Foremost novelist, Prof Chinua Achebe, is dead. He was 82.

PREMIUM TIMES learnt he died last night in a hospital in Boston, Massachusetts, United States.

A source close to the family said the professor had been ill for a while and was hospitalised in an undisclosed hospital in Boston.

The source declined to provide further details, saying the family will issue a statement on the development later today.

Contacted, spokesperson for Brown University, where Mr. Achebe worked until he took ill, Darlene Trewcrist, is yet to respond to our enquiries on the professor’s condition.

“Nigerian writer Chinua Achebe is known the world over for having played a seminal role in the founding and development of African literature. He continues to be considered among the most significant world writers. He is most well known for the groundbreaking 1958 novel Things Fall Apart, a novel still considered to be required reading the world over. It has sold over twelve million copies and has been translated into more than fifty languages.

“Achebe’s global significance lies not only in his talent and recognition as a writer, but also as a critical thinker and essayist who has written extensively on questions of the role of culture in Africa and the social and political significance of aesthetics and analysis of the postcolonial state in Africa. He is renowned, for example, for “An Image of Africa,” his trenchant and famous critique of Joseph Conrad’s Heart of Darkness. Today, this critique is recognized as one of the most generative interventions on Conrad; and one that opened the social study of literary texts, particularly the impact of power relations on 20th century literary imagination.

“In addition, Achebe is distinguished in his substantial and weighty investment in the building of literary arts institutions. His work as the founding editor of the Heinemann African Writers Series led to his editing over one hundred titles in it. Achebe also edited the University of Nsukka journal Nsukkascope, founded Okike: A Nigerian Journal of New Writingand assisted in the founding of a publishing house, Nwamife Books–an organization responsible for publishing other groundbreaking work by award-winning writers. He continues his long-standing work on the development of institutional spaces where writers can be published and develop creative and intellectual community.”

After winning the Best Female DJ at the maiden edition of the Ghana DJ Awards in February, DJ Kess will be doing battle again for ‘Best Female DJ’ at the upcoming African Global DJ Awards  Scheduled for Johannesburg, South Africaon May 4. She was nominated alongside DJ Nana (Nigeria), Dj Pieces (Nigeria/USA), DJ Lambo (Nigeria), DJ Cndo (South Africa), and DJ Soupamodel (Nigeria/USA).

DJ Kess is currently DJ/Video DJ on Soundcity, a radio DJ on YFM (playing 7-10pm Mondays- Thursday and 9am-12noon on Saturdays) and an entertainment TV host on ETV Ghana. She discovered her talent at Archbishop Porters Girls, Takoradi where she was the schools official DJ.  She has been doing it professionally for the past 7 years. She is known for being a radio DJ on YFM 107.9 playing on the Y Lounge with Ace Radio Host Jeremie between 7 – 10pm, from Mondays to Thursdays. She also doubles as a club DJ as well at Bella Roma, a popular bar & night club in Accra. She has rocked live concerts with Mario &Shontelle, The Red Lipstick (All female) Concert etc.

DJ Kess is not only known back home in Ghana, she represented Ghana at the Big Brother Africa House in South Africa 2011, playing jams that had the housemates raving and begging for more. After rocking in South Africa she performed, amongst others in Benin (Etisalat, Concert 2012), Nigeria (Copa Coca Cola, 2012) and Liberia (DJ Kess LIVE at Club Dejavu, 2012).

The African Global DJ Awards winners will be decided by a panel of judges (along with popular votes on the website) likely to be headed by Nigeria’s legendary DJ Jimmy Jatt. The event will be hosted by Barbz of Big Brother Africa fame, Denrele of Channel O, Lerato, Ugandan rapper Navio, DJ Jam Jam from the United Kingdom and Adams Ibrahim of Nigeria’s Soundcity.

Controversial hiplife musician, Kwame Asare Obeng popularly known as A-Plus has said that Ghana is currently enjoying an atmosphere of freedom of speech than it did under the New Patriotic Party (NPP) administration.

The musician, known for his affection for the 2012 NPP flag bearer  Nana Akufo-Addo was of the view that Ghana had gone past the days where musicians and individuals were constantly threatened and harassed because of their political views and comments.

A thriving democracy
A-Plus, who recently released another controversial song My Last Coup D'état, told Myjoyonline.com in an interview that the situation has seen much improvement under the NDC administration and the improvement is a test case for the country's democracy.

Asked if he faced any intimidation after the release of My Last Coup D'état which touches on several issues – including the 2012 IEA debates, Ayariga coughs, the 2012 general elections, Akua Donkor and Dr Nduom's Tundra saga – A-Plus said he is “surprised by the attention” the song has received.

According to him, “Ghana has gone past phone call days where people are threatening you. All the phone calls that I had were very encouraging, people love what I do. Even some of the people I was talking about call me and we laughed over it.”

The laudable situation, he added, is “a test case for our new president, for our democracy. It makes me understand where we are democratically. It makes me understand the mindset of Ghanaian s at this point in time.”

“I can confidently say that it's better than when Kufuor was in power… Kufuor's was better than that of Rawlings so it keeps improving,” A-Plus stressed.

He said that, “After I worked for Nana Addo by extension the NPP, NDC won the election and they didn't come chasing any of us,” adding that musicians who endorsed Nana Addo have won awards and have also seem much improvements in their careers.

The musician noted that if a musician endorses a political party right now and he or she does make a hit, then “you yourself don't know how to make music. The politician won't change your career in anyway.”

He alleged that in 2007, when he released A Letter to Parliament, he received several phone calls, even from the Office of the President, “where people wanted to take me to court,” and considering the improvements, “where we are today, ...Ghana is better than what we had in 2007 in terms of democracy.”

Economic hardships not NDC's fault
Commenting on the current challenges – power outages, water rationing, increase in fuel and the shortage of gas – bedeviling the country, A-Plus said the NDC cannot take all the blame for the situation.

“All those who have ruled this country must bow down their heads in shame. We won't limit it to any particular government. It is something that is a disgrace to this country after 56 years [of independence] we don't have anything and we have never had anything,” he lamented.

“We must work hard to make sure it does not happen again,” he urged.

The Kufuor government had its ups and down, same with John Mahama's administration, he said but advised that the country should plan ahead to better the lot of Ghanaians.

Patronage of political songs
While many will say A-Plus is treading dangerously by doing political songs and the implications of not making commercial music sales, the artiste thinks otherwise.

“I have sold more CDs than most people who are making music today,” he said, adding, it is rather unfortunate that there is a dip in CD sales.

A-Plus, who has eleven political songs to his credit, released The Unexpected Wednesday. The song, he said, will tell Ghanaians why he released My Last Coup D'état.

Source:Myjoyonline.com 

Looking forward to something big after his 2012 Versatile Show, Okyeame Kwame takes his versatility to another level by conceptualizing and producing a coca cola commercial.

Coca Cola, over the years is known for bringing out artistic and high profile commercials.

So if you are asking why Okyeame Kwame, the answer is simple; he is versatile.

Having been looking for something very interesting to watch on the internet, I stumbled upon the coca cola advert and was impressed.

Okyeame Kwame played the main role and takes the viewer into an exciting atmosphere with some Azonto dance and some handshakes among a group of youth who cannot get more of the energy derived from drinking coca cola.

It begins with the handshake and is filled with some suspense that I want you to uncover. Waiting any longer? Click on the following link, www.youtube.com/watch?v=4sfo66Eh4bs, and watch the video.

He is one Ghanaian Celebrity who is emulated by most of the youths in the country. His hair style is now called ‘Sarks’ by Senior High School students, his way of dressing is mirrored by fans and non-fans alike, his style of rapping is noted in most amateur rappers music etc.

Early hours of today around 1:24am, Sarkodie on his Twitter page, spent time with his 139, 989 followers; retweeting them and replying their mentions and questions. He tweeted about his location and about Okra Tom Dawidi being a “deadly mcee”

Also, Michael Owusu Addo (Sarkodie) spewed up that; he has received complaints from several parents that he is behind the pulling of pants of their children which is popularly known in Ghana as ‘Otto pfister’.

In clear words, the obedient ‘Rapperholic’ tweeted “So I heard ma young fans pulling they pants down telling their parents I showed dem.... hmmmmm mums im sorry I got da info imma fix dat”

Though that style of dressing was popular before Sarkodie’s emergence into the musical stream, since he is the icon of dressing in Ghana to most of his young fans, he is to be pointed at.

To Sarkodie “he will fix that” meaning, in the subsequent Sarkodie pictures and videos, fans are going to see him with his pants in a decent waist level and not hanging again.

If the numerous artistes who need nominations seriously to boost their career can do better in that regard, then they should start doing what I am about to suggest with this particular piece.

Per the definition of most of the categories in the prestigious Vodafone Ghana Music Awards, some elements run through them and to pundits in the industry, this is where some artistes lack when it comes to who should qualify for what.

The clause which says the artiste should have audience appeal and might have appeared on many platforms in terms of performance is my bone of contention here. I am not and will never be against that clause because to win an award, you should surely appeal to a large audience somewhere and that alone can justify you to win an award.

Now my issue is purely with those artistes who are not getting gigs to play may be due to their own decisions or who are not getting gigs to play based on their fees for appearance. There is always the likelihood that some artistes will not be heard on commercials of many events simply on the basis that the fees event promoters are paying him is not enough to suit his charges. The negative effects this decision is likely to have on the artiste is that he will be suffering from the “universal clause audience appeal”.

In reality, Charter House manages more events and of course the popular ones with more visibility than virtually all event organizers in the country. I therefore want to believe the audience appeal will not be limited to only their events in the case of who qualifies to enjoy nominations in Ghana Music Awards. On this note, let me exonerate Charter House myself again by adding that I have seen some cronies from Charter House at various events which were not organized by them. On countless occasions, I have come across Nii Ayittey Hammond either enjoying himself or accusing event organizers and praising Charter House when he sees the good and the bad at such venues ( he does that within though).

Whether this is a blessing or a curse to the musician is another topic for a write up next time because, if artistes should lobby to play gigs or accept bad salary from event organizers because they want to enjoy some audience appeal, then it is something that should be looked at by the board in their next sitting. Now do you understand why Asem was not a happy dude when he was left out in the artiste of the year category? Of course, his hit song featuring Kwabena Kwabena “Bye-Bye” was big but the man himself (the musician) did not enjoy audience appeal with the song. No activity, be it a press conference, a video premiere or whatever was enjoyed with the release of the song. People were only enjoying the air play or having fun with the song at social gatherings.

The artistes need ratings yet, they need to keep standards too. Industry people should consider this very seriously before many musicians suffer from this canker in the near future or else event organizers will take advantage of them knowing the effects it will have on them when it comes to awards in the country. Let`s get talking people!!!

Ghana’s current hottest music duo R2bees is set to release the much awaited album on the 29th of March to meet with the Easter celebrations, a close source has said.

This will be the duo’s second album since embarking on the journey to music greatness. A close source to the R2bees family reveals the much awaited album is called Refuse to be Broke (Da Revolution II).

You would recall that the album launch was postponed to effect a change of name. GhanaWeb can confirm that the strong>Refuse to be Broke (Da Revolution II) album has a packed collection hits from a variety of genres and is definitely an improvement of the R2bees we know.

A leaked cover from of the album shows the image of Paedae and Mugeez in the form of a black and white painting with verifiable originality.

Manager of the duo have confirmed to GhanaWeb in an interview that thealbum will be launched on March 29th, but is yet to reveal the location and schedule of events.

Gallaxy has doubled up the profession as sound engineers respectively. The group has also equipped themselves musically to make a mark on the entertainment scene and looks forward to the years ahead that will see them representing Ghana and Africa worldwide with their music.
The group is working industriously to breakthrough and improves the quality of Ghanaian music on the 

`Since their breakthrough unto Ghana’s music scene, they have shared bigger platforms with Guru, Dobble, Dr Slim and still counting.

As against the backdrop of many music groups breaking up after becoming a mainstream players,they promise to work as team to serve their fans the best they ever had.

Below are the links to the favourite music downloads platforms to download their songs 

http://www.ghxclusives.com/gallaxy-bo-asie-mamift-dobble

http://www.talkmediaghana.com/new-music-gallaxy-bo-asie-ma-mi-feat-dobble-wo-do-nti/

http://www.urbanroll.net/load/music/featured/gallaxy_wo_do_nti_www_urbanroll_net/12-1-0-2660