The call for Africans abroad to return to the continent has been given some more support by MOBO award-winner and ‘Antenna’ hit-maker Fuse ODG.

In an interview on the BBC’s News Day programme earlier on Wednesday, the Ghanaian born Afro pop superstar called on Africans worldwide to rally behind development efforts to change the negative perceptions about Africa and make it as good as the countries they have emigrated to. “It’s a call of action.

Africa is not all about the negatives. We need to actually do something.

We need to actually take action to make sure that the perception actually changes and as being in Africa and actually something to make sure that Africa is a great place to be,” he said.

He added that: “We need to go back to the continent to re-invest and invest our skills because I feel that our parents left Africa because the home that they had was not quite habitable for them…so it’s important that we rebuild our home…and I feel that it has to be our generation.

We’ve gained skills from the UK, we’ve gained skills from the US and it’s our responsibility to build Africa,” he continued.

Fuse ODG disclosed in the interview that he is on a mission to showcase the new Africa to the world through his music.

His TINA – This Is the New Africa – movement became a global phenomenon after the success of his first two singles ‘Azonto’ and ‘Antenna’. The latter featured Wyclef Jean and earned him a MOBO Award.

Fuse ODG, born Nana Richard Abiona, is expected to release his ‘TINA’ album in May 2014.

Source: citifmonline.com

With the battle between dancehall artistes, Samini and Shatta Wale (Bandana) rages on, showbiz personality extraordinaire Kwasi Kyei Darkwah believes that Samini is currently the superior of the
two.

Samini and Shatta Wale have over the year ruffled each other's feathers over who is the country's best dancehall act.

KKD, speaking on the heated rivalry between the two musicians on Drive Time on Joy FM with Kwabena Anokye Adisi (Bola Ray) Friday, said while he admits that the two are good, Samini "is up there".

According to him, the entertainment industry the world over thrives on such rivalries and an artiste like Jay Z, for example, sees this kind of competition "everyday".

The multiple award-winning broadcaster, arts and culture personality said Shatta Wale "accepts that Samini is up there and he wants Samini's place".

He advised Samini that in the face of such competitions, it is important that he keeps his dignity.

According to him, for every established artiste, "once you climbed up to the top, everybody wants to bring you down, but it is important to maintain your dignity."

KKD, also known as the Finest, disclosed that "there are more Samini songs that I like than Shatta Wale [songs]."

"I think Shatta Wale is hot but he has to keep his focus," he advised and urged Bandana to release songs that are pleasing to his fans.

The second edition of GMW 2014, a week-long celebration of Ghanaian music, was launched at the Alisa Hotel on Tuesday morning.

The main festival comes off from March 3 to March 9, 2014 at the National Theater, Accra Sports Stadium and other venues in Accra.

“2014 GMW is primarily about Education (seminars, forums); Festival (music, dance and comedy); and Awards Show; and seeks to be recognized as the biggest music festival and conferences in Africa within the next 5 years”, says Musiga President, Bice Osei Kuffour, in his keynote address.

GMW 2014 is organized in partnership with the Ministry of Tourism, Culture and Creative Arts, the National Theatre, British Council of Ghana, Charterhouse and Fantasy Entertainment (U.S.A).

According to Musiga, GMW will be organized under the broad theme ‘Positioning Ghanaian Music as heartbeat for Tourism Promotion” for the next 3 years.

“This is welcome news as the Government is aware of the many untapped potentials in the tourism and creative arts that require various forms of investments which Music continues to be one of them”, Said Mrs Elizabeth Ofosu-Agyare, Ministry
for Tourism, Culture & Creative Arts.

She said the Ministry had been working closely with MUSIGA and other bodies in the arts industry in almost all of its activities, including PANAFEST and Emancipation Day Celebrations, World Tourism Day, among others.

“My office is open to support any creative arts domain with proposal worthy of considering”, said the Minister.

She was referring to initiatives such as Musiga’s ongoing industry research work being undertaken by KPMG, aimed at establishing the economic contribution of Music to the National economy.

Mrs. Amy Appiah Frimpong, Deputy Executive Director of the National Theater added that: “National Theater is excited to be part of GMW from day one.

As hosts, we promise that GMW 2014 will be the official meeting ground for those leading and shaping our industry; bringing together and encouraging participation of not only locals but internationals.”

Touching on highlights for this year’s festival, Obour outlined the following activities: “On March 3, 2014, Ghana Music Day (on the air), will see musicians hosting various radio and TV shows and granting interviews throughout the day”.

The Opening Ceremony, which is expected to celebrate music & dance from all 10 regions of Ghana, will be held at 11am on March 4 at the National Theater.

According to Obour. “Unlike last year, there wouldn’t be exhibition of goods and services at the National Theater this year”.

A Stakeholders Forum on Ghana Music Study (Research Project) comes off on Tuesday, March 4, 2014.

Ghana Music Honours, the industry’s ONLY awards show (by and) for the Industry, comes off on March 5 at the National Theater to reward music excellence.

There will be a major Gospel Rock Show at one of the big Churches to be announced soon.

There would be a 2-Day Workshop on Music Business Development and Artiste Management on March 5 and March 7.

The workshop will focus on ways to market and promote artistes in this modern era and will be facilitated by world class practitioners with broad-based marketing and entrepreneurial knowledge.

The workshops are free and capacity is limited to 100 participants.

Interested parties (artistes, artiste managers etc) are encouraged to submit their applications no later than February 27th, 2014.

To apply, artiste managers and everyone who works
or would like to work in music management must complete the application form at
www.ghanamusicweek.com.gh or contact Fiifi Khan at multimotivation@yahoo.co.uk.

Also, there will be regular updates at
ghanamusicweek@live.com; facebook.com/ghanamusicweekfestival and twitter.com/GhanaMusicwk

GMW 2014 flagship concert dubbed ‘GH All-Star Live’ comes off at the Accra Sports Stadium on Saturday, March 8, 2014.

Veteran and legend broadcaster Tommy Annan Forson popularly known as Uncle Tommy has disclosed that any time his maker calls him, he should be buried with his honorary award he received at the 2013 Ghana DJ awards.

Uncle Tommy made the statement during an official presentation of his long awaited life time achievement award by the Ghana DJ Awards team at his RABOBEF offices in Accra.

After receiving the award, Uncle Tommy said, ‘to be frank with you, I have waited for close to a year for this Plaque but upon seeing this plaque it is worth the wait’.

The legend also added that he has seen plaques and held plaques but the Ghana DJ awards plaque is something he will cherish for the rest of his life.

‘Listen, if the old man calls me and you put me in that box, you make sure you put this thing (plaque) with me’, Uncle Tommy intimated and used the opportunity to confirm his attendance to the 2014 Ghana DJ Awards scheduled to hold at the National Theatre February 22.

The veteran broadcaster was honored at the 2013 Ghana DJ Awards for his contribution to the DJ culture in Ghana by training and inspiring young Disc Jockeys and presenters to attain higher heights in their fields of Endeavour.

The first ever National DJ Awards in Africa, the Ghana DJ Awards, recognized the efforts of radio veterans Kwesi Kyei Darkwa a.k.a KKD and Tommy Annan Forson on February 15, 2013.

The 2014 Ghana DJ awards slated for the 22nd of February 2014 at the Ghana National Theatre with gate opening at 7pm sharp, according to the veteran, will be a night worth celebrating.

Ghana DJ awards 2014 which has the theme the Rhythm nation will see performances from DJ Mensah, DJ Mic Smith, DJ Slim, DJ Bright, VIP, Edem, Ms V, Keche, Stonebwoy and many more. We  simply can’t wait to party with Uncle Tommy on the night.

Get ready for an exceptional event full of great music.

Shatta Wale is angered at the way media houses have been 'bugging' him on his beef issue with Samini for some weeks now that he had to take it to Facebook to announce his displeasure.

"I am saying this once more and for the last
time..I charles nii armah mensah jr a.k.a. shatta wale does not want any media house to ever call me on any issue concerning samini dagaati till da world comes to an end and it is coming from the depth of my heart and I mean this..#SM4LYF", Shatta Wale wrote.

Like his new song titled 'No Sitting' says, it does not look like he is ready to sit down and quench his issues with Samini.

The upcoming NBA All-Star Game is celebrating with a few high profile performers: Pharrell,Kendrick Lamar and Janelle Monáe .

Pharrell will kick off the game in New Orleans, playing with “surprise chart-topping musical guests” while the game’s players are being introduced.

One player, who if he gets his wish, won’t hear his name called though is Kobe Bryant.

According to CBS Sports, the L.A. Laker announced that since he only played in six of the first 43 games this season he did not feel that he deserved a starting position at the game.

A collection of personal notes written by the late Pope John Paul II over four decades is going on sale in controversial circumstances in Poland.

In his will, the late Pope stated that all his personal notes were to be burnt after his death.

But his private secretary, Cardinal Stanislaw Dziwisz, kept them.

He said he did not have the courage to destroy them as they gave precious insight into the Pope's life and thinking.

The 640-page book, Very Much in God's Hands..

Personal Notes 1962-2003, contains Karol Wojtyla's personal reflections on religious subjects from his time as Bishop of Krakow until two years before his death in 2005.

'A crime to destroy them' Cardinal Dziwisz recently told reporters he had "no doubt'' about publishing the collection.

"These notes are so important, they say so much about the spiritual side, about the person, about the great Pope, that it would have been a crime to destroy them.''

The ideas in the book are briefly sketched, with some written in just two or three sentences, says the BBC's Adam Easton in Warsaw.

The book has its supporters, he continues, but many people in Poland cannot understand why the late Pope's private secretary ignored his wishes.

Adam Szostkiewicz, a prominent religious commentator who opposed the book's publication, says much of it is impenetrable to the average reader.

The cardinal says he spoke to the Pope about which notes should be destroyed and which should be kept.

Cardinal Dziwisz was his closest aide for almost 40 years, first in Poland and then at the Vatican.

After John Paul's death, he was made Archbishop of Krakow in southern Poland.

He has said the proceeds from the book are to fund a memorial museum for the late Pope, who will be declared a saint at the Vatican in April.

The rivalry between dance-hall musicians Samini and Shatta Wale has taken an interesting twist even as the two get ready to go on a live programme on UTV for a ‘tell-it-all’ debate that would also be broadcast live on Peace FM.

Samini first threw the challenge to Shatta for them to go on national television and engage in a debate to enable the general public know the whole truth about the disagreement between them, and Shatta accepted.

Samini called for the debate when he spoke to Akwasi Aboagye on Peace FM’s Entertainment Review last Saturday and alleged that in the past the Chief Executive of Bullhaus Entertainment, Bull Dog came to him and asked for permission to go beat up Shatta Wale.

“His manager, Bull Dog, years back would meet back
stage and tell me that he wants to beat that guy (Shatta Wale) for me because the guy was fooling and he (Bull Dog) only wants clearance from me to beat him up.

Today, Bull Dog is behaving as if he has a fight with me because he manages Shatta.

But Bull Dog knows he used to come to my shows, remove his shirts, breathing profusely, jumping up and down and sweating all over.

You Bull Dog, today, because you oppose me, you sit on TV to say my brand is not marketable,” Samini revealed.

Incidentally, Bull Dog is Shatta’s manager and he has taken a strong exception to the allegation from Samini, describing it as blatant untruth.

“Samini is a liar; I have never ever told him that I wanted to beat up Shatta Wale for him.

Rather I spoke to Shatta Wale in the past to stop insulting Samini during his performances.

I even added jokingly that (Shatta Wale) was doing fine without Samini so he should concentrate on his career and forget about Samini.

I remember playfully telling Shatta some three years ago that if he doesn’t put a stop to that behaviour, I will give him a few punches. I’m not at Samini’s camp and I don’t manage him so what will I gain if I had told  him that?” Bull Dog noted in an exclusive interview with News-One.

He continues: “All these things are lies; I don’t take off any shirt in public.

I love Dancehall, I respect
Samini and I enjoy his music but I’m not a fanatic like that.

He told a series of lies on that day.

I just want people to be truthful and honest in their submissions.”

Many people have raised several concerns about what seems to be bad blood between Samini’s group and Shatta’s camp.

News-One has gathered that arrangements are underway for the debate to be organized in the studios of Peace FM, as well as on UTV.

Source: News-One

Justin Bieber will return to sunny Miami next month following his arrest on charges of driving under the influence, resisting arrest and driving with an expired license.

A Miami-Dade Country judge has set Bieber’s trial date for March 3 (which happens to be the great state of Florida’s 169th birthday!), Billboard reports.

His trial date will follow his arraignment for the same charges on Feb. 14, where he has already plead not guilty on the three misdemeanors from his Jan. 23 arrest after he was caught drag-racing and driving under the influence in a Lamborghini.

The arrest report states that the officer smelled an “odor of alcohol emanating from the drivers breath and bloodshot eyes.”

It continues to explain that Bieber had “slow deliberate movements and a stupor look on his face.”

Under the influence, Bieber did not understand why he was being arrested and continually asked each officer why he was being transported to the Miami Beach Police Department.

If you ever get a chance to take a ride on Justin Bieber’s private plane, make sure to pack your gas mask.

Last week, Bieber’s plane was detained on the tarmac at Teterboro Airport due to a strong odor of marijuana—no weed was found onboard—but according to NBC News the pilots were forced to wear oxygen masks to keep from inhaling the massive amount of pot smoke coming from the cabin.

“The captain of the flight stated that he warned the passengers, including Bieber, on several occasions to stop smoking marijuana,” the official report says.

NBC says the pilots were forced to wear their oxygen masks so that “they wouldn’t risk inhaling marijuana and failing a drug test.”