Efya for Afro Entertainment Awards

She has bagged about 5 major local and international awards already in her relatively young music career; all this, before the release of her debut album. 

And next month, she might just be back on her winning streak if she overcomes competition in the Best Female Artist category at the upcoming Afro Entertainment Awards in Chicago. Originally known as Jane Awindor, she changed her stage name to Efya after she and former Stars of the Future winner Irene Logan parted ways to pursue their solo careers.

The 2011 Ghana Music Award Best Female Vocalist has over the past three years released about 6 singles, which have been well received by the public.  Her knack for live music performance has also seen her fan base soar. Earlier this morning, the young songstress took to her twitter page to announce her Afro Entertainment nod: “ohh yes, so I got nominated for 2nd Annual Afro Entertainment Awards woooop. Thanks guys. You know we gon win!” she tweeted. The Afro Entertainment Awards acknowledges and honours the accomplishments and contributions of entertainers and entrepreneurs in the black entertainment community.

The awards, the second since its inception comes off on October 27 2012 at the McCormick auditorium in Chicago and will see Efya face off with other musicians such as Lady Aqua, Titi Lo’Kei, Chelle, Dencia and Willy Jay for the Best Female Artist award. The multiple award winning singer recently released her own cover versions of Whitney Houston’s “I’ll Always Love You” and Duncan Almighty’s “Obianuju”.

Credits: Joy News

Malta Guinness Street Dance Season 5 Finals EL, Guru, VIP To Perform

We can confirm that Hiplife stars Guru, VIP and Hiphop artistes EL will be performing at the grand finale of this year’s edition of the Malta Guinness Street Dance Season Five.

This information was gleaned from the final eviction, which was aired on Gh-One over the weekend. The grand finale of MGSD Season V is expected to come off at the National Theatre on, September 14, 2012 and the 4 dance crews who will be battling for the 15,000 GHC prize and a chance to represent Ghana at the world dance champions are: Heroes, Pipeline, One spirit and Rockers of all time.

The competition, which has been ongoing for about 6 weeks, now has seen some of the best representations of street dance on stage by some really imaginative dance crews drawn from across the country. The final eviction show saw two dance groups ending their dance championship dreams, the two groups were 2 Black 2 strong and Revolutions. The competition opened with Heroes dance crew dancing to Lord Kenya’s Me do. They had good comments from the 3 Judges and won the hearts of the audience when they did a motorbike stunt with smoke coming from the mouth of one-dance crew members.

2 Black 2 Strong was next with a dance routine to the song Aluguntugui by Keche. However, they did not move the Judges as well as they had hoped. Rockers of all Time danced to Wengeze by Eazzy, they appeared on stage with pink shirts with one crewmember wearing a wig pretending to be Eazzy. They received thumbs-up from the Judges who were full of praise for their creativity.

Pipeline dance crew was next to perform, they have been one of the most consistent dance crew since the competition began but were a little less impressive this time round. Their dance routine to Five5”s Mujabaya, had the Judges commenting that they did not enjoy their performance. They however won the best-dressed dance crew on the night.

One Spirit danced to Reggie Rockstone’s Eye mo de anaa. Reggie Rockstone who is one of the three Judges for the series commented that he was not impressed with their dance routine, a comment that was corroborated by his two other colleagues, KOD and Miss Bee. The last performance was by Revolution dance crew who danced EL’s Obuu mo; they had some good comments from the Judges though it was not their best performance.

The grand finale promises to be fun and exciting. The general public can contribute by voting for their favourite dance crew on the official Malta Guinness Street Dance Facebook fan page. One must first like the page and choose the favorite dance group on the app.

Credits: Peacefmonline.com

Hugh Masekela LIVE IN ACCRA

Lady May of BB To Share Stage With KSM

Saturday, 22nd September presents a unique continental blend of music, harmony, dance and excitement, as legendary African music icon Hugh Masekela rocks same stage with the ever-explosive Big Brother Star Lady May at the Banquet Hall in Accra.

Ghana's finest and most-sought-after satirist, KSM, will host the night and treat audience to a thrilling dose of humor. Hugh Masekela, the headline musician for the Kasapreko African Legends Night returns onto the Ghanaian stage after his last year's mega concert and successful hosting of a red carpet as well as premiering his hit-movie; 'Soil' at the Silverbird cinema.

According to Lady May, who is performing in Ghana for the first time, 'I have waited this long to be in Ghana. The African Legends Night is the perfect platform for me to show Ghanaians, my beautiful mix of Namibian Oshiwambo, Kwaito and western pop.

I am happy that on my first performance in Ghana, I will be sharing the same stage with one of African's most revered music icons, Hugh Masekela. I am excited and I will translate that into an electrifying performance anyone cannot afford to miss. Come and get me!’

Lady May has been singing since childhood, but earned her first spotlight in 2004 with her Kamali debut. Signed to the South African record label, Big Ear Records, and with five albums to her credit, Lady May is fast becoming the toast of creative African/western music lovers across Namibia and beyond. Ben Brako, another ace Ghanaian musician and the beloved saxophonist, Steve Bedi together with budding music star Bertha, will also rock the stage at the Banquet Hall on the night.

The Global Media Alliance, the current CIMG Media Organisation of the Year brings back Hugh Masekela as a direct response to the clamour emanating from music and fun-loving Ghanaians on the heels of a successful edition of the event held last year.

With supports from Kasapreko Company Limited, Samsung, Air Namibia, Tata, African Regent, Stanbic Bank and other leading Ghanaian brands, this year’s Kasapreko African Legends Night with its Lady May injection, promises to be deeply satisfying.

PRESS RELEASE

MUSIGA LAUNCHES 1st GHANA MUSIC WEEK ON SEPT. 14

The official launch of the maiden edition of Ghana Music Week will be held at 6pm on Friday, 14^th September 2012 at the Regency Coconut Grove Hotel in Accra.

To precede the highly anticipated MUSIGA music festival schedule for October, GMW Launch is expected to attract the crème de la crème of the music and movie industry; including artistes, bands, industry experts, reps. of Music Unions from across African and speakers from Government.

The key goal of GMW is to create the industry’s biggest platform in October to bring together and encourage participation of artistes, stakeholders, the media, decision/policy makers and music users; and to recognize, promote & underscore the importance & value of Ghanaian music forms.

Our keynote speakers at the launch will include the Ministry for Tourism, Ministry for Chieftaincy & Culture, Minister for Finance and key MUSIGA executives.

There will extensive photo opportunities, exclusive visuals and creatives plus release of the full diary of events for the October ending Festival.

Should you have any questions about the launch, sponsorship opportunities and other matters, you may contact AHUMA BOSCO- 0243 382 474, VERUS NARTEY- 0244 278777, SIDNEY TEHODA- 020 815 0096 or RAHELEH ROUHANI (054 541 71 63).  We would be grateful foryour presence. Thank you,

Signed,

VERUS NARTEY

(GMW, Communication Team)

MUSIGA President On A Social Change Program

The President of Musiga, Bice Osei Kuffour has been in the United States of America as a guest of the American Government on a program dubbed Promotion of Social Change Through the Arts. The program which was organised by the United State Department’s International Visitor Leadership Program was held in Sante Fe. The six day event saw participants in different art disciplines from around the globe go through various symposiums, art exhibition and other features geared towards the goal of using art to enforce a social change.

The program saw the participants engaging in various discourses concerning art and how it can be used to create a positive social change. They also went on various tours like the Tour Wise Fool which is New Mexico’s mission to ignite imagination, build community and to promote social justice through performances and hands-on experiences in the arts of circus, puppetry and theater. There were a number of museum visits and other music programs as well.

Amongst the Resource Persons the group interacted with were Suzanne Seriff, Director of the Gallery of Conscience, the Art of Gaman at the Museum of nternational Folk Art, Nancy Judd, a local recycle artist, Alana Herrera, Education Assistant, SITE Santa Fe, Dr. Ann Filemyr, an Academic Dean, James Lujan, a Film Professor and Jon Davis, Creative Writing Chair. Dr Robert Martin, President of IAIA and Monique Anair of Film Tech also had sessions with the group.

The programme run from September 6th to 11th and Obuor will return home on September 21 2012.

The programme was sponsored by the US Department of State’s International Visitor Leadership Programme.

Citi FM Wins Africa’s Most Innovative Newsroom Award

Citi 97.3 FM has been adjudged the most innovative African newsroom in the use of digital media including online, social and mobile media in their news programs. This award comes a few days after the station’s flagship Eyewitness News was adjudged Radio Program of the year 2011 at the Chartered Institute of Marketing Ghana (CIMG) Awards. The Innovative Newsroom Award was presented at the 16th Telkom Highway Africa Awards 2012 at the Rhodes University in South Africa on Tuesday.

The judges considered the use of new media technologies to advance newsroom operations, increase reach and diversifying content as well as encourage social empowerment amongst marginalized communities through relevant topical community and/or African issues and innovative use of online media interactive platforms. They also considered how newsrooms highlight innovative and creative applications of technology for the benefit of the continent’s overall media development.

The award was presented to the Citi FM delegation at the conference, comprising Shamima Muslim, Anchor of Eyewitness News, Philip Kofi Ashon, producer of the Citi Breakfast Show and Vivian Kai Mensah of the Citi Business Desk. Citi 97.3 FM has successfully incorporated a mixture of social and digital media tools in its news coverage and interaction with listeners.

The station pioneered Google+ hangouts in its current affairs programs with high profile videoconferences with the NPP vice Presidential Candidate, Dr Mahamudu Bawumia and the PPP Presidential Candidate, Dr Papa Kwesi Nduom among others.

The station has a very interactive Facebook page, a highly active YouTube channel and regularly updates its news website www.citifmonline.com with videos and tweets regularly to its teeming body of followers. The award reinforces Citi 97.3 FM’s mantra “Relevant Radio Always”, and establishes it as a radio brand that goes extra lengths to meet the needs of its ever-growing listener base that are consuming news in increasingly new ways.

According to the organizers, the Highway Africa New Media Awards, sponsored by Telkom, reward innovative use of ICTs in journalism that serves Africa and its citizens. The awards were pioneered to highlight the role that ICTs play to enhance journalism and the media in the process of uplifting communities.

Credits: CitiFmonline

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