GHANA MUSIC AWARDS CONTROVERSIES STARTS- Checkout The Headlines

Is it Adult Musik or not? — Kwabena Kwabena explains

Credit: Daily Graphic- Ghana

Smooth highlife musician, Kwabena Kwabena, appears to be of two minds about his hit song Adult Musik.

Smooth highlife musician, Kwabena Kwabena, appears to be of two minds about his hit song Adult Musik.

Last year, when the song made its debut, it was largely believed that Kwabena Kwabena was being careful not to hurt public sensitivity by categorizing the song as 18+, the reason behind the title Adult Musik. 

But that does not seem to be the case. The song is now virtually on air at all times without regard to its strong lyrics and sexual undertones and Kwabena Kwabena says he does not regret that Adult Musik is now free for all. 

“I am quite comfortable with the manner most radio stations play my music. Yes, the title of the song suggests that they are for adults but I don’t really get worried when I hear it being played on air at times when I know most children are likely to be listening”, he told Showbiz last Tuesday.

“I used what I call ‘naked’ language in my music so it will be very difficult for children to understand what I am saying. In an African society likes ours, adults always have a way of coding their messages during conversations if it is not for the ears of children. 

“I perceived during the composition of this song that I may not have control over the various radio stations on when to play so I had to put my adult message in a way that only they would understand” he said.

Kwabena Kwabena said he is optimistic that his Adult Musik would grab the Song of the Year at this year’s Ghana Music Awards considering its popularity and the success it chalked in the year under review.

When asked how he will feel when his song is disqualified for the use of explicit language which has seen other artistes like Samini and R2Bees face such fate in the past, Kwabena Kwabena dismissed the suggestion that Adult Musik may be categorised as profane.

“What is profane about this song? Adult Musik is not profane and it has never crossed my mind that the Music Awards Select Committee will disqualify it. When that happens, they would probably need to explain and convince me beyond all reasonable doubts that Adult Musik is sexually explicit”.

He however contradicted himself when he remarked,   “I labelled my song Adult Musik so I don’t expect anyone below the age of 18 to listen to it. In the film industry, there are movies that are labeled 18+; does that mean they are pornographic?” he queried.

 He said that his fans should expect another master piece like Adult Musik from him this year.

Loose Women star Jamelia has been slapped with a driving ban and fined £500 after she was caught driving without insurance.

Credits: Daily Mail Reporter

The 32-year-old singer broke down when she told the court she thought it would be renewed automatically.

She struggled to compose herself in the dock as she begged Redditch magistrates on Monday not to ban her from the roads for 45 days, insisting she needed her Ford S-Max Titanium TDCi to drive her two daughters to school.

The court heard how police stopped the Brit-award winner on the A491 in Hopwood near Bromsgrove, Worcs, and found she wasn't insured on August 24.

She told them she had bought her last policy online and presumed it would be renewed annually.

Officers also found her £25,000 car had two tyres with insufficient tread and a third with a lump, bulge or tear.

Two years ago actress Donna Air was cleared of fraudulently applying for a parking permit to avoid paying more than £5,000 in on-street parking charges for her Mini Cooper.

She already had a parking permit in London's Westminster when she applied for another in Kensington and Chelsea two years ago.

Jamelia, who also appeared in Wednesday's Great Sports Relief Bake off, attended court on Monday under real name Jamelia Davis.

She pleaded guilty to driving a motor vehicle without third party insurance and for having two tyres with insufficient tread and a third with a lump, bulge or tear.

Magistrates handed her a 45-day driving ban and also fined her £455 and ordered to pay £60 in costs.

Chair of the bench Peter Jewell told her: 'This could have been very dangerous - driving a car in this condition - especially for your children.

'We recommend that you find someone to look at your car as soon as possible.'

The mum-of-two had tearfully asked JPs not to ban her from the road claiming she had no friends or family who could take her 12-year-old Teya and Tiani, eight, to school

Despite earning £80,000 before tax last year Jamelia claimed her unreliable income meant she could not afford to pay £70-a-day taxi for her two children.

She said a self-employed, freelance, singer, television presenter and actress could not guarantee where her next pay cheque would come from.

Jamelia also argued there were no available school bus services and her daughters would be forced to catch the train and walk a five-mile round trip everyday to school.

The popstar was born in Smethwick, Birmingham, and began her professional music career in 1999.

She released three studio albums which have all reached the Top 40 in the UK and had eight top ten singles in the British chart.

Her biggest hits Superstar and Thank You charted at number three and number two on the UK Singles Charts respectively.

She has been a frequent guest on the satirical music panel show Never Mind the Buzzcocks and has been a regular panelist on ITV1 chatshow Loose Women since November last year.

Touching moment CNN reporter broke down in tears after learning her brother had won best actor Oscar nomination for 12 Years A Slave

• Zain Asher, a financial news reporter for CNN, became emotional as she spoke about her brother and his years of hard work
• British actor Ejiofor, 36, is up against Matthew McConaughey, Christian Bale, Bruce Dern and Leonardo DiCaprio for the award

Credits: Daily Mail Reporter

A CNN reporter has broken down with pride during a television interview after learning that her brother, Chiwetel Ejiofor, has been nominated for the Academy Award for Best Actor.

Zain Asher's heartfelt reaction surprised her colleagues - not least because many didn't even know she was related to the 12 Years a Slave actor.

'This is a day my family has been hoping and waiting for for such a long time,' Asher, a financial news reporter, told fellow CNN host Carol Costello after the network got wind of the connection.

'He’s been acting since he was thirteen years old, and he's worked so hard for this.'

As she described how her brother would spend hour after hour reciting lines of Shakespeare in his bedroom, she became emotional with pride.

'Chiwetel - he's been acting since he's 13 years old and - oh my god! I told myself I wasn't going to cry,' she said through tears and laughter. 'I do feel so emotional now.'

She added: 'He's someone who's really dedicated and an actor's actor. He's been acting for over 20 years, and so to finally see recognition for his work - I can't even describe the feeling.'

The 36-year-old English actor has worked on many box office hits in the past - from Love Actually to American Gangster - but 12 Years a Slave has garnered him new recognition. 

He was also nominated for a Golden Globe for his depiction of the film's lead character, Northup, but he missed out to Matthew McConaughey.

He will battle McConaughey, who starred in Dallas Buyers Club, again for the Best Actor Oscar on March 2, as well as Christian Bale, Bruce Dern and Leonardo DiCaprio.

'There's so many amazing actors and so he's in good company,' Asher said. 'I wasn't really sure when I was watching the nominations what was going to happen.'

She said that her brother, who is in bed getting over an illness, was also unsure about his likelihood of getting a nomination.  

'When we spoke last night he was a little bit nervous because there were just so many amazing people nominated this year,' she said.

Ejiofor released a statement following his nomination.

'At no point during filming, in the sweltering heat of New Orleans, did any of us ever foresee the journey this film would take us all on,' he said.

'Steve McQueen created an entire family to tell one man's tale and I am delighted that so many of this family have also been recognized today. I am hugely grateful to the Academy for this great honour, and, of course, to Solomon Northup for sharing his story through his breathtaking book.'