Entertainment
AfroStepz Dance Academy clinches wins Praise Dance Battle 2024
The Praise Dance Concert of the 10th Ghana Dance Festival came off last Saturday, featuring the best of Praise Dance Ministers in a holy dance battle for the number 1 spot.
The event which was held at PIWC Atomic, in partnership with the PIWC’s Ministry to Celebrities, saw AfroStepz Dance Academy emerge winners, ahead of Dance 360, Flames Dance Company, CDS, Shepherds, KTwins Gh, and Pawers Nation.
The three-round competition had audience spellbound from start to finish, with dance ministers giving off their best in each round.
For round one, dance ministers performed to their own mix, laced with a Scott Evans song, where the following groups made it top 5- AfroStepz Dance Academy, Dance 360, Flames Dance Company, Shepherds, and CDS.
In round two, dance ministers took on the creative task of using Dance Drama to couch various messages including values from Samson and Delilah; The Prodigal Son; Elijah and the prophets of Baal; Unity and Love over division by parties ahead of coming elections; amongst others.
After the second round, Flames Dance Company were declared winners of the 3rd position with 1000cedis as their prize. AfroStepz and Dance 360 moved on to the final round, where they had to battle for the 1st and 2nd position.
The battle had a face-off format, and featured two of their best dancers in a round of Afropop and hiphop songs, per DJ’s choice.
This round was declared a tie by the competition’s esteemed judges – Illyboy (Leader of Arenees Dance Crew), Erica Appa (Leader of Heroz Dance Crew, and House Ghana), The GreatNet (Leader of Let’s Dance Africa), Abena Lar (Dancer-Bachelor of Arts in Dance and Psychology) and Scott Evans (Urban Gospel Artiste).
To break the tie, the judges called for another face off. In the end, MC of the event, Psalm One, announced AfroStepz as 1st place winners, with 4000 cedis prize money, and Dance 360 as 2nd place winners, with 2000 cedis prize money.
According to CEO of the Ghana Dance Festival, Robert Klah, “dance means different things to different people and the are happy to use their platform to allow for the different expressions in gospel fraternity.
He said, ” This year, we decided to bring the praise dance back to the church, and to offer more people the opportunity to use their dance as a tool of worship and service to God.”
He said “We grateful for the partnership with PIWC Atomic, facilitated by Pastor Michael Laryea and approved by Apostle Athony Mensah. While we are happy with the event, we look forward to a bigger experience next year.”
The event also saw a discussion on how the dancers and the urban gospel singers can work together.
In the panel discussion moderated by Robert Klah, several issues on promotion were discussed. Urban gospel artistes Scott Evans, Kobby Salm, and Kingz Kid represented the interest of the urban gospel musicians.
Kingz Kid highlighted the role of dancers in the promotion of gospel songs using this experience as a reference point.
On his part, Kobby Salm charged the dancers to play their role in the ecosystem by working with musicians to build the industry.
Additionally, Scott Evans reached out to dancers for more collaboration in for collective growth.
Jay Smoke, who was the event DJ used the opportunity to highlight REPJESUS.com platform as a main source of urban gospel library accessible to anyone interested in Ghanaian urban gospel songs.
The session closed with an appreciation of dancers and musicians with a clear understanding to working together, to achieve kingdom objectives.
Also ministering at the event were Let’s Dance Africa, Tema Dance Academy, Incredible Afro, City of Twins, The Talent Tribe, KCC, Yung Commissioner, and JoVarni.
Royal Vessel Incorporated charged the atmosphere with praise and worship at the beginning of the programme.
The programme was made possible with the support of Ps Michael Laryea, and coordinating team Nana Akoto Agyapong, Enoch Agyepong and Dompe, all of PIWC Atomic.
The Praise Dance Concert of the 10th Ghana Dance Festival was in collaboration with DanceSport Ghana, Dancers & DanceSport Association of Ghana (DDASPAG), Ministry to Celebrities of PIWC, and powered by Dancetera.
Entertainment
‘Artivism’ at TGMA27: Okyeame Kwame uses gold-themed Red Carpet look to wage war against galamsey
Renowned musician and “Rap Dacta” Okyeame Kwame transformed the 2026 Telecel Ghana Music Awards (TGMA) red carpet into a platform for environmental activism, making a bold visual statement against the devastating effects of illegal mining, affectionately called galamsey.
Arriving in a striking ensemble, the artiste was draped in gold colours from head to toe, complete with a matching gold-plated sword.
However, the glamour carried a somber message. Flanked by two bodybuilders who performed as figures suffering from the physical and environmental “cancers” of illegal mining, Okyeame Kwame’s appearance served as a stark contrast between the beauty of Ghana’s gold and the destruction caused by its extraction.
Speaking to host Giovanni Caleb, the musician explained that his “glittering” look was a deliberate irony intended to spark a national conversation.
“I wanted to look like gold to remind Ghanaians that while gold glitters, galamsey destroys our rivers, our rocks, our air, and our nature,” Okyeame Kwame stated.
He further emphasised that the fight against environmental degradation transcends partisan lines.
“If we glitter like this once every year and forget that it is not the responsibility of the NPP or NDC, but the collective responsibility of all Ghanaians to stop this galamsey cancer, then we have failed,” he added.
Long recognized as an ‘Artivist,’ Okyeame Kwame has a storied history of using his public platform to champion social and environmental causes.
The 2026 TGMA, while a night of musical celebration, was momentarily refocused by the Rap Dacta’s plea for the protection of Ghana’s natural heritage, proving once again that art remains one of the most powerful tools for social change.
Okyeame Kwame is currently out with new single dubbed, “Clap,” a song encouraging communal support and celebration of others’ successes.
By Edem Mensah-Tsotorme
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
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