Entertainment
First Lady of Ghana, Costa Rica Vice President to attend 2021 GUBA awards
Ghana’s First Lady, Mrs Rebecca Akufo-Addo and the Vice President of Costa Rica, H.E Epsy Alejandra Campbell Barr, will both attend the 2021 Ghana UK-Based Achievement(GUBA) awards in Accra.
The awards to be held on November 8, 2021, will mark a centenary of the passage and resilience of Nana Yaa Asantewaa, the influential warrior and Queen mother of Ejisu, who led an Asante army against the British.
The confirmation from the two high profile dignitaries, was followed by earlier confirmations of attendance by President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo.
“The First Lady has officially responded in a letter to our invitation to participate in the awards including some other notable dignitaries that we have so far invited. The list of high profile dignitaries is growing by the day,” GUBA Enterprise’s President and CEO, Dentaa Amoateng MBE indicated.
The confirmation of attendance by the First Lady, according to GUBA’s President and CEO, “goes a long way to affirm the importance the she attaches to issues concerning women and the need for them to be recognized at all levels.”
“The First Lady believes that this year’s award which is to celebrate the role of women and how courageous and resilience they have been especially in this pandemic and in the last century, resonates with the event’s theme, “Celebrating a Symbol of Courage and Resilience,”Dentaa Amoateng MBE noted.
2021 marks exactly 100 years of the death of Yaa Asantewaa, the last African woman to lead a major war against colonial powers in 1900, where she played the role of the Commander-in-Chief of the powerful Asante Empire.
These events will observe an important moment in African history, one that is unique regarding the relations between the Republic of Ghana and the Republic of Seychelles and is expected to host high-profile personalities from the diaspora.
While celebrating Yaa Asantewaa, the awards will recognise the contribution of Black women in the diaspora and Africa also.
The 2021 GUBA Awards will also raise awareness on maternal mortality and call for measures to ensure safe child delivery across the continent.
The biggest event on Ghana’s entertainment calendar is set for a night of honours, pomp, and pageantry.
It is a night where musicians who excelled during the year under review will be rewarded through the endorsement of the Telecel Ghana Music Awards Board, the Academy, and the general public.
The Grand Arena, the ideal venue for the 27th TGMA, will host a star-studded audience of musicians, media personalities, businessmen, politicians, actors, and footballers among others.
On this night, the most coveted prize is the Artiste of the Year (AOTY) category, which will see the crowning of a new king or queen of Ghana music.
Two heavyweights in the category, Stonebwoy and Sarkodie, have the opportunity to set an enviable record as the only artistes to win the coveted title for a third time.
Should they fall short, the opportunity shifts to Black Sherif and Diana Hamilton to equal the record of two wins, joining the elite ranks of past double-winners like VIP.
A win for Diana Hamilton, will set her up in a lonely journey at the top as the only gospel musician, to win the Artiste of the Year for the second time.
Alternatively, Wendy Shay could make her debut by winning the award for the first time. This would make her team up with Diana Hamilton as the only female artistes alive to hold the title. The late Ebony, won it posthumously in 2018.
If the title slips past them and falls to Medikal, he will also become a first-time winner, etching his name into the annals of Ghana music history.
Patrons can look forward to electrifying performances from a long list of confirmed artistes, including Black Sherif, Diana Hamilton, Piesie Esther, R2Bees, Medikal, Wendy Shay, Lasmid, Kofi Kinaata, Samini, and Fido, among others.
Beyond the ultimate prize, several other major categories are up for grabs, including Music Video of the Year, New Artiste of the Year, Gospel Artiste of the Year, Most Popular Song of the Year, and Songwriter of the Year.
By Edem Mensah-Tsotorme
The fourth edition of International AmoFest lived up to its promise on Saturday, May 2, delivering a vibrant “three-in-one” experience that left the audience at Alliance Française in Accra buzzing.
The night was a masterful blend of sound and stagecraft. Berima Amo, the visionary behind the festival, led an impressive lineup of performers, including Pedro Kastelijns, Martha Apini, Rudy Ray, and Lamisi.
Together, they showcased a fusion of global music and authentic Ghanaian Highlife, staying true to the festival’s mission of preserving Ghana’s original rhythmic soul.
Adding a unique layer to the evening, Uncle Ebo Whyte’s Roverman Productions took to the stage, blending theater with the night’s musical energy.
The experience concluded with a high-energy after-party, fulfilling Berima Amo’s goal of creating a truly immersive and memorable night.
Reflecting on the event’s purpose, Amo emphasised the need for intentionality in protecting Highlife.
He called on every Ghanaian, as well as government institutions, to actively foster an environment where the genre can thrive on the global stage.
The main event followed a successful educational outreach on April 24, where over 250 high school students participated in a Highlife workshop at the Centre for National Culture.
By Edem Mensah-Tsotorme
