I’m compiling a list of the best dressed men of Ghanaian descent and whilst doing research, -stumbled across GQ magazine’s 50 Best Dressed Men in Britain 2012.… -And I’m chuffed to bits as it includes four of the men on my list….
Fashion designer Adrien Sauvage came in at number 44, Rapper Dizzee Rascal at 12, actor Idris Elba at number 7 and Ghana Rising fave, footballer Mario Balotelli at number 2.
***Read more about all the men who made the best-dressed list, plus the ten worst-dressed men in the world, in the new issue of British GQ, priced £3.99, available from Thursday.
I’ve know about little Kwesi Boakye for some time and did a piece about him last year but I had no idea about his brother Kofi Siriboe! Anyway I googled and the following is more info about this young actor/songwriter/producer:
Kofi Siriboe (born March 2, 1994) is an American actor whose works have spanned theatre, film, and television. He is most notable for his role as Javy Hall in the Fred Durst directed movie The Longshots. Most recently he appeared as JJ in the ABC Family show Lincoln Heights during the fourth season in the episode titled "Bully For You". Kofi is of Ghanaian descent, he is from the Asante tribe. He is the middle of three brothers; Kwame Boateng and Kwesi Boakye. (Credit: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kofi_Siriboe)
Wow three brothers -all actors, with uber bright futures…this family’s not messing about. A big well-done to all the brothers and their parents -who have done a sterling job….
“Prince of Broadway is the story of Lucky and Levon, two men whose lives converge in the underbelly of New York's wholesale fashion district. Lucky, an illegal immigrant from Ghana, makes ends meet by soliciting shoppers on the street with knock-off brand merchandise. Levon, an Armenian-Lebanese immigrant, operates an illegal storefront with a concealed back room where counterfeit goods are showcased to interested shoppers. Lucky's world is suddenly turned upside down when a child is thrust into his life by a woman who insists the toddler is his son. While Lucky copes with his new domestic dilemma, Levon struggles to save a marriage that is falling apart. The seedy side of the wholesale district is revealed through a journey that continually confronts the interplay between what is fake and what is real.
Set in the shadow of the Flatiron building and soaked in the colorful bustle of Broadway, the film is as much a brutal drama as it is a tender comedy. Shot in a fast-paced guerilla style that is akin to the hustler lifestyle, the film reveals the lives of immigrants in America seeking ideals of family and love, while creating their own knock-off of the American Dream.”princeofbroadway.com
***Its happened again people, another ‘of-the-moment’ film starring a fellow Gh-er, Prince Adu and I’m only just finding out about it now -what’s going on? Called the Prince of Broadway -I stumbled across the above film clip by chance and I‘m truly grateful. It has received some excellent reviews and I hope to watch it soon, you can visit: http://www.princeofbroadway.com/ -for more information…
Looking for the ever illusive copy of the latest American Vogue –I saw the latest copy of New African Woman, -sneaked-a-peek and guess what, I ended up buying it. As you all know by now, I don’t tend to go near so called ‘black publications’ especially ones aimed at the African ‘anything’ –because even though they claim to be about Africans, I feel they only celebrate one or two African countries –and I just don’t have the time! Anyway, this particular issue is totally inspirational and jammed packed with GH’ers –including: international make-up artist -Ashley Avorgah, singer -NaNa Asante, actress –Belinda Owusu, founder of UK’s Mission Dine Club and the first black woman to become a Dame in the UK –Dame Betty Asafu-Adjaye, -and an insightful interview with Ghanaian/Lebanese actor –Majid Michel. But my favourite piece in Issue 7 of New African Woman is an editorial featuring Christie Brown’s latest collection ….it’s fierce! For more information about Christie Brown visit: http://www.christiebrownonline.com/
Honestly, the devil is a liar. Since I started this blog just over a year ago, my computer has been under constant attack –and whilst in the past; my computer fix-it man has been able to fix every problem –my Toshiba laptop is now completely died, can you believe it? And thus I find myself unable to put everything I want to write about on my blog… Anyway, did you watch last night’s episode of Who Do You Think You Are? on BBC One? It featured the ever fabulous Hugh Quarshie –and had me captivated. Relaying mainly on oral history in Ghana, Hugh’s ancestors were brought back to life –in what I can only describe as the very best episode of this fabulous series. Hugh got to meet his ‘new’ family members in the village of Abe –and we all found out that researching ancestor from African and European heritage is possible; makes interesting viewing and is the best way to learn about our history…
The journey ends happily in Holland where Hugh meets his European family –and comes across written documents and some incredible photographs that I hope will end up in his ancestral village of Abe –or some museum in Ghana one day and discovers that his great, great, great-grandfather –not only loved his African family but left them all his worldly goods in his last will and testament. Hugh’s personal journey back in time –was touching, well researched and heartwarming –and I guess reflecting many Fantes and some Ga’s ancestral history. My mother’s maiden name is Spio and I have often wondered about her family and the role the Portuguese played in her ancestry!
I watched 'Love Actually' the other day, –and was convinced that 'Tony' was Ghanaian –and I was right –as he’s played by the gorgeous, Abdul Salis. The following is more information about this talented brother........enjoy xx
Abdul Salis (born July 6, 1979) is a British actor, probably most notable for his role as a paramedic Curtis Cooper on the longest-running medical drama Casualty broadcast in the UK. He is a son of Ghanaian parents who moved to London in 1975.
Salis has appeared in numerous television roles, including The Hidden City (2002), aforementioned Casualty (2008-2009), Trevor's World of Sport (2003) and an episode of Doctor Who (2006). His cinema films include Love Actually (2003), Sahara (2005), Welcome Home (2004) and Animal (2004).
On stage he starred in Blood Wedding and The Road at the Orange Tree Theatre theatre as well as Joe Guy at Tiata Fahodzi. He was in the 2006 production of The Exonerated in London's Riverside Studios.
In 2006, the movie Flyboys loosely portrayed aviation pioneer Eugene Jacques Bullard and his comrades from the Lafayette Flying Corps. The film features digital dogfights, and Salis portrayed Eugene Skinner, a character based on Bullard. Interviewed by the Columbus Ledger-Enquirer (Columbus, Georgia), Salis discussed the notion of doing an entire movie about this famed figure:
"You know what, that's exactly what Dean Devlin said on the shoot... He said that this story, of the characters, Eugene's story alone is the only one worth a film in its entirety, outright. He said that maybe if he'd had his way, it would have been all about Eugene Bullard... If you look at it, with these flyboys, having made it, you talk about a great moment when he's growing up, his dad's a slave.... He gets to be a boxer in France, wins a championship. He goes to the war, the Lafayette Escadrille, fighting for the French. The Americans join in. He becomes a spy. There's the jazz bar. And he dies alone, an elevator operator. It's fantastic... It'd be nicer for me, I think, just to keep it real, just to play an homage or to play a friend or something and really kind of disguise myself a bit. I don't know if I would be happy as an outsider watching a character from another film then go on to be... unless these guys, Dean Devlin and these guys did it -- or maybe as a TV movie or something -- I don't think I'd feel comfortable with me doing it. Does that make sense? But I wouldn't say no. Of course not." [Credit: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abdul_Salis]
‘The Losers’ tracks five elite US Special Forces team -sent on a mission to a Bolivian jungle. The team is then betrayed by Max -a powerful insider in the agency. Forgotten and presumed dead, the team retaliates and returns -to settle ‘old scores’. A must see....
Did you know that Akwey –who is the clan leader of the Horse Clan -of the Plains [and is witnessed fighting in the final battle on his Direhorse] in Avatar is played by Ghanaian born actor -Peter Mensah? I’m so impressed by this handsome brother’s acting -and somewhat surprised that I haven’t heard of him sooner –anyway, the following is more information about Peter Mensah from wikipedia.
Peter Mensah (born on 12 November 1970 in Accra, Ghana as Enzo Patnogon) is a Canadian actor, best known for his role in Tears of the Sun and more recently "Doctore" on the Starz original series, Spartacus: Blood and Sand. Mensah comes from an academic family. He was born in Ghana, to parents of the Asante tribe. At a young age, he moved to Hertfordshire, England with his father, an engineer, and his mother, a writer and 2 younger sisters. Mensah moved to Canada 11 years ago. He emigrated from Britain to see the world and it was a toss up whether his destination would be Canada or Australia.
Acting career
He appeared in such films as 300, Hidalgo, Tears of the Sun, Jason X, Harvard Man, Bless the Child and has made television appearances in Star Trek: Enterprise, Tracker, Witchblade, Blue Murder, Relic Hunter, Earth: Final Conflict, Highlander: The Raven and La Femme Nikita.Mensah also stars in the short film "The Seed", produced and directed by Linkin Park's DJ Joe Hahn, and recently in The Incredible Hulk and Avatar.
Recently, he did the voice and likeness of Sgt. Zach Hammond in EA's video game Dead Space. Mensah, who has practiced martial arts since he was 6, is now playing the character "Doctore" in Spartacus: Blood and Sand and was on the Spartacus Panel at Comic Con 2009. [Credit: www.en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peter_Mensah]
I know it’s obvious but Austrian born, German-Ghanaian ex model Boris Kodjoe can wear –anything and still look good! Branded one of the "50 Most Beautiful People in the World" by People magazine in 2002 -Actor, activist [he is the president of ‘Sophie's Voice Foundation’ –set up in 2008 in honor of his daughter Sophie who was diagnosed with Spina Bifida at birth] and fashion designer [check out his Ziami label] – Mr Kodjoe can go from fabulously formal in James Bond-esque suites to laidback and preppy in crisp white shirts and jeans combo –with a flat cap….but is truly at his best when accompanied by his beautiful wife -actress Nicole Ari Parker…x http://www.boris-world.com/
David Gyasi is a veteran television, stage and film actor. A second generation Ghanaian, -David Gyasi has appeared in; Law & Order (UK), The Bill, Casualty, BBC1's 'Apparitions' with fellow Ghanaian, Josephine Amankwah, What A Girl Wants, -and starred with another of Ghana's brightest stars [and a favourite of Ghana Rising], Claire-Hope Ashitey - in Shooting Dogs. David is now in Prague -playing the role of Captain in George Lucas' Epic 'RED TAILS', directed by Anthony Hemingway. 'Red Tails' is going to be a, 'must watch Block Buster', - about, 'Tuskegee Airmen, the first African American Pilots to represent the U.S. Air Force' and stars -the 'crème of the crop' -Terrence Howard; Cuba Gooding Jr and fellow British talent -David Oyelowo. For more information about David Gyasi visit his website at: www.davidgyasi.com
Do you remember, 'The Crying Game,' -it was such a scandal. It introduced the androgynous beauty, Jaye Davidson (born Alfred Amey, -to a Ghanaian father and an English mother in California, America and raised in Hertfordshire, England) -to the world, as a gender-bending, -transvestite hairdresser and singer called, Dil. An iconic role, -Jaye who had previously been in the fashion industry -became world famous over night (a situation that unnerved him -and caused him to go back to fashion). 'The Crying Game -also garnered Jaye, Oscar and BAFTA nominations -for Best Supporting Actor -and enticed the producers of 'Stargate' to offer him, the role of the godlike Ra ( a role he played -after he was given his asking wage of, $1 million. 'Stargate' was to become his last film, unfortunately). Jaye has since returned to fashion -and has no desire to return to acting.........The Big screen misses Jaye but we wish him the best in all his endeavours...xx
