Feeds
6814 items (6814 unread) in 74 feeds
-
20sAvVy (73 unread)
-
A Fork in the Road (60 unread)
-
Accra books and things Weblog
(60 unread) -
Accra by Day & Night (224 unread)
-
Accra Conscious Forever (113 unread)
-
Accra Lady musings (29 unread)
-
Adventures from the bedrooms of African women
(83 unread)
-
Altius Tendo (31 unread)
-
ANTI-RHYTHM (517 unread)
-
Ato Kwamena Dadzie Latest Blog Articles
(222 unread)
-
AWDF (54 unread)
-
Baring Testament (49 unread)
-
Boakyewaa Glover (50 unread)
-
Border Crossings
(50 unread)
-
Christ for Creative People (9 unread)
-
Circumspect (139 unread)
-
Colleen's Ghanaian Adventure (42 unread)
-
Critical Point
(33 unread)
-
donaldiaba (23 unread)
-
dotFAF.com (77 unread)
-
Ethelcofie’s Thought-osphere
(15 unread)
-
Expression Poesy (60 unread)
-
Expressions in Words (106 unread)
-
From Technology in Tunis...to a Wireless WSIS (35 unread)
-
GHANA HYPE (111 unread)
-
ghana photojournalist nana kofi acquah (32 unread)
-
Ghana's Volta Region.
(1 unread)
-
Holli's ramblings (147 unread)
-
Home Sweet Home (42 unread)
-
I HEART ACCRA (54 unread)
-
ICTlog.net
(14 unread)
-
Ignorance,The Biggest Disease In Africa, Kills More Africans Than Any Other Disease. (25 unread)
-
In My Eyes (141 unread)
-
Kajsa H. A. (74 unread)
-
Kaleidoscope (10 unread)
-
Life...and living it (103 unread)
-
Like a naughty girl pulling her skirt up in public (87 unread)
-
MAKOLA LAW (6 unread)
-
Maya's earth (200 unread)
-
Mobile Africa (75 unread)
-
Moonlight expressions (23 unread)
-
Musings: Ben Hinson's blog (37 unread)
-
Mustaphamid.net
(48 unread)
-
my funny little frog (208 unread)
-
My World (58 unread)
-
Nana Kofi Acquah - Ghana Photographer (207 unread)
-
novisi (108 unread)
-
Nubian Cheetah (180 unread)
-
Nyani Quarmyne's Blog (43 unread)
-
Obroni Observations - An American Mom in Ghana (53 unread)
-
Oluniyi David Ajao (210 unread)
-
One Ghana, One Voice (216 unread)
-
Osabutey ANNY (34 unread)
-
Perspectives (29 unread)
-
Prince of Adovoria - The Voice of a Ghanaian Progressive (32 unread)
-
Rain in Africa (213 unread)
-
Ramblings of a Procrastinator in Accra (130 unread)
-
Ramblings of an African Geek
(14 unread)
-
Rose among Thorns (105 unread)
-
Sarpong Obed-ready to chew (162 unread)
-
SavingGhana (33 unread)
-
Tagoe Blogger (52 unread)
-
The English version of it all (253 unread)
-
tHe fLiRt FiLeS (137 unread)
-
The Gamelian World (42 unread)
-
The Trials & Tribulations of a Freshly-Arrived Denizen...of Ghana (146 unread)
-
This is Ghana (201 unread)
-
UNEXPECTED (14 unread)
-
WEB4AFRICA.INFO
(8 unread)
-
Welcome to Inspirare.. (46 unread)
-
WELCOME TO KUMASI, THE GARDEN CITY OF AFRICA (35 unread)
-
Wherever I Lay My Hat... (102 unread)
-
Why so serious? Blogs of a MIghTy African (220 unread)
-
Wo se Ekyir... (139 unread)
«
Expand/Collapse
(17 unread)
-
One-Dimple Girl
» tHe fLiRt FiLeS One-Dimple Girl, I can screw another one for you!
-
Are You Here?
» ANTI-RHYTHM A ‘Ghanaianism’ for “do you live/work here?” So, a young man in originally black or brown (can’t tell which) jeans walked up to me at Zenith Bank to ask. Maybe it was my ‘bankeresque’ snazzy suit. I aimed at him with my purest poker face, and then sneered, “If you can see me standing here, then I must be here!”div class="blogger-post-footer"img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/7564356874518161776-6093049304577212809?l=antirhythm.blogspot.com' alt='' //div
-
Update: Insider's Guide to Ghana
» This is Ghana We're cracking on the final legs now...br /br /Here's a list of more of the stuff in the guide:br /ulliThe best hotels, in their price range, across the country, with a focus on those outside the mainstream and those that are lesser known, but excellent value for money./li/ululliAt least 3 transport options per regional capital with all departure times and prices, and a very detailed explanation of how they work. /li/ululliIf you've ever traveled in Ghana you'll know that it's virtually impossible to get even one bus company's complete timetable, even when you visit them directly, let alone options for others to compare. This will give you total freedom to come and go at your convenience (we know there will still be issues, but this will take much of the planning hassle out of it) while traveling independently in Ghana./li/ululliA printable map showing connections between major and smaller destinations across the country so you can plan and trace your own journeys without having to know anything about Ghana before you arrive--it's all there for you./li/ulAnd loads more that we'll be updating over the next few days.div class="blogger-post-footer"Download a sample of the Insider's Guide to Ghana here: [www.g-lish.org] width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/8826326494207776999-6770052633545304060?l=gisforghana.blogspot.com' alt='' //divdiv class="feedflare" a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/ThisIsGhana?a=LDJHc7PjxGo:HJNPgfJOhno:yIl2AUoC8zA"img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/ThisIsGhana?d=yIl2AUoC8zA" border="0"/img/a a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/ThisIsGhana?a=LDJHc7PjxGo:HJNPgfJOhno:qj6IDK7rITs"img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/ThisIsGhana?d=qj6IDK7rITs" border="0"/img/a a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/ThisIsGhana?a=LDJHc7PjxGo:HJNPgfJOhno:gIN9vFwOqvQ"img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/ThisIsGhana?i=LDJHc7PjxGo:HJNPgfJOhno:gIN9vFwOqvQ" border="0"/img/a /divimg src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/ThisIsGhana/~4/LDJHc7PjxGo" height="1" width="1"/
-
Hatching an Egg in a New Nest
» dotFAF.com In the last month that I haven't posted a proper update, we've been busy completing the purchase of our first house and slowly turning it into a home.
The last time I mentioned our house hunt, nothing was going particularly well but we soldiered on with the next house we found albeit always with a fear that it might fall through at any moment.
Our fears of being stuck in the Ealing flat for longer than necessary didn't materialise as things suddenly sped up with the process in the lead up to Christmas. By the middle of December we already had moved and even managed to spend our first Christmas in our new house.
The house is further west into London not particularly close to anything but close enough to transport links and Heathrow airport for it not to be considered the "boonies". We're officially residents of the London Borrow of Hillingdon where almost all the houses we looked at over the previous year were situated in.
So here we are now, 8 weeks into home-ownership. A few thousand pounds spend of fixing things up and another few thousand of money we don't have due to be spent on making it ours but still with a huge sense of accomplishment. Of knowing that it would take something well and truly calamitous to f--k this one up.
As if starting the new year in a new house wasn't anxious enough, we're now 12 days away from the expected due date. Simply translated, Konkontibaa is due any moment from now. To put in far simpler terms, next month by this time, I'll be a father (stop giggling at the back!)
Not a day goes by without well-meaning people calling/texting/emailing to ask how you're doing and whether the baby was here yet. The general panic that ensues if you fail to respond within a set time is rather sweet. "Is he here yet?", "Are you at the hospital?", "Are you guys alright?". As if I wouldn't tell close family and friends about something like this!
Anyway, right after moving in, Efuwa's nesting instincts kicked in. If it weren't for the fact that we were literally living out of boxes she would have done the whole house by herself. It also didn't help that we we've been sharing the house with workmen and salesmen from kitchen, wardrobe and bathroom companies since day 1.
Baby Room: I yam penting de worlu
Strangely enough, the only people she seems to be able to tolerate in the house are the workmen (electrics, kitchen, floors, plumbing) and that's including me :p I hope she'll get on with her mum who's just arrived in the UK today to help with her first grand-child. I wouldn't want to be caught in-between the crossfires of any clash between these two.
So there's my long update. The next time you hear from me, I'll probably a new father and we'll be saying goodbye to Konkontibaa and saying hello to...
-
Kenya’s Tourism Industry is back a trip to Nairobi National Park
» Oluniyi David Ajao
Kenya’s tourism industry is back at full steam with earnings from tourism back to where they were before the 2007-2008 Kenyan electoral crisis. I watched Kenya’s Tourism Minister, Najib Balala, confirm the growth in an NTV news report a few days ago.
Information available from Kenya’s Ministry of Tourism website further confirms the sharp decline in 2008:
In the year 2008, the tourism sector in Kenya recorded one of its worst performances ever in real terms. The dismal performance was mainly occasioned by the post election crisis and the subsequent travel bans from the source markets. As a consequence, tourism earnings decreased by 19.2% from Ksh 65.2 billion in 2007 to Ksh 52.7 billion in 2008.
The tourist industry in Kenya is the second largest source of foreign exchange revenue after agriculture. Kenya’s services sector, which contributes about 63 percent of GDP, is dominated by tourism.
The new growth is partly a result of the Obama-effect. According to guardian.co.uk: Barack Obama heritage effect boosts African tourism industry
The 2008 election of Barack Obama, whose father was an immigrant from Kenya, appears to have led to a boom in so-called “roots tourism” among African Americans.
The World Travel Market Global Trends Report 2009 said Obama’s election “has resulted in a surge of popularity for Kenya especially amongst African Americans wishing to visit his ancestral village Kogelo where his grandmother still lives”.
Everything in this country appear to be geared towards making maximum income from tourism. Visa acquisition is easy and straight-forward. It is even available on-arrival to citizens of several countries. Hotels are in abundance as are the tourist attractions.
Giraffes inside Nairobi National Park, Kenya. Photo by Oluniyi David Ajao.
Nairobi National Park
I was privileged to visit Nairobi National Park last Saturday. According to Wikipedia:
Nairobi National Park is a national park in Kenya. It became Kenya’s first national park when it was established in 1946. It is located approximately 7 kilometres (4 mi) south of the centre of Nairobi, Kenya’s capital city, and is small in relation to most of Africa’s national parks. Nairobi’s skyscrapers can be seen from the park. The park has a large and varied wildlife population. Only a fence separates the park’s animals from the city. Migrating herbivores concentrate in the park during the dry season. It is one of Kenya’s most successful rhinoceros sanctuaries.
The park was pretty exciting. My only problems were:
- $50 entry fee for non-residents. Kenyans pay something much lower, and in their local currency. The gap is too wide.
- Much of the road in the park is un-tarred. This made it very dusty and uncomfortable making one having to hurriedly close the window severally.
- I was depressed after the 3 hour-trip because I was not lucky to have seen lions.
In my view, Ghana and Nigeria have a lot to learn from Kenya’s tourism industry. I still have much more days here and so would keep exploring the sights and sounds of Kenya.
Recommendations on where to visit are welcomed in the comments area.
Barack Obama heritage effect boosts African tourism industryRelated posts:
- Erik introduces iHub @ Skunkworks in Nairobi, Kenya I was privileged to be at last night’s Skunkworks...
- Nigeria: Low level of Local Tourism Blogspiration doesn’t come easy. Whenever I am inspired with...
- Kenya: Mobile Web East Africa 2010. Free MobileWorld magazines. Nairobi, Kenya – Mobile Web East Africa, an event...
- West Africa: What is NOSPETCO?, Aid Does Not Work, Dogon Architecture and Tourism As A Therapy It has been quite a while since I reproduced...
- The impact of submarine connectivity on West Africa’s web hosting industry I would be delivering a presentation at the up-coming...
- Earthquake in East Africa: Congo DR, Tanzania, Kenya, Burundi affected Earthquake in East Africa: Congo DR, Tanzania, Kenya, Burundi affected...
- President Obama in Ghana. Why not Nigeria? From the moment the US government released information that...
- Kakum Canopy Walkway in Ghana – A Tourist’s Experience A few friends were in Ghana last December. After...
- Sighting Mount Kilimanjaro We were cruising at an altitude of about 34,000...
- Barack Obama: Yes We Can! I couldn’t stop the tears of joy streaming down...
-
Double dealer
» 20sAvVy You show me your teeth
But I can’t be sure
If it’s a smile
Or a gnarl
-
Akon – Oh Africa (feat. Keri Hilson)
» Oluniyi David Ajao
Music video by Akon performing Oh Africa. (C) 2009 Universal Motown Records, a Division of UMG Recordings, Inc. and I.G. Records, Inc.
Related posts:
- Akon’s Pot of Gold Towards the end of the year 2005, I came...
- Another Fibre Optic Cable Internet Connectivity for Africa It appears Internet connectivity on the African continent especially...
- Why I blog about Africa I recently got tagged by a fellow blogger at...
- Africa Magic Yoruba launches; a 24-hour Yoruba channel on DSTV Africa Magic Yoruba and Africa Magic Hausa launched today...
- New TV Channel for Africa This is interesting. An AFP report: Africa is mulling...
- Big Brother Africa 3 [2008] The 3rd edition of the popular reality TV series...
- Africa Magic Plus – Multichoice’s newest channel I have often wondered why Multichoice did not name...
-
A Sweet Tale of Trekking to Tema with a Unsung "Mate"
» The Trials & Tribulations of a Freshly-Arrived Denizen...of Ghana 
Last night, I made the not-so-obvious mistake of boarding a "Nungua/Bush Road" tro-tro which I assumed would take me through the famed Spintex Road and on my way home. Given the traffic build-up, I found it no news at all to see that the trotsky (as some commuters so affectionately call this form of transport) had turned to take the motorway.
Now, these drivers like shortcuts--a lot, so it was very surprising to see that the usual shortcut that the trotskys pass to get to the Spintex Road had been by-passed by this driver in question.
There we were: some eighteen Ghanaian citizens rocking and rolling (our eyes in disbelief on account of the traffic!) through the night and streetlamps that line up the 46-year old Tema motorway when suddenely I realised that we just would not stop. I kept on harrassing the dosy "mate" (that's the guy who collects the fares) as to when we could hit the Spintex Road, but I noticed after a while that his elusiveness did not just precede him, but it was him: he just was so taciturn it was not funny. As I tried to speak to him in twi, he was practising his relatively good English on me. After speaking that language the whole day at work, I just wanted to fall into vernacular. I guess that's what irritated me all the more. I thought of all the things I could say to him, but held my tongue.
Good thing I did too, because it is this same "mate" who would eventually open up and give me directions how to get back to the Spintex road after we alighted at a TOTAL filling station on the Baatsonaa road, near ECOBANK. All this--not without passing through what I came to find out was Community 18 of the Tema metropolis!
It certainly was a long night.
Did I say it's good to be back some three weeks later (mostly spent planning the year!!)?;-) Well it is! And I sure do hope more regularly, too.
Given that this month is exactly 5 years since I started blogging, it behooves me to come up with some surprises, which I'll keep tightly under my sleeves--for now!
-
Bright Lights of Accra! Big Dreams for Order!
» Accra by Day & Night 
Who needs streetlamps when you can get the lights of cars stuck in bumper-to-bumper traffic have theirs reflect and refract over all kinds of lights to create this mosaic of colours?
If there is anything I like about Accra is its singular ability to give you something to talk about!
I haven't even talked about these taxi-drivers waiting for passengers in a zone that has clearly been marked for them to remain only for two minutes!
This kind of cavalier attitude does not only come down to illiteracy (frankly, most taxi drivers are not!) but an obstinacy to not conform to order!!
But I still love Accra!;-)
-
Ghana Loves Haiti concert.
» Maya's earth I did promise to update you on how to help the Haiti victims from Ghana. A concert was held about ten days ago at Alliance Francaise with a fantastic lineup. Unfortunately I missed it because someone decided 21:00 was a more fun bedtime than 19:30, but read about Kajsa's rather exciting experience here.
The Haiti Earthquake Relief Fund Ghana informs me that there's a Ghana Loves Haiti relief concert being held this Saturday at the International Conference Centre from 19:30. For further information check their facebook page where there is also information on how to donate money by texting.
Of course after hearing how long it is taking to get help to the victims and after reading Holli's criticisms of the corruption that goes on where disaster strikes, some of my inital enthusiasm at giving money to those in need is now lost.
-
Free MobileWorld magazines @ Mobile Web East Africa conference
» Mobile Africa Nairobi, Kenya – Mobile Web East Africa, an event that focuses on “harnessing the potential of the internet and applications on mobile devices”, starts tomorrow 3rd February 2010 and ends on 4th February 2010, at Intercontinental Hotel in Nairobi.
The innovative event already has a long roll-call of speakers and facilitators, and has special round-table sessions that would enable every delegate to participate in the discussions. The official website for Mobile Web East Africa is at www.mobileeastafrica.com
The first 40 delegates would receive a free copy of the current edition of MobileWorld magazine, courtesy Mobile Africa.
Mobile World delivers cutting edge mobile communications news, information technology, reviews, essential tips, and information on existing and new equipments, gizmo’s, gadgets and provides a fresh perspective on current events as relevant within the global communications market.
The current edition of MobileWorld magazine
The current edition includes:
- Nigeria hits 67 million subscribers …now Africa’s No. 1 telecoms market – ITU (cover story)
- Ndukwe is Nigeria’s Father of Telecom Revolution
- Midwifing a knowledge-driven economy, the MTN example
- Lagosians endorse Multi-Links Telkom’s Ev-Do Product & Services
- Safaricom launches Dynamic Discount tariff
- Zain, EMS and RIM introduce the Blackberry Solution in Ghana
- Vodafone, Zain, MTN, Tigo, Glo Mobile and their competition in Ghana by Oluniyi David Ajao
- and much more…
MobileWorld magazine is a publication of Instinct Media, a UK-based publisher.
-
Kenya: Mobile Web East Africa 2010. Free MobileWorld magazines.
» Oluniyi David Ajao
Nairobi, Kenya – Mobile Web East Africa, an event that focuses on “harnessing the potential of the internet and applications on mobile devices”, starts tomorrow 3rd February 2010 and ends on 4th February 2010, at Intercontinental Hotel in Nairobi.
The innovative event already has a long roll-call of speakers and facilitators, and has special round-table sessions that would enable every delegate to participate in the discussions. The official website for Mobile Web East Africa is at www.mobileeastafrica.com
The current edition of MobileWorld magazine
The first 40 delegates would receive a free copy of the current edition of MobileWorld magazine, courtesy Mobile Africa.
Mobile World delivers cutting edge mobile communications news, information technology, reviews, essential tips, and information on existing and new equipments, gizmo’s, gadgets and provides a fresh perspective on current events as relevant within the global communications market.
The current edition includes:
- Nigeria hits 67 million subscribers …now Africa’s No. 1 telecoms market – ITU (cover story)
- Ndukwe is Nigeria’s Father of Telecom Revolution
- Midwifing a knowledge-driven economy, the MTN example
- Lagosians endorse Multi-Links Telkom’s Ev-Do Product & Services
- Safaricom launches Dynamic Discount tariff
- Zain, EMS and RIM introduce the Blackberry Solution in Ghana
- Vodafone, Zain, MTN, Tigo, Glo Mobile and their competition in Ghana by Oluniyi David Ajao
- and much more…
MobileWorld magazine is a publication of Instinct Media, a UK-based publisher.
Related posts:
- Mobile Web East Africa 2010 for Nairobi Kenya Mobile Web East Africa takes place between 3rd and...
- Mobile Web East Africa 2010 Photos Mobile Web East Africa 2010 conference photos. Click on...
- Audio Streaming on Mobile Africa Audio streaming has now been enabled on Mobile Africa....
- African Mobile Marketing & Advertising Summit 2008 Lagos is playing host to Africa’s first Mobile Marketing...
- Erik introduces iHub @ Skunkworks in Nairobi, Kenya I was privileged to be at last night’s Skunkworks...
- My expectations of Glo Mobile Ghana Glo Mobile is very likely to be launched in...
- Vote for your African Telecom Company of the Year! MobileWorld magazine, a leading telecommunications publication, which focuses on...
- A review of MTN Nigeria Mobile Broadband service I picked-up an MTN Nigeria mobile broadband kit recently...
- Vodafone, Zain, MTN, Tigo, Glo Mobile and their competition in Ghana With the entry of international telecoms giant Vodafone into...
- Free Midnight Calls: Are they worth it? Free midnight calls as offered by cellular network operators...
-
Work Blog
» Rain in Africa 
Just to let you know I have incorporated my favorite pasttime, blogging, into my work. *drumroll* I p r o u d l y p r e s e n t
Social Theory Blog
a classblog for Social Theory, one of the courses I teach at Ashesi University this semester. Follow it if you want to (re)discover social and political philosophy.
Or just know what I do for a living.
In the picture Socrates is emptying his cup of poison with some ironic words about that citizenship entails following state decrees, even if those decisions kills you.
UPDATE: I'VE NOW FIXED THE LINK, SORRY FOR THE INCONVENIENCE!
-
The music maestro Kojo Antwi in concert (Museke)
» Why so serious? Blogs of a MIghTy African 
I've always wanted to attend a Kojo Antwi concert. Every time he had one of those 24th night shows in Accra, I was in Kumasi with my family for Christmas. So when I saw the poster for his 2009 festive season concerts, I wished he'd be in Kumasi as well. My brother pointed out to me that he'll be live at Golden Tulip Kumasi City Hotel on the 26th of December. I was not going to miss out. Yes, I wasn't going to attend the concert with my girlfriend like I always planned but I was going to be there to sing along to all of Kojo Antwi's songs. Kojo Antwi is arguably the biggest Ghanaian musician ever. He's the music maestro, Mr. Music Man. He's awesome, his rasta is evermore and his music is timeless.
I had heard from an aunt that Kojo Antwi never showed up early for his concerts. It's not his fault, African musicians never show up on time. It's almost an accepted practice. Have some opening acts clear the way, have your fans wait and anticipate your grand entry and then come send them into delirium for a short but frolicking time. I decided I'll arrive at the venue at 10:30 instead of the 8pm advertised. I had heard the ticket cost 30GhC so you can imagine my happiness when I arrived and the ticket master said VIP cost 30 and regular cost 20. I bought 3 20GhC tix for me, my brother and cousin. We paid, entered and sat at places reserved for VIPs anyway. Why? I was going to blog about this awesome event that I had to be given a break. So that was it, saving 30 Ghanaian cedis, approx $21.
At 10:30pm, no one was performing or had performed. The promoters had a projector screen showing some reggae band performance, and these reggae raggamuffins didn't look familiar. The seats were all filled and we waited and waited. One person got up and shouted 'Tsooboi', as if to rally the attendees to force some musicians to come unto stage. Advertised opening acts were Wutah, Flavour, Okomfo Kwaadee, etc. Kwaadee is very popular in Kumasi, Flavour's Ashawo has been one of the most played songs in Ghana recently and Wutah (one of my favorite Ghanaian groups) had returned from obscurity in a big way with the chart-topping Kotosa, which still doesn't have a video. If you are counting/scoring/recording at home, Wutah hasn't made music videos for Goosy Gander, Esikyire (Change your style), Big Dreams or Kotosa. And these are their four biggest hits in their entire career. Wutah came to perform around 11:30 and were the only group to perform before Kwadjo Antwi. The audience was too pissed to give Wutah the support they needed. They gave a good account of themselves and the audience danced and sang along.
By the time Kojo Antwi appeared, the audience had warmed up and warmed up to giving the musicians their support. The maestro started with some old school hits, Akonoba, Menya ntaban, Dadie anoma, Meto nko, Afofanto, Me dofo pa, Tom and Jerry Aware, etc. Kojo Antwi is a great singer and performer. He was backed a full band and one of her back-up singers was Dela (one-time Mentor contestant and singer of Fever, Odo and the soundtrack to the Heart of Men movie). The audience sang along, they knew most of the lyrics. We must thank Museke.com for that and Kojo himself for putting lyrics to many of his songs in his CD packets.
I loved it when he had some people in the audience come up stage to sing Amirika. He was organizing a singing competition in front of people who had paid to come see him sing. No one was complaining. Some people in Kumasi can sing though. But wait, the women! Shiee wow. The ladies were dressed to kill and there were some fine fine ladies at the concert. Ghana mmaa hoɔ fɛ na wɔn ho nso twa ampa!
Sonti Ndebele, a South African singer who featured on Menya Ntaban, performed a tribute to Mama Africa Miriam Makeba. After the concert, I greeted her saying 'Sawubona'. Nana Yaa (Pat Thomas' daughter), who has done a lot of duets with Kojo Antwi on his later albums came on stage too. She's such an awesome singer! I asked her when her solo debut would be out, and she said 'February'. We'll see. Together with Kojo, they sang Amirika, Do me wu, Odo a medo wo, Densu, etc.
Kojo Antwi has a new album out called Mwaaah. I've bought the CD and it's super, just like all Kojo Antwi albums. He performed some songs from Mwaah, including Happy anniversary, Adiepena, Sho' naa (features Meiway), Ice Cold, etc. I can't stop listening to Adiepena, it's magnificent. Happy Anniversary is supposed to a song for married couples to celebrate wedding anniversaries. Kojo may have come late but he performed for more than 2 hours!
Kojo Antwi was recently adjudged Artist of the Decade at the Ghana Music Awards. He deserves it and may challenge for the title of Ghana's best musician ever. I managed to get a picture with him even though my camera was indisposed at that time. I had to get a moment with the Maestro. I also met Kojo Antwi's wife, Rocklynn. Yes, he composed a song with her name. How sweet! Kojo Antwi, kudos to you! Keep on making great music and lifting the flag of Ghana high! You're the best. Thanks for a magnificent concert!
Blog originally written on Museke.com
-
Poetry/Prose: Back To When
» Circumspect 
To days when yes was yes, and no was no, and maybe made sense even when the month wasn't May and there were no bees to be found.
To the final run of teeth through school girl hair in anticipation of seven o'clock when cartoon network assumed its rightful place on GTV.
To afternoons watching "Hindi Movie" while munching on rice and beans, with salad, spagetti, gari and everything in between.
To vacation classes that had less to do with science and math and more to do with mingling with boys-boys, girls-girls and a cross-section of the two.
To waiting in restless anticipation for the weekend in order to escape school. And then waiting in anticipation for Monday to return to school.
To kingsbite chocolate, nkate boga, and coke; worthy prizes for good behavior, hardwork, and treats from visiting family and friends.
To times when internal rivers gushed over things like who got to sit at which dining table chair and who got to be (claim) which power ranger
To moments when it was perfectly normal for siblings to fight like cats and dogs and immediately resume collaborative mischief against everyone else
To the morning rush to call shot-gun, sit up front and decide who could read the Daily Graphic, Junior Graphic and Spectator first
Back to when.
When the simple things counted.
When life was all play and tears were momentary lapses.
When being troublesome was the norm, and being "good" the exception
When mistakes were okay and ego barely known
When laughter and smiles were abundant regardless of strife
When kids could be kids - acting grown-up, without actually being it.
Back to... when?
Yea. Sure seems like a distant memory, doesn't it?
--
Photo 1 Photo 2
-
Discussing Akon's charity single 'Oh Africa'
» Why so serious? Blogs of a MIghTy African 
When I was notified of Akon's new video, Oh Africa, I was intrigued by the song's name. Oh Africa? What did Africa do again? Is Akon going to lambast us? Shouldn't he be on our side, praising the motherland? Is it a public service announcement? I hope it's a song from his upcoming album. Well, it turns it is a 'charity single' and he does praise Africa in this video. This new video is geared towards the upcoming World Cup in South Africa and he sings "This is our time to shine, our time to fly". It surely is. I don't know why he's hiding the music video he made for Mama Africa. Trust me, I know the video has been shot. I know people who have the video on their computers. I hope the Mama Africa video is finally released this year. Kudos to Akon for 'Oh Africa' and continuing to rep the motherland big!
The video features Akon and Keri Hilson singing 'Oh Africa' with a host of other people. We see a choir dressed in 'some South African apparel', which clearly notes that this video is about South Africa as much as it is about Africa. Later on, we see Didier Drogba and Fernando Torres shooting soccer balls. We surely can't wait for the World Cup, it's going to be a spectacle. We see soccer fans with their faces painted with colours of different nations. The only African countries I remember seeing were Nigeria, South Africa and Egypt (huh! Egypt? angry smile). At the end of the video, we see a painting showing many world soccer stars. The only African amongst them is Didier Drogba. Ivory Coast is tipped as one of the favorites so this makes sense but I wonder if space couldn't be created for Samuel Eto'o and Michael Essien. We shall see :-)
Watch the video here
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YI4sDx6SGwA
So the video is a charity single and is recorded for a new Pepsi football TV commercial for the brand's worldwide campaign "Refresh Your World," which is based on enabling youth to make a positive change in the world. 9ice! The song was premiered just before the Grammy's and the proceeds will benefit underprivileged African youth, including Akon’s Konfidence Foundation. It features the Soweto Gospel Choir and 16 young singers from around the world as well. The video is directed by Gil Green, who also directed the 'Mama Africa' video.
My biggest issue with the video/song is - why is Keri Hilson the other singer? I know MissKeriBaby was in South Africa recently and she loved it so she must be 'in love with Africa' now. Still, Akon, this was a chance to showcase Africa and you choose Keri Hilson? Not even say, Estelle, who's also from Senegal? How about Asa, Ayo, Lira, Zamajobe, Becca? They are all from countries going to the World Cup abi? Akon, you no try. Now out of konviction, do a remix, quick. I want the following people in the video - Samini, Lira, Asa, Blick Bassy, Cheb Khaled and Teeyah. In fact, Akon, how about you do an album with a bunch of African artists? Shouldn't be that hard. Just take your collabos with Senegal's Viviane, Nigeria's Shank, Ghana's Sway, do a few more and compile into an EP.
More props to Akon for doing this though. Keep on repping Africa!
Here are the lyrics for Oh Africa by Adel Ali.
I know that we have to take it to the goal ’cause everyone is depending on we
see we ain’t got nowhere to go but, it’s our destiny
we’re choosing nowhere, we’ll do what it takes to get to the top of the highest mountain
we’ll do anything, we got to prove ourselves ’cause we know
OH AFRICA
see we’ll never be able to forget this day ’cause it’s the greatest day of our life
see no matter what happens at least we can say “we came, we saw, we tried”
www.musicloversgroup.com
we’re choosing nowhere, we’ll do what it takes to get to the top of the highest mountain
we’ll do anything, we got to prove ourselves ’cause we know
OH AFRICA
This our time to show, our time to fly, our time to be inside the sky
our time to so, our time of song
the last one in football
-
0:00 Ready to shame Lugard?
» Ato Kwamena Dadzie Latest Blog Articles I just read this excerpt from a book written by Lord Frederick John Dealty Lugard. He is a former colonial master and a dormitory at Achimota School ndash; Lugard House ndash; is named after him. ldquo;In character and temperament, the typical African of this race-type is a happy, thriftless, excitable ...