The Spirit: Tema Youth Choir

Tema Youth Choir, Accra Symphony Orchestra-Sing Unto God-G.F.Handel

Chorus: Tema Youth Choir (Ghana)
Orchestra: The National Symphony Orchestra (Accra,Ghana)
Conductor: Markus Baisch
Venue: National Theatre, Accra, Ghana
Recording: Trinity Digital http://web.me.com/trinitydigital
http://gallery.me.com/trinitydigital
Editors/Engineers: Lawrence Obro, Isaac Adamtey Dua, Kofi Kudonu


Paulina Opoku-Gyimah says: Majestic……….I want more and look forward to watching Tema Youth Choir live -next time I’m in Ghana..

Link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PN6AINIYnO4&feature=related

Ruby Amanfu duo’s with Jack White on his latest single ‘Love Interruption’….

This is most likely the most exciting news I’ve written about,-or should I say…… the best bit of news I’ve had the pleasure of sharing with you -for some time.!!!. … Remember Ghana Rising fave, Ruby Amanfu of ‘Sam & Ruby’ fame? -Well she’s only gone and sang a duo with uber goth rocker, Jack White!!!! ….I can’t Adam & Eve it -can you??? How fabulous is she????

From the little research I’ve just done -it appears the ever fabulous Ruby also took part in NBC’s popular TV programme, ‘The Sing-Off’ last year!!! -Anyway.. I’m loving ‘Love Interruption‘ -which is taken from Jack White’s soon-to-drop debut solo album titled ‘Blunderbuss’.

Ruby, Ruby, Rubyyyyy -Ghana Rising's sooo proud of you -and the way you're putting [we] out-side-of-the-box Ghanaian girls on the map.. Thanks Ruby …loves ya...  For more information about Ruby Amanfu visit:
https://www.facebook.com/rubyamanfu
https://twitter.com/#!/rubyamanfu

Taiye Selasi

Nigerian/Ghanaian author and photographer Taiye Selasi of ‘Afropolitan’ fame has been on my radar ever since I found out she was the lady behind said popular phase!!!… Anyway I stumbled across this video and thought I’d share it with you…very interesting-me thinks………….. For more info about Taiye Selasi visit her website at: http://www.taiyeselasi.com/

More about
Selasi was born in London, England and raised in Brookline, Massachusetts, the elder of twin daughters in a family of academics. Selasi's mother Dr. Juliette Tuakli, a pediatrician in Ghana, is widely known in West Africa for her advocacy of children's rights. Her father Dr. Lade Wosornu, a surgeon and public intellectual, has published numerous volumes of poetry, one included in the literature curriculum of Ghana. Selasi graduated summa cum laude with a BA in American Studies from Yale and holds an MPhil in International Relations from Nuffield College, Oxford. Taiye means first twin in her mother's native Yoruba. Selasi means God has heard in her father's native Ewe.

More Info about the ‘Afropolitan’
Afropolitan combines the words African and cosmopolitan to describe a contemporary generation of Africans. The term was popularized in 2005 by a widely-disseminated essay, "Bye-Bye, Babar (Or: What is an Afropolitan?)" by Taiye Selasi. Originally published in March 2005 in the Africa Issue of the LIP Magazine, the essay defines an Afropolitan identity, sensibility and experience. In 2006 the essay was republished by the Michael Stevenson Gallery in Cape Town and in 2007 by The Nation in Nairobi, whereupon it went viral. Several communities, artists, and publications now use the label, most notably The Afropolitan Network, The Afropolitan Experience, The Afropolitan Legacy Theatre, The Afropolitan Collection, and South Africa's The Afropolitan Magazine. In June 2011 The Victoria and Albert Museum hosted "Friday Late: Afropolitans" featuring Ms. Afropolitan Minna Salami and author Hannah Pool. Musician-scholar Derrick Ashong uses the term to characterize his sound.

Credit: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Afropolitan

Kwame Dawes

Recorded at the Lensic Theater in Santa Fe, New Mexico on September 29, 2010.

Kwame Dawes is a writer of poetry, fiction, nonfiction, and plays. Born in Ghana in 1962, Dawes spent most of his childhood and early adult life in Jamaica. As a poet, he is profoundly influenced by the rhythms and textures of that lush place, citing in a recent interview his "spiritual, intellectual, and emotional engagement with reggae music." His book Bob Marley: Lyrical Genius remains the most authoritative study of the lyrics of Bob Marley. Dawes has also published 15 collections of poetry. His most recent titles include Back of Mount Peace and Hope's Hospice. His book, Requiem is a suite of poems inspired by the illustrations of African American artist Tom Feelings in his landmark book The Middle Passage: White Ships/Black Cargo. He has also published two novels: Bivouac and She's Gone, winner of the 2008 Hurston/Wright Legacy Award for Debut Fiction. In 2007 he released a memoir, A Far Cry From Plymouth Rock: A Personal Narrative, called "a poet's eloquent meditation on the complexities of history, race and the oft-broken promise of America," by Geoff Dyer

Credit: Kalamu ya Salaam’s: http://kalamu.posterous.com/archive/2/2011?page=4

Italian-Ghanaian filmmaker Fred Kudjo Kuwornu's ‘18 IUS SOLI’ documentary addresses citizenship in Italy…..

Italian-Ghanaian producer-writer-director, Fred Kuwornu of 'Buffalo Soldiers’ fame’s documentary titled ‘18 IUS SOLI’ -which examines the law that deny citizenship to young people born in Italy of immigrant parents, because they have no Italian blood is riveting. His passion is clear to see and I truly hope -it inspires some dialogue in the upper echelon of the Italian government..

YouTube Link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jMoe0xBzsaw&feature=player_embedded#at=94




Fred Kuwornu’s award winning feature film, 'Buffalo Soldiers’ Trailer




You can buy and read more about filmmaker Fred Kuwornu’s award winning feature film, 'Buffalo Soldiers’ -“the story of the 92nd Buffalo Division, the all African American segregated combat unit that fought with outstanding heroism in Italy during the Second World War” via: http://www.insidebuffalo.org/

Link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JyD179cDd70

Ghana Rising Hearts Olivia Asiedu Poku

“Olivia Asiedu-Poku is a trained actress who is also working for a long time as an international model for fashion, catalogues, print- and TV-commercial for well known clients [including]: Nestlé/Nescafe, Adidas, C&A, Eastpak, BMW/MINI, OTTO and Deutsche Lufthansa (selection). Olivia was born in Hamburg, Germany- a city she really loves. Actually she lives in Berlin, but either way she‘s at home everywhere there‘s sun and music.” Olivia Asiedu Poku


I have a soft spot for beautiful model and actress, Olivia Asiedu Poku; my little man’s an Asiedu Opoku -so I love Olivia’s name, plus I think she’s amazing and would love to shoot her for Black Star magazine!!!!! Anyway, Berlin based Olivia is uber new to Ghana Rising’s radar thus I know very little about her. I do look forward to seeing more from this stunning lady -this side of the pond.

For more information about Olivia Asiedu Poku visit: http://oliviaasiedupoku.de/
https://www.facebook.com/oliviaasiedupoku

Nana Brew-Hammond does NYFW on Vogue Black

Former fashion editor turned author [Powder Necklace] and Style Editor at uber online fashion retailer, Bluefly.com -Nana Brew-Hammond was photographed out and about during NYFW [New York Fashion Week] by the Vogue Black team. This sister always looks good, for more information about Nana visit: http://nanaekua.com/

http://www.vogue.it/en/vogue-black
Link: http://www.vogue.it/en/vogue-black/look-of-the-day/2012/02/look-black-new-york-fw-2012