw her mother’s teasing -- and piece of advice too -- about her skinny figure as a challenge to try her luck in the world of modelling.

Monique

And her life has never been the same since she mustered courage to take advantage of an audition by the famous EXOPA modelling agency.

“Officially, I heard about an EXOPA modelling audition in my first year at the university around 2012 to 2013, and I took my mum’s advice. I did the modelling freelance when EXOPA trained me for about month. 

“My first breakthrough came when I went for an audition at a fashion week programme at Legon and that was it. I did gigs here and there for a year and people told me I am good at it,” Monique told Showbiz of her adventure into the exciting world of modelling.

“‘To me, modelling was just a hobby, though I was and I’m very good at it. I took modelling as a hobby but through it, I found my real passion, modelling led me into makeup artistry. I’m not modelling anymore, though occasionally I take photo shoots just for the fun of it.”

Similarly, makeup artistry came to her by accident. Monique recalls when as a student of the University of Ghana, at a time lecturers had embarked on a strike and academic work was at a standstill.

A colleague on campus who was around that period fascinated by Monique’s make-up skills, suggested she took it to a higher level by adding a professional touch to it.

“This was in 2014 or thereabout and so I enrolled for a makeup course at a school called Evolve School of Makeup. For the past one and a half years, I have been doing makeup as a business and there has been no going back for me.”

Today, the young makeup artiste is in demand and has been plying her newfound love with some A-list clients in the entertainment industry such as PY who used to be with  Viasat1 TV, Preachers, former MUSIGA president Diana Hopson, Pastor Hellen Yawson of KICC Ghana among others.

Her newfound profession also runs deep in her family -- as one of her sisters was a model and her brother-in-law is a photographer who does model photo shoots. 

‘‘My sister and my brother in-law are very supportive as they help with contracts. My brother-in-law is a photographer, so sometimes we work hand in hand. 

“When he gets modelling photo shoots and needs a makeup artiste, he calls me and I also hire him for companies, especially Angelphase Fashion and Grooming House off the Weija road where I work as the official makeup artiste.”

She predicts a big future for the makeup industry in Ghana and advises people in the field to be passionate about it. 

Combining her two professions with her responsibilities as a National Service Person at the HR department of Tullow Oil in Accra, is a challenge she has managed to handle effectively.

Monique, who holds a first degree in Political Science, says people pursuing careers in makeup artistry and cosmetology in Ghana must do it out of the love for it and not only for the monetary benefits since they are seasonal jobs but well paid ones nonetheless.

TV3 screens programmes for 2016

Monday, 11 April 2016 14:29

Monday, 11 April 2016 14:29

Monday, 11 April 2016 14:29

  By Forgive Adjoa Forfoe
 Monday, 11 April 2016 14:29

 The management of Accra- based TV3 Network, Media General Limited, last Friday screened their programmes for the year 2016 at the plush Kempiski Hotel in Accra.

Dubbed ‘TV3 2016 Programme Screening’, the event was graced by personalities such as Mr. Augustus Bamfo Dickson, former CEO of TV3, Dr Michael Agyekum Addo, CEO of KAMA Group of Companies, board members of TV3, actor Ecow Smith-Asante among others.

 Bridgette Otoo and Winston Amoah, the MCs, at the event.

 Hosted by presenters Bridgette Otoo and Winston Amoah,  the screening took the form of a marketing and media conference and had patrons who were mostly advertisers and media houses taken through the various new programmes that TV3 and its subsidiary, MG Radio, made up of 3 FM, Onua FM, Akoma FM and Connect FM, had for their viewers and listeners for the year.

Speaking at the screening, Mr. Ray Nkwe, CEO of TV3 said, his company is now out with programmes and packages that are tailored to suit their audiences and clients.

“It’s an opportunity for us to tell you as we have gathered here that we have heard all your ideas and needs and have incorporated them into exciting and fantastic programmes and offers for you. 

“We want you to know that at TV3, your views are important and that you have a partner who is ready and beginning to listen”, he added.

Not only did the screening highlight existing programmes, but also new ones. Snippets of upcoming shows such as The Key Point, Eye on the Seat, Taste of Love and Shampaign were screened.

Mr Nkwe announced that TV3 will launch a “dedicated campaign” in terms of coverage for the 2016 elections.

“We are going to deploy the largest news crew for an election in the country.”

Mr. Winfred Kwesi Afful, the Chief Operating Officer of the company, told Showbiz that despite the competition on the market, his outfit will continue to lead because viewer satisfaction is their target.

‘‘Very soon, our viewers will see that some of our programmes have changed and that they are exactly what our audience want and at the specific time they want it. These are very compelling and engaging contents.

“You would agree with us that we at TV3 are first in news, best in entertainment. We have the widest and largest viewership, so we’re continuing to keep that position strong.

“We are doing this by raising the bar in the industry by providing compelling contents that keep people glued to our channel. No matter the competition, we are determined to give our audience what they need because we have done research and provide contents based on that”, he said.