‘I want to sit on a mountain top and write’- Kojo Baffoe
“My poetry is deep…so deep it echoes words infinitely…so deep it drowns simple minds in tears…so deep it solves Africa’s problems in one verse…so deep it transcends racism and breaks down sexism.” This is how Kojo Baffoe, a dynamic African writer/poet and media consultant chooses to define his work in ‘The power of po’ taken from his book, ‘Voices in My Head – a collection of poetry’.
Born in Munich, Germany to a Ghanaian father and German mother, Kojo spent his formative years on the streets of Maseru, Lesotho; spent some time in Germany to get in touch with his Germanic roots; and ended up receiving his Bachelor of Commerce at the University of KwaZulu-Natal. The well-travelled and vastly knowledgeable Kojo has since had varied working experiences in a number of sectors including IT, fashion and cosmetics, and publishing. However, Kojo is more famed for his amazing gift of writing, whether as a poet or a writer of lifestyle issues and popular culture. He currently lives with his lovely wife and son in Johannesburg, where he is often referred to as ‘the love poet’. Jamati.com spoke to the ever-growing and ever-innovative writer/poet and media consulting extraordinaire about his life, poetry and gift as a writer. » Read more…
More Naija flavours on Channel O
Channel O’s “100% Naija” returns for its second season on DStv starting Monday February 9 at 20:00 CAT, and offering a fun-filled and unique look at Nigeria’s entertainment scene. Tana is the host of this fascinating look at the music, movers-and-shakers, taste-makers, fashionistas and more of Africa’s most populous country that is fast making a name for itself as a creative hotbed.
Samini to Rock Bob Marley Fest in Atlanta
Ghana’s most loved hiplife/dancehall performer, Samini will join a host of privileged artists from all over the world to mark the 4th Annual Bob Marley Celebrations in Atlanta, Georgia this weekend. The 4-day festival starts from February 4-7. Samini, who is currently touring Jamaica, will join international acts like Una Morgan, Laza, Shola Lewis, Kelly Love Jones, Carla C. Gomez, Ishmael Turner, Jah Bless, Dana Gilmore and Eastern Standard at Atlanta’s world famous Sugar Hill-Underground on Saturday, February 7, to celebrate the life and music of the reggae icon.
This would mark Samini’s first-ever performance in the US throughout his career and it has been made possible by Boogie Down Nima Productions (BDNP), an agency charged with marketing Samini to the American market. On March 14, Samini will continue his performances in the States, when he joins a host of other Ghanaian and African artists in an explosive celebration of Ghanaian music and culture in New York City during the Ghana @52 Independence Day Celebration Concert. » Read more…
The Rise of the 54 Kingdoms
Very often, in our quest to be trendy we lose some of the traditional essence that makes us African. These were elements that Nana Poku, who has over the years expressed his love and passion for Ghana through screen printing and embroidered images on t-shirts, decided to bring to bear when he started his clothing line. He teamed up with another Ghanaian, Kwaku A. Awuah, a young fashion entrepreneur to unleash 54 Kingdoms into the mainstream. With the duo’s burning passion to connect African and Caribbean cultures, they brought onboard Brey Golding, a Jamaican-American designer with several years of experience in the fashion business.
Today, 54 Kingdoms is a promising clothing company that aims to address the problem of cultural disassociation, using fashion as a means to create cultural inclusion. The team believes that as individuals migrate away from their native place of birth, reconnecting and identifying with people of similar heritage, culture, and ethnic background becomes significant. Therefore, 54 Kingdoms aspires to target this need of re-association and linkage within the African, African-American and West Indian communities via its motto, ‘identity through fashion’. Jamati.com met the team to find out more about the 54 Kingdom brand as well as to get some fashion tips for the young African man and lady.
» Read more…
Africa’s Got Talent!
Africans are making big moves all over the world showcasing our talent be it in music, film, writing, fashion or even in the business world. The world is about to embrace African talent from 52 African countries through a reality TV talent show set in Kenya this April. The show dubbed, ‘Africa’s World Best’ (AWB) is the first of its kind to bring together 60 Africans from Africa, Europe and USA into one house competing for one title with the biggest prize in the history of African TV at stake.
The show will involve talents such as singing, acting, performing arts, comedy, poetry, script writing, dressmaking, jewelery making, sculpturing, dancing and other unique talents. It will be hosted by the original Big Brother Africa winner and popular presenter, Cherise Makubale, from Zambia and East Africa’s TV personality, Gaetano Kagwa, from Uganda with international celebrity guest appearances in the live TV shows. Kenya’s rising hip-hop star, Kizzy, is set to present the extra show on AWB called ‘The Spin‘. This show will bring the audience exclusive behind-the-scene news, gossip and interviews with contestants, judges and other celebrities in the reality TV show. » Read more…
Ronny O, a new blood for African hip-hop
Good music is infectious; it is able to reach deep into your mind and connect with your soul or inner being no matter the genre of music. Ron Orleans Binder, alias Ronny O, is a Canadian based Ghanaian rapper who knew that he was made for the rap game from the moment he listened to the ‘Ruff Ryders’ First Lady: Eve’ album, at age 14.
Born in the heart of the Bronx and later relocating to Toronto due to his parents separating, Ronny O was able to acquire and make sense of the hip-hop culture surrounding him, and has carefully harnessed his experiences into a unique talent that reflects the pain, hardships and good times in his life. After appearing on over 25 mixtapes, Ronny O is readying his debut album ‘Celebrity Status’. The first single off the album, yet to be titled ‘Lazer Light’ or ‘Bus Stop’ features Akon’s new artist Gypsy Stokes and promises to be one of the most-talked-about albums of 2009. Jamati.com got into the creative space of this young rapper with a sharp sense of humor, to find out about his music and life. » Read more…
The Next Movie Star goes across West Africa
Nigeria’s most syndicated reality TV series; The Next Movie Star (NMS) can now be viewed on DSTV’s Africa Magic channel. Since its inception in 2005, NMS has produced three exhilarating seasons, which have seen the show transform from a Nigerian home-grown series into a West African hunt for acting talent.
The Agency, a hot new Kenyan series on M-Net
The world of advertising is always challenging, even more so in an African setting. This is the focus of the new Kenyan drama series, The Agency, recently launched on M-Net. From billboard brilliance to boardroom battles, the series is all about drama, and viewers of M-Net East on DStv can catch it every Tuesday at 19:00 CAT.
Set in the fast-paced, demanding world of advertising, featuring a stellar cast including veteran star David Mulwa and rising star Neewa Mawiyoo, The Agency is must-see local drama, filmed in Nairobi. M-Net’s first ever drama series created in Kenya, it is an explosive 13-part series from producers Peter and Paul Oyier of Sterling Quality Productions and directed by Ekwa Msangi-Omari. » Read more…
Introducing Village Huut
From the Garden City of Port-Harcourt, Nigeria comes Village Huut, a vibrant and dynamic music group made up of cousins Kenny Louis (Lou Kidd) and Stephen Onyibo (Decoy/ Kanscience). Bonded by their love and passion for music, the duo says they are on a quest to create music that blends traditional African music with contemporary Hip-Hop, and especially Reggae music.
Both artists have resided in Connecticut, United States, for the past four to five years where their musical proficiency has been harnessed and honed. Their goal is to take the Global music community by storm while staying true to their African, Caribbean, and American audience. They are currently working on their first independent album release, which will include a variety of known and upcoming artists, and scheduled to be released in Europe, North America and Africa. » Read more…
Kae Sun Signs to Urbnet Records
Ontario based Ghanaian singer/songwriter/poet Kae Sun has inked a licensing deal with Toronto’s venerable alternative and hip-hop label, Urbnet Records. Urbnet is home to Moka Only, Grand Analog and The Carps, among others. The agreement will see Kae Sun release his debut full-length album, ‘Lion on a Leash’ through Urbnet on August 25th 2009.
‘Lion on a Leash’ marks a change of direction with Kae Sun. In this set, Kae Sun turns to a more acoustic, urban-folk influenced sound. Flecks of Afrobeat, spoken word, gospel and hip-hop ebb and flow through Lion on a Leash, but all in all it is a more focused, folk-influenced collection. Emphasis is placed on simple chord progressions and political lyricism, in which Kae Sun discusses the concept of the human condition, from love to greed, injustice to poverty. The album is currently being recorded at Central Audio in Toronto and at Studio J in Hamilton, Ontario. » Read more…
R2Bees, Ready To Blow
R2Bees is best described as an urban hip-hop/hiplife collective fronted by Faisal Hakeem (Paedae da Pralem) and Rashid Mugeez (Mugeez). They started off as Camp Yard some 10 years ago, when a group of like-minded schoolmates with a common interest in the hip-hop movement of the 90s decided to test their skills against each other and ended up creating some original materials of their own. They have been on the underground since and, today, they rule Ghana’s hip-hop scene with two singles off their forthcoming debut album, ‘Da Revolution’.
The word R2Bees comes from the group’s mantra which is ‘refuse to be broke’, which has become some form of inspiration for the youth of Tema, the community where they grew up. With songs like ‘I dey Mad’ and ‘Yawa Girls’ making the rotation on Channel O, MTV Base and, soon, on Trace Africa; and the group’s desire to take on Africa, R2Bees are certainly one of the groups to watch out for in Africa this year. » Read more…
African Events Calendar
Upcoming Events
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July 14 - 17, 2010
Africa Fashion Week New York (AFWNY) in New York
USA - North East
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March 20, 2010
FACE Africa 1st Annual Gala
USA - North East
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March 11 -15, 2010
Sixth Annual New African Films Festival
USA - North East
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April 10, 2010
RUNWAY LIBERIA: Silver Spring,MD
USA - North East
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