Ghana Rising’s ‘People-to-Watch’ in 2011

Icon: Kofi Annan (Ghana/Sweden)

Tireless, Mr Annan continues to serve Africa and its people…Ghana Rising truly loves this wonderful, elegant man and will continue to support him. You can support his foundation via: http://kofiannanfoundation.org/

Fashion/Business: Naana B (USA)

Sea Breeze Mini Ruffle Dress ($ 300)

Medalion Mini Ruffle Dress ($300)

Alvar Blue/White Dress ($200)

Hot handbags, an exclusive clothing line loved by the likes of Teen Vogue, -savvy and on-trend, Ghana Rising’s predicating some serious exposure Naana B’s way as this fashionista insider secret goes global. For more info visit: http://www.naanab.com/

Business/Communications: George Andah (Ghana)
Ex chief marketing officer for MTN (Ghana), Mr George Andah is making headways at Zain Telecommunications Ltd, and Ghana Rising’s predicating more success for this ‘Mover & Shaker’. Watch this space……

Politics: Kwame Gyamfi (USA)

I don’t know much about Kwame Gyamfi, whether he’s a honorary Ghanaian or of Ghanaian origin. All I know is, he’s involved in politics, talks a lot of commonsense, is married to Juliette, a Ghanaian woman and is the proud father of four beautiful children. He is presently running for Congress and Ghana Rising is watching! For more information about Mr Gyamfi visit: http://www.kgforcongress.org/

Photographer/Blogger/ Style Icon: Aya Brace  (Denmark)

Voted as one of Ghana Rising’s 2010 Most Beautiful Women of Ghanaian Origin (http://ghanarising.blogspot.com/2010/04/most-beautiful-women-of-ghanaian-origin.html) -Aya is uber talented and has granted us an interview (coming soon). In the meantime you check out Aya’s blog at: http://ayabrace.blogspot.com/


Director/Actor/Writer: Kwame Amoaku (USA)

**Did you watch ‘The Industry’ a Def Jam film shown on BET last year? I did and was pleasantly surprised to see a Ghanaian credited as director. Filmmaker Kwame Amoaku is an industry insider -and a name I’m sooo not familiar with -but judging by the various write ups about this brother, -he is most definitely the one-to-watch in 2011.

“Kwame Amoaku was selected as the inaugural new Def Filmmaker for Simmons Lathan Media Group (SLMG). In addition to THE INDUSTRY, Kwame is also direcintg SLMG's productions of "F.E.D.S." and "Hip Hop Justice". As an accomplished writer, director, and producer, Kwame Amoaku is a multifaceted film professional whose credits include: Preps: Chicago Hoops (Fox Sports) and independent film, Dark. In addition he has worked on the production of Barbershop 2, Save the Last Dance and Hardball. He is also the founder of his own film production company, 5 Guns No Cables Photography and Film Production.” (Credit: http://screeningseries.com/def_kwame.html)


Music/Style Icon: Brie Boateng

“Spearheading the 'Treat Me as You Will' domestic abuse campaign, the single written and performed by Brie Boateng is a storytelling depiction of an abusive relationship told from the perspective of the victim in a soulful pop ballad.” YouTube

**I believe 2011’s going to be a fabulous year for singer/songwriter Brie Boateng. One of the few voted Ghana Rising’s 2010 Most Beautiful Women of Ghanaian Origin (http://ghanarising.blogspot.com/2010/04/most-beautiful-women-of-ghanaian-origin.html) -we predict big things for Brie…


*Business/Entrepreneur: Seth El


Musician/Fashion Designer/ Style Icon: Anna Reynolds

Ghana Rising’s been crazy about Anna Reynolds’ forever -and always will be. For more information or to download Anna Reynolds’ music visit her official website at: http://www.anna-reynolds.com/

Art: James Cudjoe & Kwadwo Ani

Artist: James Cudjoe

Retire 2 by James Cudjoe

Artist: Kwadwo Ani

Confessions by Kwadwo Ani (Sold)

My eyes are firmly on artists James Cudjoe and Kwadwo Ani this year. I have fallen in love with their art and dream about owning a piece each. You can view and purchase their work via ‘African Encounters’ -a website that represents and sales world-class fine art produced by contemporary African artists at: http://www.african-encounters.com/gallery.aspx

Fashionista/Make-up Artist/Entrepreneur/Broadcaster: Nana Amu Fleischer-Djoleto

I first spied Nana Amu Fleischer-Djoleto on the BBC’s An African Journey with Jonathan Dimbleby, made a note of this talented creative and googled. Impressive on sooo many levels -Nana Amu’s most definitely ‘one-to-watch’…

Journalists….
Entertainment: Sarah Tetteh (3am The Mirror)
Fashion: Didi Danso (The Mirror)
Fashion: Priscilla Kwateng (Guardian)

Fashionista/Journalist/socialite: Zandile Blay….
At the very top of her game I predict big things for this beautiful fashionista. You can follow all Zandile’s happenings via: http://twitter.com/zandile

Artist/fashion Designer: Zohra Opoku

“My work spans the mediums of textile objects & installations, fashion & photography. I derive inspiration from African symbols, traditions and style resources wherever I find them. In an interactive way, I associate these influences by merging them artistically to give a new perspective in the same context. This thereby creates stronger visibility as the relationship with the initial context is even more tangible to the viewer. The overriding question behind my artistic actions is the question of identity.” http://www.myspace.com/zohra_opoku

**Fashion designer and artist, Zohra Opoku has been on my fashion radar since I spied her designs in ‘Black Style’ (edited by Carol Tulloch) -and I would love to interview her. I love her style and truly believe that she’s ‘One-to-Watch’ in 2011.…..http://zohraopoku.blogspot.com/


Music/Style Icon: Nana Boroo

With regards to musicians -it takes the ‘X’ factor to move me -and the gorgeous Nana Boroo has the X thing in spades. But where was he for the second half of 2010? After last years hottest tune, ‘AHA YEDE’ he disappeared….luckily he’s back and is most definitely ’One-to-Watch’ in 2011. Enjoy his latest single featuring Mugeez (from arguably -the hottest group to ever come out of Africa) R2bees called ‘BEBIA SOSO’ below....


Note, you can find out more about Nana Boroo via http://www.facebook.com/pages/NANA-BOROO/129945643688929?v=wall

Music: Mugeez and R2bees (See above)
I can’t wait until the world discovers R2bees -a group I believe is the best in Africa….plus I’m a big fan of Mugeez -what’s not to love about this gorgeous talented young man?
http://twitter.com/r2bees
http://www.r2bees.com/


Television: The Stand Point, Gifty Anti and OBE on Sky 221

OBE’s a little hit-and-miss lately but I get the feeling the good people at this Ghanaian owned station are really trying and thus deserve our support. They have given us gems like: ‘Straight Talk’ -a political programme which introduced me to Koku Anyidoho and ‘The Stand Point’ -a wonderful programme by Gifty Anti aimed at educating women on relevant topics including: “Should infidelity mean divorce’ -and introduced me to ‘Movers and Shakers in Ghana like: Yvonne Ndoum (Cocoanut Grove Hotel), Afia Appiah (Hedge Ghana), Eugenia Appiah (Essence Communications) and Alice Gyasi-Mensah (Mercy Distribution Services), Bernice Sam (female equality activist) and many more. I also watched an insightful piece on the drilling of the first ever oil from Ghana just before Christmas -plus I have been privy to events involving various heads of state like Hon Shirley Botchway -people I would never have met ordinarily. For more information about The Standpoint visit their facebook page at: http://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Standpoint/88136245019
OBE TV: http://www.obetv.co.uk/


Artist-of-the Moment: Eugene Ankomah

Body Shock (Mixed-media work on paper (film poster), wrapping tape, Acrylic paints and spray paints)

Spice (From the Tribal Paintings Series of works by Artist- Eugene Ankomah Available as a Print only)..

A gifted young artist, Ghana Rising not only covets his work but is predicting big things for Eugene Ankomah in 2011.…I also look forward to working with Mr Ankomah in the near future. You can keep up with all Eugene Ankomah’s happenings at: www.twitter.com/eugeneankomah
 -To buy or enquire about his work visit: http://www.eugeneankomah.blogspot.com/


Broadcaster/Journalist: Henry Bonsu

Uber broadcaster, journalist, founding partner and Head of Programmes for Colourful Radio -and presenter of ‘Shoot The Messenger’, Oxford educated Henry Bonsu has been on my radar since 2002 -when I had the pleasure of meeting him at Momo’s restaurant at the launch of an Afro-centric fashion label. Since then I’ve watched this brother go stellar, working on GLR/London Live/ BBC London and TV programmes including Today, World at One, Public Eye and Black Britain -interviewing leading politicians, business people and celebrities. His time as UK Correspondent for BET -where he interviewed all the big players at the Democratic National Convention won him lots of fans. Henry at BET also introduced me to Akosua Annobil-Dodoo and Esther Armah -two sister I hope to work with in the near future. Henry has written for The Times, The Mail on Sunday, Daily Express, The Voice, New Nation, Pride magazine and the London Evening Standard and is presently on Vox Africa (Sky 218) presenting community favourite, ‘Shoot The Messenger’…


**Sports: Nana Papa Yaw Dwene aka Pops Mensah-Bonsu

Journalist/broadcaster: Akosua Annobil-Dodoo

Former music and entertainment journalist, broadcaster and the editor of overgroundonline.com (an an online newspaper aimed at the Afro-Caribbean community in the UK), Akosua Annobil-Dodoo is firmly on Ghana Rising’s radar this year. Akosua has written for The Times, New Nation newspaper and the Guardian. You can check her out via: http://www.overgroundonline.com/contact-us.html


The Spirit: Reverend Sam Larbie of Elim Pentecostal Church -London

‘Healing Is Easy: 'Cos of What Jesus Has Done’ is available from: http://www.amazon.co.uk/Healing-Easy-WhatJesusDone/dp/0953610020/ref=sr_1_2ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1241816684&sr=1-2)

With some Christian leaders no longer lead or interested in preaching the good news, never mind ‘Salvation’ or ’Reverence’ or the ‘Fear of God’ -but instead choosing to fill whole sermons with what I call, ‘prosperity-Sakawa-preaching’ -where we hear a new type of businessman -preaching about how God’s going to financially bless us (regardless) especially if we give ‘gift offerings’ -ex Army major, Reverend Sam Larbie of Elim Pentecostal Church remains humble and understated, opting instead for God’s spirit to lead and guide each sermon -leading to numerous healings… He visited my church sometime back with his beautiful wife auntie Sophie and they are lovely. God Bless them and make their 2011 even better than 2010...

Elim Pentecostal Church
149 Benhill Road
Camberwell
London
SE5 7LZ
United Kingdom
Email: churchinfo@elimchurch.org.uk
Tel: 020 7708 4609
Fax: 020 7207 2870
Website: http://www.elimchurch.org.uk/


TV: Vox Africa on Sky 218
I’m loving some of the programmes on this channel right now especially our Henry Bonsu’s uber informative, ‘Shoot The Messenger’, -its well worth checking out and has introduced me to the likes of: Afua Hirsch and the Chief sub-editor at New Statesman, Nana Yaa Mensah. Also, presenter James Sherwood’s ‘Face 2 Face’ and ‘Afrobuzz’ programmes are pretty special -celebrating the likes of musician Lazee, ‘Ghana in the Park’ and director Baff Akoto. Also, there’s a researcher/editor/reporter called Joyce Amperbeng -and I’m predicting big things for her… http://www.voxafrica.co.uk/


Law/Journalism: Afua Hirsch

Afua Hirsch is the Guardian newspaper's legal affairs correspondent. She has practised at the bar in criminal defence and public law and teaches constitutional and human rights law. You can follow Afua via: http://twitter.com/afuahirsch


Music: Lazee

Swedish rapper Mawuli Kulego aka Lazee is on my radar -big time and I sooo believe 2011’s going to be a big year for him. You can check him out via: http://www.lazeeonline.com/


Musician/style Icon: Megane Quashie

Fashion icon on the make, Megane Quashie of fabulous electronica/dance/indie duo, Black Cherry is hot stuff and I predict world domination in 2011.…..

Accessories Queen: Aya Morrison

Endive Purse ($78.99)

2011 S/S Sexy Safari all-in-one swimsuit ($215) available in March 2011

Hot bikini’s, cutches, belts, totes and must-have headwear, Aya Morrison is the accessoires designer du jour and we are predicting big things for this brand in 2011...To order or for more information visit: http://www.shopayamorrison.com/

Daisy Kuorkor

We're expecting big things from the following models in 2011: Belinda Baidoo, Grace Sarfo, Daisy Kuorkor, Soraya Khalil, Rosemary Frimpong, Meyane Donkor, Chantell Dapaah and the ever fabulous Ernest Osei... xx