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Shatta Wale’s ‘Kumerica Invasion Project’, a good omen for budding musicians

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Gone were the days when Kumasi was seen as the citadel of Ghana’s creative arts industry producing prominent musicians, movie makers, among other amazing talents in the entertainment circles.

For some time, this long held title, has vanished, due to lack of support and spotlight to enable artiste cross over to mainstream stardom.

This has led also to a surge in musicians and actors who cut their professional teeth in the trade in Kumasi move to Accra to grow their craft and take it to the next level.

Interestingly, the script, seems to have changed for budding musicians in Kumasi following the ‘Kumerica’ trend. One of the sectors in Kumasi which has benefited enormously from the ‘Kumerica’ sensation is the music industry, as the trend has put a lot of spotlight on music talents.

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Kumerica is an internet slang for the Garden City of Ghana, Kumasi in the AshantiRegion. The word Kumerica was coined from a blend of Kumasi and America (Ku + merica) by the young people of Kumasi who live ostentatious lifestyle full of luxury and display of jewels and flashy cars like the people of America.

Originally, their main purpose was to showcase their riches and luxurious lifestyle, to tell the world that though they live in Kumasi their lifestyles are like Americans; and this includes how they speak American English.

In the light of this, the Kumerica vibe has gripped the whole country in various dimensions, to the extent that, music talents from the region have taken advantage of the trend to release a lot of songs to catch the attention of the world.

This culminated in the dancehall heavyweight, Shatta Wale who stormed Kumasi on Thursday, November 5, 2020, for an initiative termed as “Kumerica Invasion project.”

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From the scenes, and interviews granted so far by artistes like, Amerado, Ypee, Phrimpong, Kweku Flick, King Paluta, Kofi Jamar, and Phaize who are involved in the project, Shatta Wale’s presence in the region was a dream come true for young upcoming musicians.

Many see it as a masterstroke to instill confidence and energise the base of music in the region, and subsequently open the door for many to rise to the top.

Though other accomplished artistes over the years had extended support to budding artistes through collaborations and others means as this move by Shatta Wale has taken a different turn from the normal route.

Shatta Wale decided to go to Kumasi, shoot the various scenes of the music video in the neighbourhoods of the artistes featured on the song.

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A move which has validated the artistes in their communities, increased the buzz around them and shot up their popularity.

One of them said, the initiative had made him and his other colleagues more popular in their community which was good for their brand. Clearly, from the numbers the activities have attracted coupled with  the media hype, these young artistes could take advantage of the situation to make a strong case for their careers.

This calls for unity, hard work and consistency to keep the Kumerica Movement strong and going.

Kudos to Shatta Wale and his team for extending this helping hand to budding musicians in Kumasi.

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By Edem Mensah-Tsotorme

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Medikal urges Ghanaian musicians to prioritise financial security

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Ghanaian rapper Medikal has advised musicians to focus on building financial security rather than relying mainly on awards, shows and public recognition.

According to him, the difficult situations some senior musicians face after years in the industry should serve as a lesson to younger artistes.

Medikal made the comments on TikTok while sharing his thoughts on an interview involving veteran Ghanaian musician DJ Barosky, whom he claimed is currently homeless in the United Kingdom.

He expressed surprise at the situation, noting that he grew up listening to and admiring some of the senior musicians who influenced his generation.

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“Bro, right now, social media, I know if you tell which one be real or what be fake,” Medikal stated, questioning the reality of what people see online.

He argued that musicians should make money and put proper financial plans in place while they are active in the industry.

“If you be artist for this country, you for make money, collect money, put certain things in place,” he said.

Medikal stressed that awards and performances were important but should not replace financial planning.

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He encouraged artistes to be careful with their relationships and to understand that the entertainment industry is largely driven by money.

According to him, even friendships can change when a person’s financial circumstances change.

He therefore urged musicians not to become discouraged by financial losses but to remain focused on creating wealth.

“Make money. If you lose money, still collect money,” he advised.

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Medikal said the experiences of older artistes should encourage current musicians to take their finances seriously and prepare for life beyond their peak years in the entertainment industry.

By: Jacob Aggrey

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Miss Tourism Ghana princesses dazzle patrons at Regional Costume & Talent Night show

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Miss tourism queens on the runway

It was a night of colour, culture and creativity as Miss Tourism Ghana successfully held its Regional Costume & Talent Night in Accra.

The event drew fashion lovers, culture enthusiasts, and proud supporters who came out to witness Ghana’s beauty queens represent their regions on one grand stage. 

From the moment guests stepped in, the atmosphere was electric, ushering,

Okra, Zabe, Gina, Akpe, Sela, Afia,Asher and Ajua into the auditorium to mesmerize patrons.

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The blistering night, commenced with a breathtaking regional costumes rocked by contestants that told stories of Ghana’s traditions from, african print, kente, smock, batakari, beads and other indigenous fabrics.

 Each outfit with beautiful local accessories to match was paired with confidence, poise, and pride.

The night then shifted gears into the talent segment. The audience was treated to powerful performances traditional dance, spoken word, fashion, singing, and drama all centered on promoting Ghana’s tourism and heritage.

The judges were stunned with the various displays and passed favorable commentaries encouraging the contestants to keep giving their all.

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 Patrons left with unforgettable moments, and the contestants delivered to their expectations.

Organisers of Miss Tourism Ghana congratulated all the amazing participants who took part and urged them to forged ahead strongly before the grand final.

They also, encouraged families and friends to keep their favourite in the competition through their campaigns and votes.

The search for Ghana’s next tourism ambassador is officially on, and the competition is getting tighter with each stage.

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Beyond the glamour, Miss Tourism Ghana continues to use the platform to market Ghana’s tourist sites, culture and hospitality to the world. 

The Regional Costume & Talent Night served as both entertainment and education, reminding Ghanaians of the beauty in our diversity.

By Edem Mensah-Tsotorme 

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