P SQUARE WINS BEST AFRICAN ACT-MVA

BEST AFRICAN ACT VIDEO -P SQUARE "CHOP MY MONEY" 4SYTE TV MUSIC VIDEO AWARDS 2012

Samsung Partners Spinlet For Exclusive Access To Sarkodie’s Music

In line with its commitment of providing value to its customers, Samsung Electronics has partnered with Spinlet Digital Music, a music-streaming portal to prov

ide its customers with exclusive music tunes composed by its brand ambassador, Sarkodie. The partnership between Samsung and Spinlet will give users of Samsung Galaxy pocket Smartphone exclusive access to two of Sarkodie’s tracks, which they can download.

Within Spinlet, users can remotely store, manage and listen to African music of their choice from anywhere, using their mobile device. The portal also promotes social sharing with an interface that allows users to create accounts, make playlists and share their favourite titles, via Spinlet.

Business Head for Hand Held Products at Samsung, Jaspreet Singh commented, “our partnering with Spinlet is basically centred on access. We recently announced our brand ambassador, Sarkodie, to bring our customers closer to their favourite music icon. We want to give easy accessibility to our customers and Sarkodie’s fans, and continue to support the music industry by giving artistes a platform to market their songs. Sarkodie’s exclusive songs will be available for our customers to download though Spinlet application which is only on our Galaxy Pocket Smart phone’.

He added that ‘Samsung has been on the forefront of digital and design technology, developing new products and increasing its presence in all its markets. Our collaboration with Spinlet through Samsung Galaxy pocket comes with a pre-installed Spinlet application and access to two exclusive Sarkodie new tracks yet to be released. The performance of the Samsung Galaxy Pocket boasts of a processor with multi-tasking functionality, superfast 3G Internet, thousands of free application downloads and access to Spinlet with the touch of a finger. We are very excited about this particularly because our customers get more access to great music every time’.

Grateful to: Ameyaw Debrah

Daughters of Glorious Jesus return with 'Back2Back 2013'

For more than 20 years of dedicated life of inspiring gospel music lovers in Ghana and across the world, the sensational group Daughters of Glorious Jesus, have bounced back with a new concept to draw souls closer to God.

With ten albums and over 100 songs to their credit, the management of Daughters of Glorious Jesus on Tuesday launched “Back2Back 2013” aims at creating a platform for gospel music fans to enjoy thrilling soul-touching performances from the three sisters and many popular gospel artistes.

“The Back2Back concept, which we started from the beginning of this year with our first show on Sunday January 1st, has come to stay. Today we are launching the Back2Back 2013, which will be staged live on January 6, 2013,” Mr Theophilus Yartey, a management member of the group told the media at the launch.

Beginning their individual music careers in the early 1980s, Mr Yartey said, they became Daughters of Glorious Jesus in 1989, when one Reverend Akwasi Asare, saw the great talent and potential in them and gave them all the needed support.

Through the exceptional support of the Rev Asare, Daughters of Jesus recorded their first album in Europe in 1990. “Daughters of Glorious Jesus have sung in every major church programme and major churches in Ghana you can think of. We are proud and happy how God has used them to touch lives not only in Ghana but across the world,” Mr Yartey said.

Launching the Back2Back concert, Mr Samuel Attah-Mensah, Managing Director of Citi FM, a private local FM station, also traced the beginning of the gospel hit makers and urged them to tell their success story of staying together all these years by publishing a book.

Other gospel popular artistes on the bill for the Back2Back concert are Pastor Joe Beechem, Helen Yawson, the Tagoe Sisters and latest hit maker, Cwesi Oteng.

The concert, which will be staged a day before the swearing-in of Ghana’s next President on the January 7th, promises to thrill thousands of fans, including political party leaders and supporters.

The three daughters, Cynthia, Edna and Monica, who have promised to rock the Accra International Conference Centre once again, hinted at the launch that they would come out with another album next year.

Grateful to: GNA

'Single and Married' tops Ghana Movie Awards 2012 nominations

Organizers of this year's Ghana Movie Awards have released the final list of nominees and the movie Single & Married tops the list with 10 nominations.

Following closely is Grooms Bride with 8 nominations. Kobi Rana’s Hotel Babylon obtained the third highest nominations with 6, whereas Queen Latifa, Secret Burden and Wanna Be got 4 nominations each.

This year's event comes off on Sunday, 2nd December 2012 at the Accra International Conference Centre.

Son of the former Ghana President, Edward Agyekum Kufuor who has become an actor now grabbed a nomination in the Best Actor In A Support Role with his role in Tears of a Smile.

Below are full list of nominations:

BEST ACTOR IN A LEAD ROLE – ENGLISH LANGUAGE Van Vicker – Joni Waka John Dumelo – Queen Latifa Prince David Osei – Off The Hook Kofi Adjorlolo – Wipe My Tears Ekow Blankson – Secret Burden

BEST ACTRESS IN A LEAD ROLE – ENGLISH LANGUAGE Yvonne Nelson – Single & Married Martha Ankomah – Tears Of A Smile Jackie Appiah – Grooms Bride Nana Akua Addo – Wanna Be Yvonne Okoro – 3 Some Nadia Buari – Rain

BEST ACTOR IN A LEAD ROLE – LOCAL LANGUAGE Akwesi Boadi – Osofa Mafia Farida Mohammed – Gobana Kofi Adu – Agya Koo Trotro Driver Isaac Amoako – Saman Mogya Kwaku Manu – Area Boys

BEST ACTRESS IN A LEAD ROLE – LOCAL LANGUAGE Nana Ama Mcbrown - Nyankonton Vivian Jill – My Story Linda Abbey – Saman Mogya Tracy Boakye – Oh Vera Mercy Asiedu – Baby Face

BEST ACTOR IN A SUPPORT ROLE – ENGLISH LANGUAGE Adjetey Annan – Rain Majid Michel – Grooms Bride Rahim Banda – Wipe My Tears Edward Agyekum Kufuor – Tears Of A Smile Frank Artus – The Game Chris Attoh – Single & Married

BEST ACTRESS IN THE SUPPORT ROLE – ENGLISH LANGUAGE Kalsoum Sinare – 3 Some Anita Erskine – Single & Married Linda Awuku – Wanna Be Lydia Forson – In The Cupboard Christabel Ekeh – Wrong Target Nikki Samonas – Queen Latifa

BEST ACTOR IN A SUPPORT ROLE – LOCAL LANGUAGE Apostle John Prah – Osofo Mafia Kojo Nkansah – Kweku Saman Samuel Ofori – Oh Vera Bernard Opoku – Police Officer Ebenezer Donkoh – B14

BEST ACTRESS IN A SUPPORT ROLE – LOCAL LANGUAGE Naana Hayford – Odo Ntentan Fatima Osman – Gobana Rose Mensah – Fathia Fata Nkrumah Emelia Brobbey – My Story Matilda Asare – Ghana Police Ellen White – Saman Mogya

BEST ACTOR – AFRICAN COLLABORATION Kalu Keagwu – Shadow In The Dark Ramsey Nouah – Hotel Babylon Alex Usifo - Off The Hook Uti Nwachukwu – In The Cupboard Yemi Blaq – The Search Alex Ekubo – Lovelorn

BEST ACTRESS – AFRICAN COLLABORATION Ini Edo – In The Cupboard Patience Ozorkor – Untamed Rukky Sandra – The Search Nse Ikpe Etim – The Search Tonto Dikeh – Lovelorn Mercy Johnson – Wild Targer

BEST PICTURE – AFRICAN COLLABORATION Desmond Elliot & Caroline Danjuma – In The Cupboard Yvonne Nelson – Single & Married Abdul Sallam – Grooms Bride Andy Boyo – Untamed Kobi Rana – Hotel Babylon

BEST PICTURE Joni Waka – Van Vicker & Dr. Clarice Kulah-Ford Grooms Bride – Abdul Sallam Single & Married – Yvonne Nelson Trap In The Game – Frank Rajah Arase Ghana Police – Eugene Morrat Hotel Babylon – Kori Rana Secret Burden – Sellasie Ibrahim Wanna Be – Edmund Quarshie & Michael Odeka

BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY Single & Married – Kwame Awuah Hotel Babylon – Kobi Rana Joni Waka – Van Vicker Area Boys – Kwame Agyeman Grooms Bride – Adams Umar

BEST EDITING Grooms Bride – Enoch Opoku Hotel Babylon – Kobi Rana Single & Married – Ebenezer Sowatey B14 – Ninja Wanna Be – Afra Marley

BEST CUSTOME AND WARDROBE Queen Latifa – Mabel Germain Ghana Police – Monica Agboli & Nicolas Nsiah Return Of The Bukom Lion – De She Collections Fathia Fata Nkrumah – George Atobrah Grooms Bride – Samira Yakubu Secret Burden – Smarttys Management

BEST ART DIRECTION

Return Of The Bukom Lion Production Design: SHE Quartey Set Decoration: Richard Quartey

Fathia Fata Nkrumah Production Design: Jude Odoh Set Decoration: Bismark Gyamera

Rain Production Design: DJ Varga Set Decoration: DJ Varga

Ghana Police Production Design: Jones Agyeman Set Decoration: James Akwasi Wiafe

Single & Married Production Design: Pascal Amanfo Set Decoration: Bismark Nii Odoi

Secret Burden Production Design: John Izedonmi Set Decoration: Fusani Mamudu

BEST MUSIC ORIGINAL SONG Azonto Ghost – Bessa Destiny’s Child – Wilhelmina Abu Andani (Mimi) Single & Married – Abraham Affaine Wrong Target – Samuel Sarpong Fathia Fata Nkrumah – Adu Patrick

BEST DIRECTING – ENGLISH LANGUAGE Single & Married – Pascal Amanfo Grooms Bride – Frank Rajah Arase Queen Latifa – Kensteve Anuka In The Cupboard – Desmond Elliot Hotel Babylon – Kobi Rana

Grateful to: Viasat1NewsOnline

C-Real Set to Drop Debut Album ‘EMCEO’ on 1st December, 2012

The sharp increase in creativity around the world has brought the need for everyone to fasten his or her seat belt in order to meet the desire of the creative arts industry more effectively. C-Real is one superb Emcee who has braved the odds to deliver unparalleled quality with regard to his craft. He is also a poet, writer, producer and entrepreneur.

The Ghanaian lyricist has over the years carefully studied the trends of music globally and has discovered how best to meet up the task with unbeatable talent. C-Real first tasted stardom when he partook in the Sprite Emcee Africa competition reigning over his peers in Ghana emerging as the champion and securing himself the second spot on the Continent, even though he was tipped as the public’s favorite. He has never looked back.

The Emcee has churned out HipHop hits like “I Be Swag” with a supporting classy creative video. That Video was nominated for “4syte Music Video Awards 2011” as “Best HipHop Video”. One of his other videos that’s recently turned heads is the “Em.CEO” which has also been nominated for the MTN 4Syte Music Video Award 2012 as the “Best Hip Hop Video”. As a prelude to his upcoming album, he has released “It’s a Rap” and most recently a song titled “Kneel, Pray, Rise, Conquer” amongst others which has sparked a lot of speculation that the star might have shifted to gospel music.

This however is just one of the many ways the young icon would like his ever-increasing versatility to be known, as he has done something similar feeding the Global Azonto Craze with “Do the Azonto”. C-Real has put in the work and laid down all necessary structures to help the successful release of his much anticipated debut album. – “  EMCEO ”. His style of music has attracted so many fans and admirers as his delivery encapsulates deep, grilling, and thought-provoking and intricate rap lines. Something truly missing in Ghanaian Hiphop and music at large. The star is know in real life as Cyril-Alex Gockel and hails from Hohoe in the Volta Region of Ghana.

C-Real has deep veneration for excellence as he foresees his career going to the very apex. He believes in positivity and this has geared him on to do music from his heart and with the people in mind. The Emcee’s upcoming album has got him busy, as he believes it will be one of the best albums in Ghana currently.

C-Real is enveloped by his passion for music. Anytime he thinks, breathes and sleeps, he still has his Ghanaian HipHop in mind as he describes it as the future.

His welcoming nature has urged him to stay interactive with the fans and he encourages them to follow him on Twitter: @C_RealGH

The debut album features the likes of Songstress & Diva “EfYa”, Ace Producer and Songwriter “E.L.” as well as Chase, Jtown and Botswana’s own Emcee and BigBrother Africa Stargame contestant “Zeus”. The album with this host of stars will surely be something to look out for this Christmas season.

Grateful to: Frank Gyimah

Sarkodie 'no-show' at Joy FM 'Nite With The Stars' – Management Explains

Management of Hiplife heavyweight, Sarkodie, Duncwills Entertainment, has reacted to their artiste’s boycott of last Saturday's Joy FM’s 'Nite With The Stars' which came off at the Dome of the International Conference Center.

According to a press statement released by the management and signed by Sammy Forson, an armed group at the event threatened the multi-award winner together with music duo R2Bees. The incident, according to the statement, happened in their changing rooms while they were getting ready to get on stage.

The armed men apparently "broke" into the room and threatened that they disclose the whereabouts of fellow Tema-based artiste Kwaw Kese.

Duncwills Entertainment blamed their 'no show' on lack of or inadequate security during the brouhaha, following their complains to the organizers of the event.

Below is the full statement

With reference to recent development within the media and on other platforms following Sarkodie’s boycott of Joy FM’s Nite with the Stars organized Saturday 24 November 2012 at the Dome of the International Conference Center, I deem it right to set the facts straight.

Sarkodie arrived at the venue 2 hours earlier in high spirit and ready to thrill attendees and give fans one of his best showings in recent times. However, this became impossible after a confrontation between teams of Kwaw Kesse and VIP had gotten physical.

A group of armed individuals broke into the changing room of Sarkodie & R2bees threatening to get violent if we did not reveal the whereabouts of Kwaw Kesse.

We noticed a movement of several armed groups into the main auditorium and backstage for reasons we are yet to know. That became a huge concern for me and members of my team fearing what could happen when Sarkodie mounts the stage.

Fearing the escalation of the situation, as there weren’t enough security personnel to bring the situation under control, we indicated to members of the Joy FM team our concern, resolving of the fracas and the safety of Sarkodie, R2bees and management members.

Unfortunately we had to leave the show premises as nothing was done about the security situation and fearing the safety of my artiste Sarkodie, R2bees and others. This was an act and a decision taken not as a calculated attempt to tear down the show, rather due to the security concern.

However, we are more than willing to resolve this issue with the organizers of the Night with the stars event and hope they will grant us their platform to clarify issues going forward.

Sarkodie sincerely apologizes to our all attendees on the night and cherished fans who might have been let down by this act. Be assured that you are still and will always remain his number one priority and he is committed to thrilling you at all times.

Thank you

Sammy Forson Business Manager (Duncwills Entertainment)

Grateful to: Viasat1NewsOnline

Sadeeq Explains Blond Hair

Sadeeq, host of 30 Minitz Show on Viasat 1 TV, has been severely criticized after he started to appear on the show with blond hair.

It is difficult to explain why anyone would be concerned about what hair colour a TV host decides to sport but for weeks, the issue of why Sadeeq decided to go blond has remained one of the controversies in entertainment circles and generated rather interesting speculations.

NEWS-ONE caught up with Sadeeq and put the question directly to him on why he decided to go blond.

“Well with the type of things I do on TV, I appeal more to the younger generation and I just decided to go all out but in a responsible way.

I need to connect. I need to spark some creative and youthful energy in me. I was getting bored and I needed something new and hot.

“Fact is I have mostly worked in the media as a behind the scenes person and I was almost seeing myself as a corporate person due to the fact that my work makes me attend several corporate meetings with marketing executives, brand managers and what have you.

I wanted to strike a balance and that was what motivated me to do this. Something more creative; something more inspiring to spark some new energy,” Sadeeq explained.

Sadeeq, a final year student of the African University College of Communications (AUCC), is in his late 20s and when asked if his decision to go blond was not motivated by excessive youthful exuberance, he had this to say:

“I would not disagree with that school of thought but youthful energy in itself is not negative as long as it does not push you to become irresponsible.

If it is pushing me to become creative and do things that make me relevant in business and I am not going extreme, I would agree with that school of thought.”

30 Minitz is a power-packed entertainment programme that airs on Viasat 1 on Thursdays at 9:30pm, with a repeat broadcast on Saturday mornings.

It takes viewers into the studios of musicians and the behind-the-scenes events that go into the making of their music videos.

The show also explains how musicians collaborate to come out with their songs.

The show has entered its second season and Sadeeq reveals it would capture several international collaborations including R2Bees collaborating with Wizkid, Sarkodie and Davido.

Grateful to: News1