Introducing Nana NYC: Ghana’s Gift to New York
Nana Yaw Boateng, alias Nana NYC, is a US based Ghanaian artist making huge waves among Ghanaian communities in US and Europe. Born in Accra, he spent a few years in Kwahu before migrating to the United States in 1992. He found his love for music early and started playing drums in the church. As a young boy living in the small town of Mpraeso, he was exposed to live band music on the streets every other weekend and at times at funerals. All these honed his passion for music.
Samini brings the heat to 15 cities beginning with New York
Ghana’s rising reggae/dancehall star, Samini recently shared the stage with several international stars at the 2009 Bob Marley Fest in Atlanta, and is currently preparing to kick-start his first major US concert for the Ghanaian community.
Tic Tac still strong after 10 years
One of Africa’s most prolific hip-hop artists, Tic Tac, has launched his 6th album titled, ‘The Tenth Day’ to mark his 10th year in the game. He describes his new album as a classic. “It is lyrically strong. Production wise, it’s second to none and I think it is a fantastic and classic album”. It also features collaborations with Keynote (Nigeria), Tinny, Okyeame Kwame and Asem; with productions by Seven, Jam Master J, Quick Action and several others.
Music meets Football at CAF Awards
The 2008 Glo CAF Awards held in Lagos, Nigeria Tuesday, was a marriage between some of the best footballers in Africa and some top-notch African musicians. The glitzy award ceremony hosted by Christopher Bongo and Bimbo Oloyede was not all about honoring the best footballers and teams on the continent; it was splashed with delightful performances by great African musicians like Yvonne Chaka Chaka of South Africa, King Mensah of Togo and the amazing Yossou N’ Dour.
Nigeria’s dynamic R&B duo P-Square, Ishmael from South Africa and a host of other musicians also joined the train to put some life into the otherwise boring ceremony filled with long speeches and technical hitches. Perhaps the organizers should have paid a little more attention to the technical issues such as cueing playbacks properly, checking microphones et cetera instead of turning the event into a promotional campaign for Glo, the title sponsors of the awards. » Read more…
‘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…
Mampi Disappoints Malawi
Zambian representative to the Big Brother Africa III singer, Mampi, disappointed Malawian fans when she failed to appear on the Malawi Freedom Day Music Explosion that was organized by Summit Promotions.
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…
African Events Calendar
Upcoming Events
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June 22 - 24, 2010
2010 Africa Business Conference and Trade Fair
USA - North East
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July 10, 2010
Talent-ED
USA - North East
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March 22, 2010
A “Tribute to Mama Afrika: Miriam Makeba”
USA - North East
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July 14 - 17, 2010
Africa Fashion Week New York (AFWNY) in New York
USA - North East
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