Entertainment
TV3 Mentor 2020:The stage craft, bravado and western invasion
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The just ended 2020 TV3 Mentor, organised by Media General, which was held on Sunday December 27, at the studio ‘B’ made me appreciate the need for such shows to help unearth a lot of music talents.
This year’s event commenced with an audition on Monday, August 31 2020, which was followed with the selection of 16 contestants to battle it out for 13 weeks.
The search of the brand new car and two mastered songs, GH¢50,000 worth of airtime across Media General platforms, as the prize package for the ultimate winner became keen week after week.
At the end of this journey, a first-year student of the Half Assini Senior High School, Kweku Bany, emerged as the winner, by ‘wrestling’ the coveted crown from the three other finalists.
Ayeyi walked away with a GH¢10,000 cash prize, a record deal and GH¢40,000 worth of airtime across all Media General platforms.
Second runner-up Semenhyia received GH¢8,000 cash, GH¢30,000 worth of airtime across Media General platforms and record deal.
Netty, who came all the way from the Northern Zone, had GH¢5,000 cash, GH¢20,000 worth of airtime across all Media General platforms, a record deal for placing fourth.
Judges
These contestants were under the able tutelage of music producer Appiah Dankwah, popularly known as Apietus, who was in charge of the South Eastern zone, veteran musician Bessa Simons was in charge of the Middle zone and musicians Adina Thembi and Edem also in charge of South Western and Northern zones respectively.
One thing I observed was that the contestants played their game to the theme of the event “Own the stage.”
And there was no denying the fact that the judges who served as mentors for contestants played a vital role in the growth of the artistes right from the onset, laced with their encouraging and thought-provoking critique of their performances.
There were times, the judges clashed over these contestants to get the best out of them.
There were the ‘unseen’ moments where the judges took the contestants through rudiments of music and stage artistry to make them ready to perform to the general public on Sundays.
Contestants
For an artiste to be able to breakthrough the music barriers and become a household name in both his country and other parts of the world, costuming, stagecraft, and confidence on stage must be topnotch.
One of the things the contestants did not take for granted was their costuming. Their sense for the right costume which corresponded with their their choice of song and stage craft, proved their seriousness for the global music market.
Like the tag-line suggested, ‘Own The Stage’, these contestants on the stage kept their composure and controlled the affairs with amazing commanding bravado tied with an intermittent call and respond, which got the patrons in a ecstatic mood.
The use of right prop made the performances lit and enthralled the audience.
Western invasion
Interestingly, this year’s edition had about four Westerners, Kweku Bany, Ayeyi, Semenhyia and Hyndu out of the 16 contestants brace
all odds to make it to the final six.
This did not end there, as Kweku Bany, Ayeyi and Semenhyia came up as first, second and third respectively, through their dexterity and showmanship.
In recent past, contestants from the Western part of the country have caught the eyes of the public with their excellent delivery on the platform.
Future
Such reality shows serve as platforms to groom talents for the next generation of musicians in the country. They take these budding artistes through a lot of training to ensure they meet the demands of the global music market.
For this reason, they should be given the needed support to stand the test of time.
Kudos to Media General for such resilience in running the show for these years.
By Edem Mensah-Tsotorme
Organisers of Rhythms On Da Runway have announced November 28, 2026 as the date for the 16th edition of the event, to be held at the Palms Convention Centre.
This year’s edition, themed: ‘UNBOUND: Because You’ve Got Style’, is focused on breaking barriers in fashion and creating space for all.
According to the Chief Executive Officer of Nineteen57 Events, Shirley Emma Tibilla, affectionately called Cookie Tee, the focus of this edition is to give everyone an opportunity to express themselves without barriers.
She told The Spectator that as a leading fashion brand in the country and beyond, they want to open doors for people regardless of their colour, size and abilities among others.
Described by the BBC as “the biggest cultural exposé in Africa,” Rhythms On Da Runway returns this year as a celebration of fashion, music and individual expression without limits.
Organisers say for years fashion has been shaped by narrow ideas of who belongs on the runway, with certain body types, ages and abilities placed at the centre while many others are left out. UNBOUND seeks to open that picture.
This year’s runway will welcome people with different abilities, backgrounds, body types and personal stories. The theme will influence model casting, the collections, the stories told through the clothes and the way guests experience the event.
Beyond the runway, ‘Unbound’ will create room for young people to learn from established designers, gain practical experience and explore careers within fashion and the wider creative industry.
It will also open conversations around adaptive fashion, accessible event design, talent discovery, mentorship and employment.
The 2026 edition will bring together fashion designers and music stars from Ghana and across the African diaspora, with strong collections, live performances and an all-star cast of celebrity models.
The event will also feature the Black Star Awards, which will honour public figures shaping Africa’s future through leadership and contributions to the continent’s Orange Economy.
Organisers say the list of participating designers, performing artists, award recipients and other event details will be announced in the coming weeks.
By Edem Mensah-Tsotorme
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Veteran Ghanaian gospel musician Bernice Offei has passed on Saturday August 12, 2026.
She was 63.
The news of her demise flashed through social media on Saturday, prompting an outpouring of grief from musicians, fans and members of the Christian community, who have since paid tribute to her distinguished career.
She gained strong reputation as a singer, songwriter and minister whose music transcended generations.
Some of her popular songs include ‘Kaa She Gbeyei,’ ‘It’s By Grace,’ ‘Nyame Kokroko’ and ‘N’adom Ara Kwa.’
Her contribution to the growth of gospel music in Ghana was recognised in 2009 when she won the Best Female Vocal Performance and Songwriter of the Year awards at the Ghana Music Awards, now known as the Telecel Ghana Music Awards.
Beyond music, Mrs Offei distinguished herself in academia and professional life. She attended Achimota School before earning an MPhil in Crop Science from the University of Ghana and a Master’s Degree in Information Technology from University College London in the United Kingdom.
Mrs Offei was married to Prof. Samuel Kwame Offei, a former Pro-Vice Chancellor of the University of Ghana, and the couple had two children.
Her death comes days after she was reported missing but was later found safe.
Mrs Offei leaves behind a rich music legacy that continues to inspire faith, hope and resilience among generations of listeners. -GNA
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