Entertainment
Empress Gifty and band ink performance deal with GMA-USA 2022
2022 seems to be another record breaking year for one of Ghanaian biggest gospel music exports, Empress Gifty.
The gospel music gem who has been a blessing to Africa and a pacessetter in her genre of music, is undoubtedly favourite of many music lovers in Ghana and Africa.
After making appreciable strides last year and rocking stages of huge musical concerts in Ghana and beyond the borders, she has now inked a new performance deal with Don Music Production, the organisers of Ghana Music Awards USA for their 2022 upcoming Nominees Announcement which is scheduled to happen on April 16, 2022, at Grand Roosevelt Ballroom, 2 Hudson Street, Yonkers, NY 10701 in the United States of America.
Aside the nominees announcement performance, Empress Gifty will mount the stage again to perform at the main event scheduled to take place on August 20, at the Lincoln Theatre.
The gospel artiste who is expected to perform all her hit songs with her band told The Spectator inan interviview indicated that she saw better prospects of the Ghanaian gospel music industry considering the international appeal over the years.
According to her, “2022 promises to be much more exciting beginning with this GMA-USA contract and performance opportunity, the people of USA should prepare for an experience from me and my team.”
On the part of the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Ghana Music Awards-USA, Mr Dennis Boafo affectionately called Don D, Empress Gifty and one other popular gospel artiste were penciled for this event because of their style of performance and vocal delivery.
He believes Empress Gifty after performing on major shows in Ghana during the festive season is ready to shake the Ghanaian communities in America with her songs and dexterity on stage.
Ghana Music Awards USA is an event which seeks to reward, celebrate and recognise, hard working musical talent from Ghana by promoting Ghanaian Music and the culture in the diaspora.
GMA-USA is the most prioritised and patronized Ghanaian event in America.
Gospel artiste, Obaapa Christy has officially launched her annual concert, ‘Royal Praise 2026’, set to be held in Accra and Kumasi this August.
The maiden Accra edition comes off Sunday, August 9, at the UPSA Auditorium. She will be joined on stage by gospel heavyweights Empress Gifty, Celestine Donkor, Joyce Blessing, Kweku Gyasi, Uncle Ato, and Akesse Brempong.
The Kumasi edition follows a week later on Sunday, August 16, at the Church of Pentecost, Bantama.
Patrons there can expect performances from legendary Mama Esther, Broda Sammy, Ernest Opoku, Joyce Blessing, Kwame Gyedu, and Lady Prempeh.
Speaking at the launch at Alisa Hotel on June 12, Obaapa Christy explained that the event was christened Royal Praise, “because as a child of God, I see myself as royalty, same as you. We are all royals in the house of God.”
She urged attendees to embrace the ‘royal’ theme with their dress code and said the concert was meant to stay as an annual event to honour God for His works.
According to her, the event has come to stay, and called on all and sundry to support.
Obaapa Christy thanked fans and sponsors for supporting the launch and expressed optimism for more backing ahead of the main events.
Supporting artistes on the bill who attended the launch threw their weight behind the maiden edition and called on Ghanaians to throng the venues in their numbers.
By Edem Mensah-Tsotorme
Fashion enthusiasts, shoppers, and industry stakeholders gathered at the A&C Mall at East Legon on Saturday as Ghanaian fashion brand, Neesa Atelier officially opened its newest retail outlet to unveil an exclusive capsule collection inspired by West Africa’s rich cultural heritage.
The launch, held as an intimate ‘Sip & Shop’ experience, marked a significant milestone for the growing fashion brand as it expanded its physical presence while showcasing its latest collection, Dust & Raffia.
The collection offers a creative exploration of the cultural links between Ghana and Mali, blending traditional craftsmanship with contemporary fashion design. Guests at the event were given a first look at the limited-edition pieces, which featured a hand-spun cord, raffia, jute, and Bogolan (mudcloth) elements.
According to the Creative Director of Neesa Atelier, Pamela Sarkodee, the collection celebrates the enduring connections among African communities and highlights the beauty of indigenous craftsmanship.
“This collection celebrates the stories that connect us across borders. By bringing together Bogolan, raffia, jute, and cordwork, we wanted to create pieces that honour heritage while presenting a contemporary vision of African luxury,” she said.
Throughout the event, guests toured the new retail space, interacted with the collection, and enjoyed an exclusive shopping experience that included special in-store offers. The occasion also provided an opportunity for fashion lovers to engage with the brand’s vision of blending culture, creativity, and community.
The Dust & Raffia collection draws inspiration from the textures, symbols, and traditions that have connected Ghanaian and Malian communities over generations. Through the use of natural materials and handcrafted techniques, the collection seeks to preserve cultural narratives while presenting them through modern fashion.
The new A&C Mall outlet has been designed to provide customers with an immersive shopping experience, giving them access to Neesa Atelier’s signature collections as well as future releases within one of Accra’s leading retail and lifestyle destinations.
Industry observers say the expansion reinforces Neesa Atelier’s growing reputation within Ghana’s fashion industry as a contemporary African brand committed to celebrating identity, heritage, and craftsmanship through innovative design.
The Dust & Raffia capsule collection is currently available for pre-order, with a wider public release expected in the coming weeks.
By Esinam Jemima Kuatsinu
