Saturday, 8 June 2013

Let's meet in court - Okraku dares Sugar Tone



Music producer and CEO of Slip Music, Mark Okraku Mantey, has dared sound engineer, Sugar Tone aka Gideon Darko to take him to court to settle their misunderstanding over the production by Okraku of a remix version of Sugar Tone’s song titled One Litre.

According to Sugar Tone, One Litre was part of a compilation he was working on with the composer of that song, Nana Yaw Kumi, which had songs of other artistes like Kofi B, Naa Agyeman, Sarkodie, Castro, Screw Face, Lucky Mensah and Dr Paa Bobo.

Sugar Tone said he expected the album to be a hit but before plans were concluded for its release, he was surprised to hear a remix version of One Litre on radio and later learnt that it was Okraku Mantey who had produced it.

Since then, Sugar Tone has been threatening to take musician, Nana Yaw Kumi to court for giving out the song to Mark Okraku when they had a contract about its release.

Sugar Tone told Dr Cann, host of Showbiz Extra on Happy Fm that by their action; Nana Yaw Kumi and Okraku Mantey wants to kill his career since he has been working tirelessly for the past three years to put together his compilation.

He said he expected Okraku Mantey to know better than to steal someone’s artiste and record a remix version of a song which was yet to be released.

However, when Okraku Mantey was contacted, he told Showbiz last Sunday that he was not afraid of any court action since there was no contract between Sugar Tone and Nana Yaw Kumi.

According to Mark Okraku Mantey, he heard the One Litre song on radio and contacted Nana Yaw Kumi and asked him if he would like to do a remix of the song.

Mark said after Nana Yaw had told him there was no contract between him and Sugar Tone, he went ahead to do a remix of the song which featured Guru.

“I knew the implications before I got myself involved. If there was an agreement between Nana Yaw and Sugar Tone , there was no way I would have done a remix of the song but because there was no agreement, I got sound engineer, Appietus to do a remix of the One Litre song which is now called Break Into Two and it’s doing very well” Mark Okraku said.

Mark said it was about time Sugar Tone got himself abreast with copyright issues and stop going on air to tarnish his image by calling him names. “I am just waiting for Sugar Tone to take me to court”, he said.

On his part, Nana Yaw Kumi said he did not know why Sugar Tone “was going on radio stations to say that I have been ungrateful and threatening to take Mark and me to court.”

According to Nana Yaw, Sugar Tone should rather be happy for him. “I have been with Sugar Tone for many years and no one knew of me but today, everyone is calling me because of the remix Mark did for me”.

‘Miss Universe 2012’ sues organizers of the pageant

 

Gifty Ofori, who until May 23 was Miss Universe Ghana 2012, has sued organizers of the pageant for failing to give her prizes and also stripping her of her title.

The Insignia Group, co-organizers of the 2012 Miss Universe Ghana beauty pageant, stripped Gifty of her title barely hours to the crowing of the 2013 Miss Universe Ghana on May 24.

Insignia in a statement copied Myjoyonline.com said the decision was necessitated by several interviews Gifty Ofori, winner of the 2012 pageant granted the media that she has not received her prizes which they claimed contravened the pageant’s laws.

Gifty’s prize package publicised by last year’s organizers, Insignia Experience and RAC Group comprised included an official car, accommodation for a year, participation in the 61st Miss Universe pageant in the US, a three-month internship at the United Nations (UN) in New York, and a presentation and modeling portfolio shoot by celebrity photographer, Fadil Berisha in New York.

She was also to receive a Samsung Note 2 phablet, four pages editorial spread in an international magazine, personal celebrity stylists in New York, Los Angeles and Accra and also management and representation by the Insignia Experience/RAC Group as well as a year of incredible experience of celebrity status and adventure.

Till date, she had only received the Samsung Galaxy phablet, represented Ghana at Miss Universe pageant in the US and also benefited from a photo shoot.

Insignia said in the statement that: “In light of the series of unfortunate events and for flouting very specific clauses in the contract she willingly entered into with the organization, The Insignia Group has had to take the tough decision of stripping the current titleholder of her title as Miss Universe Ghana 2012.”

Organizers said in accordance to the rules stipulated in the 2012 Miss Universe Ghana Entry Form and Contract Agreement, Gifty is no longer entitled or permitted to use the title and position of “Miss Universe Ghana 2012” in anyway, and she is also not in a position to allow the use of the title by anyone in reference to her.

Myjoyonline.com has cited a writ of summons issued in the High Court of Justice on June 6, 2013 against the 2012 organizers of the pageant – Insignia Experience and Roberta Annan Consulting – for breach of contract and illegally stripping Gifty Ofori of her title.

Axis Legal, who are representing her in court, told Myjoyonline.com that they are suing the organizers because they have breached a contract between them and Gifty. He stressed that the organisers have failed to deliver on the number of promises made to her.

According to the legal firm, the organizers inserted certain clauses in the contract with the "intention to defraud her".

"The organizers failed to give Gifty the prizes due her and when she complained, they stripped her of her title," Axis Legal confirmed to Myjoyonline.com.

Axis Legal said they will, amongst other things, seek to get the organizers of the pageant pay or award Gifty Ofori all the prizes due her, restore her title as Miss Universe 2012 and also pay for the breach of contract.

Gifty’s counsel said they hope the case will be heard in about two weeks’ time.

‘Ghana Meets Naija’ To Give Away Free Rlg Phones

 
The nation’s biggest and most respected technology company across the continent, RLG, has been sponsoring the Ghana Meets Naija concert since its debut in 2011 and continues to do so.

This year, RLG is going to provide us with something HUGE! And when have they ever disappointed?

Over 1000 Prizes are up for Grabs including free RLG mobile phones, RLG souvenirs ranging from wristbands, t-shirts, key holders and a whole lot more.

There would be RLG Uhuru Tablets on display in the foyer for all VVIP and VIP ticket holders. That’s right. We’ll have plenty of RLG Uhuru devices and so if you haven’t held an RLG Uhuru device yet, come see it at this event and try your hands on the all-new RLG Uhuru in the experiential purple lounge

The excitement is going a full hilt.

Follow GhanaMeetsNaija or GHMeetsNaija pages on facebook for more updates on exciting packages awaiting attendees of the 3rd edition of Ghana Meets Naija slated for Saturday 29th June, 2013 at the Accra International Conference Centre.

For more information, visit mtnghana, ghanameetsnaija, ghmeetsnaija pages on facebook or follow @mtnghana and @GHMeetsNaija on twitter.

Musician Deeba To Be Extradited To UK To Face Charges Of Rape




According to the magistrate, the order should be prepared by the Ministry of the Interior for Deeba, also known in private life as Richard Nimoh, to be sent to the UK.

The court ordered that Deeba, who looked calm in the dock, should be kept in prison custody for his impending extradition. Information gathered by DAILY GUIDE indicated that officials from the UK would be in the country in two weeks’ time to fly him there to face trial.

In his ruling, Mr. Tandoh disclosed that the prosecution, led by Principal State Attorney Yvonne Attakurah Obuobisa, was able to prove that Deeba was the fugitive being sought for and also showed that there was an extradition treaty between Ghana and the UK.

The magistrate said the charge of rape of a girl under 13 years and defilement existed in Ghana and UK laws and known to be extraditable as stated in the treaty signed between the two countries.

In addition, the court observed that the charges against Deeba were not politically-motivated since there was no evidence to prove that.

Between June 1 and 4, 2008, Deeba reportedly assaulted the victim’s six-year-old sister when she tried to satisfy her inquisitiveness about what was happening to her elder sister, whom he reportedly raped. This allegedly resulted in a cut on child’s head.

However, the court discharged him on the assault charge, noting that the charge could not meet the test for extradition.

According to the magistrate, per the law, the fugitive had 15 days within which he could challenge the decision.

In challenging the decision, the fugitive’s lawyer had the option of filing a habeas corpus application at the High Court within 15 days for Deeba to be produced before the court.

The lawyer would then have to show the reason why the suspect should not be extradited.

However, Augustine Obuor, his lawyer, said he would need to study the ruling first to know the next line of action to take.

He therefore prayed the court to furnish him with a copy of the ruling within the shortest time.

He also requested that he should be given a copy of an undertaking from the Ministry of the Interior that Deeba was going to be tried only on the charges of rape.

The magistrate stated that based on the ruling, the UK authorities could not charge Deeba with assault and that if they did so they would be in contravention of the law.

Deeba, the alleged fugitive, has been accused of defiling an eight-year-old girl in the UK.

He was arrested after an undercover police investigation on January 15, 2013, at the La Palm Royal Beach Hotel. His arrest was as a result of a warrant issued by Northamptonshire Magistrate in the UK. The offences were allegedly committed between 2005 and 2008.

A medical examination conducted on the victim by a forensic physician, according to the prosecutor, revealed extensive damage to her hymen as a result of vaginal penetration.

If the hip-life musician was found guilty, he could be sentenced to life imprisonment in the UK.

My Fiance Wiped Away My Shame


Among the many words that can describe Tiwa Savage’s sojourn in the Nigerian music industry, the most apt is ‘meteoric’. The reason is not far-fetched.

Just a few years back, Tiwa, amidst fear of the unknown, left the U.K where she already had everything going for her as a backup singer and songwritter for most UK’s high-flying artistes to build her music career in Nigeria. Despite facing series of discouragements, she did not give up on her resolve to break new ground in the nation’s music industry. Today, she is one of the best things that ever happened to the industry. Come on board as she takes us on a journey into her life, her career and the man in her life.

Your debut album will drop any moment from now. What are your fans expecting from you?

This album is straight from my heart and it’s something that I’ve worked so tirelessly for. A lot of people wondered why it took me so long a time to drop my own album. That’s because we had to go through a lot of legal processes to clear some of the samples that we used, and that took us some months.

Also, we wanted to work with notable producers outside the shores of the country like Oak who produces Rhinna. So, we had to work around his schedule and waited for them to have our time. But this album is something that I really took my time with because I didn’t want it to be the usual Nigerian album that contains just party tracks from the beginning till the end.

Why did you title your album ‘Once Upon A Time?’

Once you hear ‘Once Upon A Time’, you know it’s story time. My life has been an amazing story and I wanted to reflect that on my album. Also, I wanted to motivate other upcoming artistes that, once upon a time, I was a little girl living at Isale Eko and I dreamt of doing this, and here I am doing it. So, I want their ‘once upon a time’ to turn into reality. It’s a 19 -track album.

There are tracks like Wanted, Ileke, Middle Passage, Olorun Mi, Why Don’t You Love Me, Fela Interlude, Love Me Love Me Love me, Eminado ft Don Jazzy, Folarin, Oh Yeah ft Don Jazzy, Shout Out ft Ice Berg Slim & Sarkodie, Written All Over Your Face, Get Low, Ife Wa Gbona ft Leo Wonder, Eji ma fia, Baby Mo ft Flavour, Stand As One ft General Pype, and Thank You. It also has two bonus tracks like Without My Heart ft Don Jazzy and Kele Kele.

Looking back to when you stormed the nation’s music industry a few years ago, how do you feel today?

Like you said, a lot of people tried to discourage me from coming home. They told me that people who came before me were not really welcomed home, and that it is even worse for a female singer. They even said there was no way I could be on the same stage with the likes of Tuface, Wizkid and many others. I got discouraged somehow. As a matter of fact, after I dropped Kele-Kele, I moved back to Los Angeles. Then, I dropped Love Me Love Me and it grew even bigger. So, I decided to move back to Nigeria because people around me encouraged me that I could make it if I’m consistent in what I’m doing. That was how I was encouraged to do more. I thank God for where I am today.

A lot of female artistes complain of being marginalised in the industry.Do you have the same experience?

I think every female artiste needs to work ten times harder than the opposite sex ]and that’s why I put much effort into what I do. Usually, what most artistes do is wait until when they drop their album to do an album launch. But I think it’s important to do an exclusive listening because the press are the ones who are going to project my image to the outside world. And that’s why I had to organise a press listening party so that you guys can assess me, and also, to let you know how much you mean to me.

Now that you’ve become a big brand, aren’t you scared of competition from other female artistes?

Why would I be scared? Back in America, we have the likes of Beyonce, Nicky Minaj, Mariah Carey and other female acts standing tall. So why would there be just one person shining here? After all, here in Nigeria, we have male acts like Davido, Wizkid, M.I, Tuface and other big names at the same time. It’s not fair to have just one female act in the industry. So, I’m glad that more female acts are springing up. Having more female acts in the industry will open more doors.

In the song, Ife Wa Gbona, you featured an artiste and there’s this scene where both of you were in the forest singing to each other. He spoke Yoruba to you but you replied in English. Is it that you don’t speak Yoruba?

Of course, I speak Yoruba fluently, omo Yoruba ni mi (I’m a Yoruba). We did it for a purpose because I have a mixed audience. If he speaks Yoruba and I reply him in Yoruba language, how will my fans in South Africa, Uganda and all over the world be carried along?

The track Eminado has this special kind of tone. How did you come about it?

That sound and name is the handiwork of Don Jazzy. We got the idea when we were in the studio rehearsing. We were just playing around with words and sounds. So when it came up, we thought it was a good one and we decided to turn it into a song.

What was growing up like for you?

Growing up was very interesting. There were no barriers, I was just free. I had a very healthy upbringing. My parents ensured that I was grounded and I had lovely brothers.

You appear like someone who will easily be affected by negative stories. Have you had any scandal?

I don’t think I’ll feel bad whenever I read a negative story about myself. I believe everybody has an opinion and that’s life for you. No matter how beautiful you look, there’s someone somewhere who would still say you are ugly. So, for me, I’ve only done something from my heart and haven’t compromised my integrity. In my album, I have party songs and tracks for everyone no matter your preference. So, I’ve satisfied my fans and I think I’m going to leave the rest to God.

A lot of people see you as a sex symbol. Are you one?

No, I’m not. If you ask my family whenever I’m home, I’m not like this. I’m far from the Tiwa Savage you see on stage. I’m a quiet person.

What has fame done to you?

Naturally, I’m the outgoing type but fame has made me more reserved unlike some artistes who would claim they haven’t changed once they start making more money. It’s a lie. There’s nobody that can tell you they haven’t changed. I think I’ve changed because I’m more wary of those I move with, where I go and those that come around me. I trust people less now because I want to keep my sanity. I also think people around me have also changed because they expect more from me. I might make a mistake and that’s normal for everyone but because it’s Tiwa Savage, my mistakes get blown up and exaggerated. So I’m more conscious of what I do and say in public than before.

Why did you suddenly go into partnership with Tunji by co-owning 232 Entertainment. Are you not scared of the unexpected?

Tunji is an exceptional man. We’ve worked together and we trust each other. So, I’m not scared that anything negative will come up between us. I don’t work with fear because fear is not of God.

Why was the Marvin crew absent at your album listening session?
You well know that I’m also part of the crew and the day I held my album listening session was an important day in my life and career. So, their absence wasnt deliberate. They were away in South Africa for the opening show of Big Brother Africa- The Chase. They had to perform live. But they surprised me on that day when they sent in a live recorded message to me. It was played for all to see. I was so happy because I didn’t expect it, honestly.

Is there any track dedicated to Tunji in your album?

Yes, there’s this track Written All Over Your Face. I dedicated the song to him for the role he played in my life. I met him at a time when no one was ready to help because I’m a female artiste. And whenever I wanted to give up and cry sometimes, he always encouraged me to be strong and move on. He’s my back bone. I love him because he’s been there for me. He wiped my shame away when he put a ring on my finger.

Why did you say he took your shame away. Were you ashamed of being single?

(Laughs). You know in Nigeria when a lady isn’t married and is just focused on her career, people think there’s something wrong with her. But he understood my journey. He was able to push me career-wise and encourage me. So, I just had to do a song for him.

There’s a mix up somewhere. Are you signed to Marvin or 323 Entertainment?

I’m actually signed unto 323 Entertainment. It’s owned by Tunji Balogun, T.J and he’s also my partner, we own it together. 323 is under Marvin but Tunji handles my day to day business.

You’re signed to Marvin and 323. Where is the place of Sony Records?

I’m still signed to Sony in America as a songwriter. And even as I’m doing my album there, I’m still writing for other artistes. I just had to make that commitment. I just did a song for Monica called Catch With Me Him on her last album. And they just called me few weeks ago that I have another song with Fantasia again, and other songs I’m writing for other artistes. So I’m still signed to the label. .

Have you started your project?

Yes I have. I’ve met with a lot of organisations and already put up something to fight breast cancer. Very soon, screenings will start especially for young girls. I also visit the motherless homes quite often but I don’t put it in the press because I don’t want to expose those kids. And the video I did, Olorun Mi is to give back to people who lost their loved ones in those tragic situations.

What inspires you?

I get inspired by a lot of things; life heartbreaks, happiness and Nigeria as a country. If you listen to the Olorun Mi track, I wrote it because I missed those close to my heart who have died. But I’m disturbed because as a country when we lose our loved ones, there should be statues and memorials to remember them. But here, we just move on as if nothing happened. So I got inspired by those lives we lost during the Dana plane crash to do that song.

What would like to be remembered for?

The late Whitney Houston is remembered for what she accomplished while she lived. She inspired many people. I want kids to say when I’m gone that if Tiwa Savage could do it, they can equally do it.

Is there anything you would like to change in the Nigerian music industry?

I’d like us to be more international and be the pioneer of African music and I think it’s happening slowly. I’d like a situation where I go to the UK and hear more of Nigerian music on radio and have our artistes nominated for the Grammy’s . In addition, I’d like to put necessary structures in place and ensure that piracy law is enacted in the country.

What’s your greatest fear about life?

No, I don’t have any fear.

BASS Awards Nominations Out


The final nominations list for the first annual BASS Awards has been released by the organizer of the Awards.

Preceding the release of the nominations, the Awards committee headed by Daddy Bosco had been meeting for three weeks, working to prune down the number to the present list after more than 300 songs were entered for this year’s Awards. Songs that got nominated for the awards this year are reggae/dancehall songs released between 2010 and 2012.

Conspicuously missing from the nominations list is Bandana who according to the committee declined to be part of the Awards, he is said to have written on his facebook page declining to be part of the Awards.

MOST POPULAR REGGAE SONG OF THE YEAR(S)

Rocky Dawuni (African Reggae Fever)

Black Prophet (Wicked Soul Train)

Knii Lante ( House Of Pain)

Edem (Ghetto Arise)

Blakk Rasta / Kaywa (Miss Right)

Sammy B (Tongue Tied)

Sherif Ghale (Ghetto Side)

Ras Kuuku ( Wa ye bibioo)

MOST POPULAR DANCE HALL SONG OF THE YEAR(S)

Iwan (Who Is Bad)

Stonebwoy ft. Samini (Climax)

Jupiter (Money)

Kaakie (Toffee Pon Tongue)

Samini ft. Wizkid (Time Bomb)

Trigmatic (Hold Yuh)

Shata Rako (Good girl gone bad)

Mugeez of R2Bees (Am done)

DISCOVERY

Natural Face

Episode

Lutha

Jupiter

Kaakie

Sean Taylor

Gully Princess

COLLABORATION /DANCEHALL SONGS

Eazzy/ Jupiter (Go Go Wind)

Stonebwoy/ Samini (Climax)

Iwan / Black Prophet (Tell Them Again)

Samini/ Wizkid (Time Bomb)

Tinny/Jupiter (Highway)

COLLABORATION / REGGAE SONGS

Blakk Rasta/ Jah Amber ( Our Africa)

Adez/ Stonebwoy (Budin)

Red Fayah/ Esssence (The Turban)

Gavana / Torch Agoal ( Virtuous Woman)

Friction/ Guru (Life Is Not Easy)

Kese ft. Jupita (Care)

Ruff and Smooth ft. Iwan (Time Changes)

ALTERNATIVE

Joe Mettle – (I am yours)

Herty Borngreat – (Kaa Nu Seiyaa)

No Tribe – (Get up)

Skulfuor  – (Take your child to Church)

Cwesi Oteng – (God dey bless me)

FEMALE VOCALIST

Kaakie (Toffee Pon Tongue)

Gully Princess (Gully Love)

First Lady (Big Woman Thing)

Louisa Fever (Fever)

Yasmeen Helwani (Padi)

MALE VOCALIST

Rocky Dawuni (African Reggae Fever)

Knii Lante (House of Pain)

Sherif Ghale (Ghetto Side)

Stonebwoy (Climax)

Lutha (Love)

Kese (Care)

Mugeez (Am Done)

ALBUM OF THE YEAR

Blakk Rasta (Born Dread)

Rocky Dawuni  (Hymns Of a Rebel Soul)

Iwan (My Time)

Stonebwoy (Grade 1)

Black Eye (African Skies)

BEST AFRICAN ACT ( REGGAE /DANCEHALL)

2 Face Idibia – Nigeria (Rain Drops)

Wyre – Kenya

General Pipe – Nigeria  (Champion)

Bufallo – South Africa

Davido – Nigeria (All Of You)

Ice Prince – Nigeria (Magician)

Wizkid – Nigeria (Wadup)

PRODUCER OF THE YEAR(S)

Genius Selection (Jupiter Money)

Kaywa (Miss Right)

J.M.J (Toffee Pon Tongue)

Infectious (Logic Rhythm)

Kill Beatz (Time, Am done)

YAA ASANTEWAA AWARD (RECORD OF THE YEAR) (S)

Iwan  ( Teenage Pregnancy)

Na U (Independent Day)

Knii Lante (Rocky Road)

Field Marshal (Oh Father)

Friction (Life Is Not Easy)

Kojo Kombolo (Leaders)

Ruff and Smooth (Time Changes)

Chizzy Wailer (Liberation)
RIDDIM OF THE YEAR(S)

Forget Rhythm

Logic Rhythm

Extra Large Rhythm

KWAME NKRUMAH AWARD (ARTISTE OF THE YEAR(S)

Rocky Dawuni

Blakk Rasta

Samini

Kaakie

Knii Lante

Sherif Ghale

Iwan
BEST PERFORMER (REGGAE/DANCEHALL)

Samini

Stonebwoy

Rocky Dawuni

Iwan

Blakk Rasta
BEST SONG WRITER (REGGAE/DANCEHALL)

Knii Lante (House Of Pain)

Iwan (Teenage Pregnancy)

Black Prophet (Wicked Soul Train Driver)

Rocky Dawuni (African Reggae Fever)

Stonebwoy (Hills And Valley)
BEST DANCEHALL ARTISTE

Samini

Stonebwoy

Jupiter

Iwan

Kaakie
BEST REGGAE ARTISTE OF THE YEAR

Rocky Dawuni

Blakk Rasta

Black Prophet

Sherif Ghale

knii Lante

MUSIC VIDEO OF THE YEAR(S) – REGGAE

Knii Lante (House of Pain)

Edem (Ghetto Arise)

Friction ft. Guru (Life is not easy)

Black Prophet (Wicked Soul Train Driver)

Rocky Dawuni (African Reggae Fever)

Na U (Independent Day)

Blakk Rasta (Miss Right)
MUSIC VIDEO OF THE YEAR(S) – DANCEHALL

Samini (Dadiekye)

Stonebwoy (Climax)

Sonni Balli (All I See)

Kaakie (Too Much)

Natural Face (So High)

Eazzy (Go Go Wind)

Iwan ft. Black Prophet (Tell Them Again)

  LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARD (REGGAE/DANCEHALL)

Root Anabo

Felix Bell

Bass Awards comes off at the National Theater on 6th July, 2013, preceding that will be a nominees Jam featuring Jamaican Dancehall act Elephant Man, Samini, Stonebuoy, Jupiter, Kaakie, Natural face among other acts.

Friday, 7 June 2013

Marriage Is Sweet – Coded (4×4)


Coded, the bubbly and handsome member of the hiplife trio 4X4, is obviously blessing the day he found his sweetheart Maame Afua Agyeiwaa Opare with whom he tied the knot almost one year ago.
“I keep telling my friends that I don’t deserve my wife. For her to take me away from the bad things I used to do, I simply don’t know how to describe such a person. She is the best thing that has ever happened to me”, he told Showbiz last Monday.

“When I look back, I regret the terrible things I used to do, some of which I still haven’t been able to tell my wife after our marriage although she tells me everything I need to know. For this and others, I say I don’t deserve her but I am glad she still loves me for who I am”, Coded said.

According to Coded who dated his sweetheart for seven years before getting married to her, if he knew marriage was this sweet he would have married much earlier. He said theirs was a marriage made in heaven and there had not been a day that the two have quarreled seriously since they got married.

“I know what she likes and what she dislikes because we dated for a long time before we got married and I believe that is what has helped both of us to understand each other”, Coded said.
Coded said that contrary to what most people perceive of young musicians, he is quite down to earth. According to him, if he was not performing with the other members of his group, he preferred to stay indoors with his wife, watch movies or go to the gym. “I am a responsible man who is ready to do anything for my wife because I truly love her from the bottom of my heart”.

Talking about lady admirers, Coded said “the ladies who admire me know I am married so beside music, they don’t expect much from me and I don’t expect much from them either. My ring is always on my finger and I am very proud of it.”
Any plans for starting a family? Coded said for now, they are keeping it cool until they start to make babies.
Coded, as a member of 4X4, is credited with songs such as Contestant No. 1, Mokoni, Anadwo Yede, HotGirls.com, Siklitele, World Trade Center and Waist and Power.

I Have Never Done Any Hip Surgery Or Breast Implant - Actress



Time Icon and actress, Omotola Jolade Ekeinde said in a recent interview with 'Encomium', that she inherited her physical endowment from her mother and how it’s been a struggle for her to stay slim as her job requires.

What is the secret of your radiant look?

There is no major secret. That’s the truth. Most of them were inherited. I inherited the good stuff, so also the bad one. If you see my mom’s picture, she actually looked like a young girl. Till she passed on, we used to call her forever young, even before that song came out.


My mom had a teenager look, even when she was almost 50. She was a very hippy and curvy woman. That, she passed on to me with vengeance. That’s why it has been a very big struggle for me to stay as slim as my job requires.

But people are saying you had done breast implant that perhaps brought out your hips

I have also heard that but there is nothing like that. I have never done any surgery or implant. It’s just me being extremely careful and conscious of my body, job and everything. Naturally, as a human being, sometimes I get it perfectly right, sometimes, the body just does what it wants to do. I just keep trying.

Tuesday, 4 June 2013

Sark Collections To The Slaughter?



Straight up! Obidiponbidi Sarkodie is leading his newly created clothing like, Sark to the slaughter, I think. I do not wish to compare Sark to other foreign brands but selling a belt at GHC180 and a pair of jeans at GHC250 is rather on the high side of his fans.

People are all under the illusion that anything sold at exorbitant price is good. Sarkodie and his team should not tow that line. They should not see the introduction of Sark as an opportunity for them to get rich quick or overnight. Else he might end up pushing everyone away.

Sarkodie’s Sark collections which include belts, baseball caps, sneakers, jumpers, sweat pants, t-shirts, shirts among others with his face embossed on them are ridiculously expensive. Before the launch which cost uninvited guests 50 Ghana Cedis a ticket, one of his fans commented, “Pay GHC50 just to be part of the launch, then how much will the clothes cost?”

We all know that Sarkodie’s real fans are not the people who are ready to part with big money. Yes, his fans cut across but a great chunk of them are the ones mostly on the street. I was present at the forecourt of the Aphrodisiac Night Club when Sarkodie launched his Sark clothing line designed by Yas.

Quite glaringly most of the invited guests present to witness the launch were not his true fans. They were there because they had received invitations from him or from his team.

After the launch many were the voices that commended Sarkodie for having taken an enterprising step by investing in business ahead of his colleagues in music. But a few months after the launch, keen observers are wondering if Sark will indeed survive or disappear like what happened to the likes of Stephen Appiah’s StepApp and Obrafuor’s OB4.

You know how painful it is when you do something good for someone and the person turns his back on you? This is exactly how the Sarkodie fans are feeling right now. They think the rapper is not being fair to them when they contributed to his successful career. For many of his fans, the artiste has become very expensive that, they have to dole out millions of their hard earned Ghanaian Cedis to be able to purchase few of his collections.

I’m certain that, Sarkodie has read various comments and posts by his fans as they vent their spleen on the expensive nature of his collections. From Twitter to Facebook, the words are that, Sark is very expensive. The reality is that if your true or majority of your followers cannot patronize your products because they are beyond their reach, it means you probably don’t know what you are about. As true fans, they are the ones to be clamoring for your products, if not then there is a problem somewhere.

As a rapper who has moved from being a ‘battler’ on radio stations to an international artiste, it’s fair to say he’s pricing himself out of the market but then has his management and team done a research to know the pocket strength of his real fans? Over-pricing the products just because you do not want just anyone to have one is a lame excuse and could be spelling doom for him.

Talking about paying people for the good they have done for you, I have listened to Sarkodie on various platforms as he elucidated and defended the over-pricing of his collections and I find such excuses very pitiful and preposterous.

On the red carpet of the Vodafone Ghana Music Awards with Confidence Haugen, Sarkodie said: “When you move out of Ghana, they need to hear your CV [talking about his music], what you have back home, you need a movement going on already. First and foremost, they will check your Twitter following, they will check your Facebook, they will check your awards and for me to have 5 on the roll that should tell you that, the guy is doing well…”

When Confidence asked “so how is the shop going?” Sarkodie said “Trust me from the first 3 days if I tell you the money we have made. People say my stuff is expensive. Of course you are wearing Sarkodie… we are coming for the next collections for anyone who can afford it.”

In 2012 Sarkodie co-won the Black Entertainment Television (BET) Best African Act with Nigeria’s Wizkid. Of course the organizers of the BET Awards didn’t pluck Sarkodie from Adom FM’s studios and award him.

It was after he got to the top of his game before they thought he merited that honour. The question is, how did he get to the top of his game?

He achieved this by the help of his true fans who have been with him from day one. So why would they be sidelined now that the act has gone to the zenith of his career?

Source: Ghana Web

It Hurts To Read Bad Stuff About My Daughter - Efya's Mum


Anytime her daughter mounts the stage and wows her audience with her unique voice coupled with her electrifying stage craft, it is the expectation that Nana Adwoa Awindor, mother of sensational singer Efya would be beside herself with pride for nurturing such a talent.

Of course, yes, mum Nana Adwoa Awindor does. She is absolutely proud of her daughter and is happy for her every minute and says she has always been grateful to God for the talent given her daughter but she finds it very difficult to deal with the bad publicity that often goes with showbiz stars.

In an interview with ‘Showbiz’, Nana Awindor, who herself is a media celebrity following the huge success she had with her ‘Greetings From Abroad’ television series, said anytime she read negative stories about her daughter, it felt as though a sword had been driven through her heart because she knew very well that her daughter would not engage in undesirable activities like drug abuse.

“I know how it is like to be in the public’s eye and I know my daughter through and through and so it really hurts to read such bad stuff about her. It is annoying, irritating, abhorring and everything put together. Sometimes, I have to be strong for her to tell her not to respond to such stories and concentrate on her career because such detractors will come to nothing.

“Sometimes these things really hurt because we believe that we are nurturing a young talent into an international star that Ghana should be proud of. But some people think that is the opportune time to punch holes and bring her down when she is going global” she added.

Nana Awindor said in modern times that the world has become a global village, people should have a second thought about the negative stories they put out there since such stories transcend the borders of the country and may have negative effects on those personalities.

“Can you imagine that somebody who has cropped the hair and sniffing cocaine is posted on the Internet with an attached story that Efya is a drug addict? Some of these stories break me down but often I say hey! It doesn’t matter, let us just forget about it and focus on what we are doing and let them be who they want to be. We want the ultimate prize and that is what we are looking for”.

The mother of the songstress who has won the hearts of many with songs like Best In Me, Cigarette, and Little Things could not hide her pride in the success her daughter has chalked in her music career adding “I see growth, possibilities, advancements, an international star par excellence. I see a bud blossom into a flower which has all the abilities of surviving and I am proud of her in so many ways.

Efya’s singing prowess is a God given talent and not the ability of mortal being because she has been doing this since childhood and in God’s own time, He made things more beautiful and packaged”.

Apart from serving as a strong tower behind her daughter’s brand, Nana Awindor the Chief Executive Officer of Premier Productions says she has been busy working on her new series of Greetings from Abroad which has been off the screens for almost four years.

“Taking it off was deliberate in order to have a refreshing show after celebrating 10 years in 2008 but a new production is set to start showing on some selected stations in June” she stated.

When asked how challenging it’s been touring the world, this was her response “It has been hectic and challenging but it’s always been an inward passion to brand Ghana and couldn’t have used any other means apart from this show to brand Ghana and I am delighted that it turned out well.

“But I have gone through some never to forget ordeals. I remember that in 2006, my hand bag which contained all the money for the expenses for myself and production crew was stolen and I cried like a baby at the German Airport. In fact, I wailed to the surprise of many present but these are some of the hazards that come with the job”.

A native of Efigya Kwabre in the Ashanti region, who is now a queen mother and bears the stool name “Obaapa Adwoa Nkyaa” and her last words to celebrities: “pride comes before fall so be humble and always seek the face of God in all your endeavours”.

Source: Graphic Showbiz