Never mind diamonds; -globetrotting fashionista, Naana B's yummy 'on trend' bags are every 'girl-about-towns' best friend. Fabulous and chic, -and designed by Naana B, -these must have bags and are lovingly handmade made by a group of empowered artisans in Ghana -[with proceeds from all [bag] sales going to the Rural Communities Empowerment Centre in Ghana -http://rcempowerment.org/]. You'll be spoilt for choice [as there are too many yummy pieces to choose from] -just feast your eyes on the red, 'Kit Carry All' ($35.00) and the green, Clementine ($80.00) -both are big and stylish enough to carry all your essentials. Naana B has just launched a new couture collection of evening gowns and day wear - and viewings are by appointment only. For more information visit: http://www.naanab.com
King Ayisoba (Frafra) and Sjoerd van der Goot (Dutch) 'Avoyure´
Atongo Zimba : Gidi Gidi
Atongo Zimba - Sana Menga!
The 'Sochira' (Crossroads) by Sheriff Ghale
Okomfour Kwaadee
'In Ghana' by Wanlov the Kubolor
Gyile, Xylo - 'Sisala' from Northern Ghana by OWUO
Instruments .....
Loloadeatina - sung and played by Luki Bouduan and friends from Gandawi group - Sissala musicians from Ghana visiting Scotland
Ghanaian musician Osei Kwame Korankye plays Akan Seprewa and sings at Legon University Our traditional Past...
AGORSOR music group, neo-traditional. What happened to the instruments of old? And why have they been replaced with faux keyboard sounds? I love the retro / Pan African vibe in this clip..
Just breathtakingly beautiful....and filmed in 1976!! (Watching this video -it would seem that we Ghanaian have gotten fatter...is this true? I know that I have!!!)
Is it me or is the Fanti language especially exquisite? Music: Celebrating Nana Yaw Opoku Mensah and Asante (adowa) Culture
Bring back our 'talking' drums
Why is it that when I listen to Ivorian Music, -I can still hear their culture and their African-ness? What has happened to Ghanaian music? I love hip-life as much as the next person -but??? Why can't these talented artists fuse the modern sexiness of Hip-life, -and the classic beauty of traditional music, [with its majestic musical instruments] -together? Others [are beginning to] agree me, - and if, King Ayisoba's - growing success is anything to go by -the future of Ghanaian music is in the north of Ghana {or back to its 'real' instrumental basis -and I'm very pleased)..So 'big up' the dagaare, Sissala, Gurunsi, Hausa etc music..........kai kai kai......Gidi Gidi!!!......The above are some delicious music from Northern Ghana -by artists that I feel should be celebrated more -and some of my other favourite Ghanaian artists like; Wanlov the Kubolor and Okomfour Kwaadee. All the above are unique, talented -fusing the modern and the 'now' with Ghana's yummy, traditional and cultural past.... Websites -King Ayisoba -http://www.myspace.com/kingayisoba Atongo Zimba - http://go.to/atongo.com (email at: atongo@go.to) Rocky Dawuni -http://www.rockydawuni.com Wanlov the Kubolor -http://www.wanlov.com/1.html / http://www.myspace.com/wanlov
"I spent some time scanning images from a year's worth of issues of the Ghana edition of Drum magazine. Truth be told, losing myself in the pages was a bit of escapism. I wanted a glimpse of my parents' world, of their aspirations and of the culture from which I emerged. Those pages were a good source of any manner of cultural artefacts and goings-on in the country. Call it nostalgia, call it social anthropology, call it a poor man's history, or perhaps I was simply fascinated by the advertisements. So. Drum Magazine. Ghana. 1969. Here goes............1969 was an election year in Ghana, Kwame Nkrumah's one-party regime had been overthrown and civilian rule loomed. But that was by the by - the magazine was typically focused on lighter issues. By way of background, Drum magazine is most known from its South African roots but it also had Ghanaian and Nigerian editions from the late sixties until the eighties. The equivalents would be Ebony, Jet or say Essence (alternatively think of Hello and Paris Match) ergo, none too weighty society papers. A good place to start then would be "Drum's fabulous contest to find the prettiest mini-skirt (and its wearer) in Ghana." Koranteng Ofosu-Amaah
I am loving the above collages, -created from issues of drum magazine (the Ghanaian edition from 1969), - the fashion is fierce. I stumbled across the collages on, Koranteng Ofosu-Amaah's blog -and I'm thankful because they are, -inspirational, cultural delights -that speak of Ghana's fashionable and glossy past... -[just what, -a soon to be publisher wants/needs to see]. For more images and information -please visit koranteng's blog at: http://koranteng.blogspot.com/
"Afrocenchic has committed itself to the affordable supply of hand made/crafted goods from Africa that incorporate African flare into everyday life. Afrocenchic is determined to highlight the beauty and creativity that exists in modern Africa, without losing sight of its rich culture, in an attempt to show that there is much more to the continent than the archaic concepts that museums, the media and some educators provide." afrocenchic.com
Royality Yaa t-shirt, Royality Nkrumah t-shirt, -and the fabulous, Fulani brass earrings [above] are all available from: www.afrocenchic.com
Unfortunately, I was unable to embed the film clip -the first time around and do not know how long this clip will last [here] -but it would seem that all is not well in the Gold Mining Industry. Note, I love wearing Gold -but surely, it could be mined in a more ethical, safer and sustainable way [so that the people of Ghana can benefit from the grassroots -up]. I wonder what is the government of Ghana doing about these farmers. They seem to have lost everything (their lands, livelihood and to some extent -the security of a healthier future -for their children). Maybe, I am way off, -naive even -but can't these companies do better than this. As the lady said, -we Ghanaians don't like trouble -so why not offer some sort of compensation. A new location (because no one should live near these mines), facilities like schools [and school fees], hospitals and employment -would go some way to helping our brothers and sisters in this depleted region. Or have I got it very wrong???. I will be writing to the press office of, AngloGold Ashanti [soon] and I'm hoping to get their take on -the impact of mining on local communities. .................. Just in case they disable this clip -you can watch, 'The Curse of Gold' -at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QbNAtWHhXq4&NR=1
I once saw Kwaadee in concert in London -and like the rest of the ladies in V.I.P -I was swooning. What has happened to this singing sensations? I heard some rumours -way back.....but??? Kwaadee I miss your music....Does anyone know what he's up to?
What is this? Why are these beautiful children (Ghana's future) -left to rummage through -hazardous fumes from [rubbish] machines -these babies are being poisoned!!!
