A CHAT WITH OHENEBA O’RONGA…

Entertainment is a whole box, normally people focus on either Music or Movies and the fashion/Arts industry is left out of the excitement, but the latter play a vital role in our entertainment industry.

Entertainmentinghana.com with its aim to give its readers an all round circle of excitement, caught up with the CEO of ORONGA CLOTHLING Oheneba Nana Yaw Boamah, to find out all hidden secrets.
You are welcome to entertainment in Ghana.com “ON THE CHAIR”, my name is Nana Yaw Wiredu.

EG: Take us through your journey of gaining the desire for fashion.
OHB: I love art and everything that got to do with Media and Fashion. My artistic knowledge took me into the working field during my secondary school education where I learnt a lot through my everyday activities.

EG: This means everything passionate is worth trying, so what did you do after senior school and what did you study at SHS.
OHB: I did General Arts but started with Business, with such dangerous switch; I managed to pass and enrolled at Kwame Nkrumah University of Science & Technology where I studied Industrial Arts and majored in Fashion and Textiles.

EG: Can you take us through University life and its changes on your dream?
OHB: Life at the University made me realize there’s more to life than what I thought. I got myself into a campus base radio station “Focus FM”. I entered into radio just to have an additional knowledge aside my Fashion and Textile course.
I also got into Film and Documentary production like ‘Infotech TV’ on TV3, and a documentary project for PPAG on AIDS.

EG: “ORONGA” is one different name, what inspired that name.
OHB: I had the aim to change all wrong fashion ideas to right, hence the name ORONGA, the initial name was RONGARYTZ. [A coinage of two words, wrong and right].



EG: Has Mr. Oheneba worked on some projects?
OHB: Yes, the first was at KNUST College of Art exhibition, the second was a fashion show dubbed NIGHT OF FASHION at the end of my degree course at the university.

EG: What about the celebrities, have you worked with any yet?
OHB: I got myself on board a movie project and took care of costume, continuity and artistic directing. On set were Nadia Buari, Kofi Adjorlo, Vivian Achor and Yvonne Okoro.
The production opened doors, leading me to the Chelsea Icon Michael Essien to have my label as part of his designer collections.

EG: That’s some level of achievement, but apart from sewing and designing cloths what else is ORONGA CLOTHLINE into?
OHB: I work with Texstyles Ghana Ltd. [GTP] as well, there I design most of the fabrics that we have around now, and I worked on TAYSEC’s fabric, Face of Tertiary, the fabric for the late Hawa Yakubu.
I also designed the Ghana at 50 fabric, I have designed majority of fabrics for Hotel staff, Churches, schools etc.

EG: This is awesome, any dreams and future plans Mr. Oheneba.
OHB: I dream to become a world acclaim designer, so every single day it urges me to research to broaden my scope on designing, textiles and fashion. I look to see Oheneba Rongarytz [now O-RONGA CLOTHING] label first like the Coco Channel’s or the 1920 young Italian man named Guccio Gucci.

EG: What do you do to relax and any inspirer?
OHB: I don’t really have a structured relaxation time and an inspirer, it happens mostly at a particular time.

EG: Thank you for talking to entertainmentinGhana.com.
OHB: You are welcome.

Story: Nana Yaw Wiredu

‘CRUNK MUSIC’ A GENRE GHANAIAN MUSIC WAS NOT READY FOR…

With the invasion of the ‘Jama’ genre, Ghanaian music lost its identification more when the ‘CRUNK MUSIC’ was introduced. That style made the outside world and the local Ghanaian confused as to what the music industry was turning into.
The first to kick this CRUNK music style has not been known till now, but I remember on one of the shows ‘ALLO TIGO’, 4x4 among other artistes was being interviewed by the supremo Jon Germain. In a question form he asked the entire artiste what their fans should expect from them with respect to their new albums. 4x4 then had not signed Fresh Prince but he was with them and the guys did the crunk dance and gave a teaser of the song they called ‘HOT GIRLS .COM’.
The supremo Jon Germain quickly judged that SONG to be a different one as it had a different touch. Following that we saw the video and there came what I call the easiest way of making music ‘CRUNK’.
ASEM with his ‘GIVE ME BLOW’ track took the nation by storm, making it very difficult again for the hip life soldiers to compete as many joined the CRUNK train. Even upcoming artiste who had strong desire for the Hip life game quickly switched to the CRUNK thing.
This (CRUNK) genre of music also took the air ways for some time giving birth to the ‘BEST RAPPER ALIVE’ OKYEAME KWAME with his hit track ‘WOSO’ ft Richie and produced by Lynx Entertainment. CRUNK Music was not good for the Ghanaian music industry as it introduced a whole lot of chaff into the system; it also made lot of people think they could be beat producers.
That introduction also brought the newest soldier from the Last 2 camp Ayeigbe Edem who without doubt was easily accepted by Ghanaians.
Note this; Ghanaians accepted him (Ayeigbe Edem) because of his ORIGINALITY (language) and style (that’s Hip Life), it is because he came from the camp of the man who saw the origination of Hip Life Music in the country (Hammer of the last 2).
For some time our airways both TV and radio was filled with ‘CRUNK’ which did more harm than good, because we copied but we copied blindly that genre could not also stay as a genre of Ghanaian music as after a while people started calling it ‘NOISY’ and ‘CHEAP’ music.
So during the changes, from ‘Jama’ to ‘CRUNK’, where was the ‘Hip Life’ Genre. Or was ‘CRUNK MUSIC’ also a transition of Hip Life Music.
Find out in PT 4 of GHANAIAN MUSIC IS NOT HIP LIFE.
Story By Nana Yaw Wiredu/entertainmentinGhana.com

SAMINI MEANS CONTROVERSIES AND RECORGNISITIONS…

He needs no introduction, as he is one of Ghana’s best artistes ever produced, worked his way into stardom out of controversies and still swimming in one. During the days of Nana King (Ashanti international) Batman now called Samini was fast becoming a super star whose roots were never seen growing. Part of the group “Trinity” which comprises of Kokoveli, K K Ofosu and himself, the group broke the jinx of Ghanaians with the hit “ZANZA”, a popular song that will be hard to throw away. The song shot the TRINITY into massive stardom and gained the love form the masses in the country especially Secondary schools because of the popular dance that came with the song.

During that time he was known in the hip life game as “BATMAN”, whose voice could not be missed on a song. He was then the most featured artiste in the hip life game as many of the hit songs during that era had his voice on. The popular sign in tune of Batman “PAAAH” generated a lot of controversy as it was carried out that any time he does the sign in tune it called for a specific amount and hence the more says it the more the artiste pays. Whether it was true or not, that never disturbed others from calling for his services, songs from Paa Solo, and King David with his first break through song “Ayefe Notse” which became a hit with contribution from Batman, his verse and hooks on that song was all part of his success stories.

Batman then broke his virginity with his hit single “ODO” after so much controversy has been generated already with his break away from the ‘TRINITY’. I remember the song from K K Ofosu “Oyga” (which means Boss) was said to have directed towards the then upcoming super star Batman, with a cool heart he maintained his composure and paid little attention to that song. Still swimming in the pool of controversy, batman was faced with another one from the song “GYE SHI” on the “ODO album, many critics was on him for promoting bad social vices both Weed and Alcohol.
[In short Samini is the only artiste who has grown from strength to strength out of controversies, but the story continues….]

During that time the “ODO” (Love) album had gained massive air play across the length and breathe of the country with Batman spear heading Lovers Rock songs produced in Ghana, before him were the likes of Yoggy Doggy and Bacteria. Even though during that era Ghanaians where not moving with the heavy base deep voice swagger then called “Raggar” Batman was able to win the heart of Ghanaians with the first solo album “ODO”.
Little did we know that the road to victory has started, his first endorsement was to sign for the best telecommunications network then SPACEFON, now called MTN as the networks ambassador. He was the first artiste to be signed to a huge endorsement deal in the country. This built his confidence as he won more heart of Ghanaians with that deal and from there Batman was seen on recharge credit cards from then till now.
Growing in the game he recognized his true identity and hence pushed for his artiste name to be changed from Batman to Samini (meaning Rain God) NB: the first artiste to change artistic image and name. The name doubles as his real and showbiz name giving him strong originality in his career. With the change in name came his second album “Dagaati”, which was also a success, wining him the GMA artiste of the year plus the Music of Black Origin (MOBO) award for the Best African Act in 2006. From there Samini gained so much respect in and outside Ghana.
Being able to perform Live to a Live Band set up, Samini was seen as an artiste with a purpose and one that says that “I WANT TO DO THE MUSIC BUSINESS ”. He played on a lot of stages both locally and internationally due to his ability to play Live. Another glory came begging from the MTVs, Samini won the best African Performer during the MTV Mama Africa Awards held in Kenya, and recently he added the IRWS award.
Now to add to his achievements Samini is recognized by Wikipedia, an online source of information that recognizes only renowned and historic acts from all mediums. It provides a biography and all other relevant information about the artiste in question and it is accessed by all kinds of people in the world including those in the hinter lands. It is the quickest way to search for information about someone.
Samini becomes the second artiste from Ghana to be recognized by the online information center Wikipedia, the first to be recognized was the grand papa of Hip Life Reggie Rockstone. So the next time you want to know the newest thing about the ever growing super star Samini just long on to Wikipedia and you will have it.
As to whether the second meaning to his name is Controversies and Recognition Samini is now facing the problem many describes as “Polygamy” that is marrying more than one woman. With the whole hullaballoo surrounding his newly found wife at Canada and already engaged wife in the country, Ghana one cannot tell if Samini’s survival in this industry depends heavily on controversies and to crown it all he releases “Sweet Mistake”. As to whether the song is to confirm or kill the controversy only Emmanuel Andrews Samini can tell, but trust Entertainment in Ghana to bring you the real deal.
Story By Nana Yaw Wiredu.

ONLY THE SMART PLAYER WINS “THE GAME”…

“In the beginning there are three players (worthy in society), one Beautiful woman (who inherited a wind full of investment from her dead husband and she plays ‘THE CARDS’ like she means it), two strong business tycoons who owns a fortune each and they play ‘THE CARDS’ like their Life depends on it. Who invents the moves for whom to follow, who will complicate issues with his/her card and who will win “THE GAME” at the end of an intriguing suspense filled and tension built new RAJ FILM PRODUCTIONS, as the three went for the $1million bet for the winner.

The story is told of a gripping plot, a virgin ground for a perfect murder, betrayal, greed, intrigue and revenge. In an environment where the stakes are very high, when love is laced with a motive, a face becomes a mask whether handsome, beautiful or ugly one cannot determine what is hidden under a smile or a frowned face.
WAIT! Who will play the game very well and according to whose cards; if you have a ‘PRETENDER’, who used to sleep in the gutters, struggle her way into becoming a model, fakes a marriage scandal with a worthy millionaire in order to improve and sustain her agency, OR a MODEL and A THIEF, who does nothing but rob shops with her brains, has being in jail on four occasions, an assassin and contract player who plays the role of a wife at the same time an informer in order to earn a swooping amount of $20 million. (Impressive, track record).
Two blood brothers each have an investment of $50 million implemented by their father; the younger one cannot keep his eyes off the total investment as the death of his big brother earns him a cool $100 million. Will that investment make or break their relationship as siblings. OR an innocent business man, who has dreams of achieving his father’s goal, that is to make Kasaperako company the best in the whole of Africa, with a swift blackmail hanging around his neck, will he play to win the deal or fall for the marriage blackmail by the pretender who she has never met.
Let’s make this easy, In the beginning, there were three card players, who bet a deal of $1million, then came the PRETENDER, a MODEL/THIEF, TWO blood brother’ s with a $100million investment, an innocent black mailed business man over a fake marriage, seriously who will be playing what ?

Less I forget there are also, an honest INSPECTOR, TWO planted helping hands, one a PERSONAL SECRETARY and the other a HOUSE MAID, and then the professional ASASSIN (YES! She is so cool) who does nothing but expect killings with clean finishing leaving no signs for tracing whether the source/killer.

‘The Game‘is one creative smart story, that will keep you thinking, teaching you who, where, when and how to play your CARDS in life. If is about plots, strategies, links, intelligence and originality then find out in the thrilling, revealing characters, well edited, good camera movements and a pitch of smooth directing in “THE GAME”, showing at the Silver Bird Cinemas on the 9th of July 2010 at 6pm sharp.

‘The Game’ stars Majid Michel, Yvonne Nelson, Yvonne Okoro, John Dumelo, introduces Nadia Acha-kang and Johanes Mailer.
‘THE GAME’ a Frank Rajah Arase (the master) hand writing, marketed by a Double D Film Productions and produced by Raj Film Production, a must SEE MOVIE!
‘THE GAME’ WHO WINS?... THE ONE WHO PLAYS THE RIGHT CARDS OR THE ONE WHO PLAYS TO DEFEAT WITH THE CONFUSING CARDS.
Story by Nana Yaw Wiredu

“MAFE WO” THE NEW SINGLE FROM DIOJO

The latest song released from Diojo’s upcoming album (my love Story) is ‘Mafe Wo’. The first to be released from the singer was Only You ft Asem, the latter enjoyed massive air play on radio and got fans asking for more from him. The artiste (Diojo) has added another hit to his credit, titled ‘Ma Fe Wo’, the songs simply describes how long journey relationships can be handled without breeding any problems.
Diojo explains; this song is from my heart to all my fans whose relationship is trying to fall apart because of one or two issues, it is also for that girl / guy whose partner is far away in another man’s country and is hard to research. Basically “Ma fe Wo” is a smooth rocker that will push my fans into their romantic room, searching for that lost picture of their spouse who left due to a misunderstanding or is far way… He added.
Listening to the song, It came to me as no surprise why the song will need your attention, because it is lyrically built and well delivered by Diojo. This is a song whose structure has being made in a way where by you fell as if the artiste is talking / performing in front of you on a big stge. It is demonstrated from the beginning were Diojo welcomes you to his love story show… smoothly saying ‘ladies and gentlemen, my name is DIOJO’ with the piano keys playing a rhythmic sound at the background… oh! you will love it.
If you are a lover of melodious piano/Jazz/RnB Soul Music songs then you will swing your head to this new hit. The song “Mafe Wo” has very easy going Lyrics and fans can sing alone at a instant hearing. The songs talks about all aspects of life happening, from rainy / cold seasons, disappointments, and cherished / memorable moments with your partner, sad times and surprises. ‘Mafe Wo’ is appeals to all genders in the world, from the kids, youth and old folks.
In describing his new single Diojo simply used “SWEET” as another word for the new hit, and promised fans that the Video to this new single ‘Mafe Wo’ is coming soon to a television screen near you. The video was shot kind courtesy Pentium Ltd who doubles as my Executive Producers and is currently at the editing bench. .. he added.
I promised fans of three great singles before I release the major solo album “My Love Story”, I will not like to talk about the album now, hey! Is something ‘ORIGINAL, YOU CANT REFUSE TO GRAB A COPY’ This solo project has being long coming but finally as I said some time ago it has come to stay, diojo explains more I am not here to compete with anybody or challenge someone, for me as a musician and a business man am here to do business with the aim of satisfying people who need to be encouraged and motivated whether in a romantic relationship or life its self.
With what you are saying are you trying to avoid competition, or scared of one, and tell me your competitive advantage compared to others… I asked him. Well that is why you should or better still fans / people should listen to ‘Mafe Wo’ because it is not a song that is released to avoid or prevent competition… NO! is a song that to me will set standards straight in the industry. Am not scared of competition or neither am I trying to avoid one and if you care to know my competitive advantage are my “VOICE” and “STYLE”… Diojo’s answer to my question.
Final words to fans; I will keep on saying thank you to them for their encouragement, motivation, love and support throughout my career till this time. They have being wonderful, to my newly found Executive Producers Pentium Ltd, down Spintex Road, community 18 junction, in case you want to record a new hit like ‘Mafe Wo’ then Pentium Studios should be your option and finally thank you to everybody supporting or has supported the career till this time.
Never forget that Diojo’s Time is NOW! Listen to ‘Mafe Wo’http://thepicsmag.blogspot.com/
Story By: Nana Yaw Wiredu.

WHY? IS TV3 DECIEVING GHANAIANS…..

It come as a surprise to me that the organizers of Ghana’s Most Beautiful, TV3 has come out with a press statement stating that the winner of 2009 Ghana’s Most Beautiful winner Miss Nasara has being stripped off her crown as winner of Ghana’s Most Beautiful. This comes as a result of the winner allegedly to have stolen some items from another country’s beauty pageant winner Miss UK during a foreign beauty pageant.
The organizers of the show in a Press Statement released and read on one radio station (Peace fm) states; It is with much regret that TV3 organizers of Ghana’s Most beautiful announces that the winner of the last edition of Ghana Most Beautiful event has being stripped of her crown and therefore her 1st runner up becomes the new Ghana’s most Beautiful. The winner has being stripped off her crown due to allegations of stealing, signed by the CEO of TV3. The act of stealing is a bad social vice and must not be encouraged in society, not to talk of a social role model looked up to by many Ghanaian youth especially Women.

One fascinating thing about this whole stealing story, revolving around TV3 as the organizers and Miss Nasara as the past winner of the last edition of Ghana’s Most beautiful is that every party in this situation wants to protect its image. TV3 as a company / organizers of such a show want to quickly protect its brand and cooperate image as an organizer and Executive producer while the winner involve also wants to protect her image so she will not talk about the incidence with any media house, knowing that for Ghanaian media after two weeks the issue will die and she can get to leave a normal life again.

GHANAINS SHOULD NOT BE DECEIVED, When was the last time a winner/ runner up from Ghana’s Most beautiful issued a press statement to a media houses stating how far she has come with her project, to be signed by the CEO of TV3 before. No, they will not do so? When was the last time TV3 carried out a full documentary on how well their event, Ghana’s Most Beautiful is affecting the good youth of Ghana, teaching them about the rich solid Ghanaian Culture in all ten regions of the country with their contestants spear heading the whole event…

With the first edition of Ghana’s Most beautiful Ghanaians were made to understand that the event was organized to teach the Ghanaian especially the youth the rich Ghanaian culture, also we made to know that the show was to text the knowledge of the average Ghanaian with the target being the women how they understood their culture in respect to where she comes from in the country. With such a notion everybody loved the show, from the old, young and Kids, any time it was 8pm on a Sunday, just after the 7pm news, you will find a whole family gathered around a TV set to watch and learn the rich Ghanaian Culture from Ghana’s Most Beautiful.
TV3 will had the honoring time to audition people from the TEN regions of the country, making sure they have a representative from all the regions in order to meet their show content and fulfill proposals for sponsors but will not do anything with their show after the maiden event.

Everything dies off after a maiden show and they seriously focus on another show, nothing about Ghana’s Most beautiful will be heard either on radio or TV until two weeks for the finals of another edition.

Check your TV diaries when ADOLE’s (past winner of Ghana’s Most Beautiful 2008) documentary was showed on TV3 after she won the pageant last year, the project on the less privileged in society specifically the Handicapped in society. That project was a documentary shot by “Adole” was shown Two weeks on TV and it was A week before the next edition of the show and another week before the finals of 2009’s edition because it was time for her to hand over her crown because people had to know the project she under took during her reign as the Queen of Ghana’s Most Beautiful.

Why didn’t TV3 issue out a press statement or show her detailed output of how she carried out her project as the Queen, if not daily let say weekly because I still maintain that ‘if TV3 was able to audition for reps from the ten regions of Ghana, why shouldn’t the Queen’s project be moved throughout the country but instead her documentary was 10 minutes and was shoot in Accra alone.
TV3 should not deceive Ghanaians, they should let Ghanaians know that because the Lady has being allegedly charged of theft, they as organizers will not like to be associated with it and that they want to protect their show, cooperate and brand image.

Let say the story is true she actually stole the item charged against her, ask yourself, if it was not for this story would you have heard anything about the Winner of Ghana’s Most Beautiful, the show its self and will TV3 have communicated with the public on how far things are going with her “Nasara’’s. Ever since she won the pageant nothing has come from her camp or the organizers concerning her crown and project. It is rather sad that the only news coming out to the public domain is negative and her organizers (management) could not handle the news well but rather are keen on protecting their image as a cooperate body.

If you cross check with my story: ARE BEAUTY PAGEANT WINNERS WORTH THEIR COST? You will agree with me from this story, both organizers and the winners are not worth their cost at all not even a minute. Organizers of such shows will to restructure or stop organizing such shows if they will keep on throwing dust into the eyes of the average Ghanaians and TV3 should come again on this issue, I believe they have disappointed the Lady, I strongly suggest!

Story By: Nana Yaw Wiredu.

YEARN FOR MORE….AS YFM STEPS UP THE GAME…

“After the 30thof June, You will search …… ‘Ha! Is my radio set spoilt’, you will ask… has YFm lost their frequency? But you will be answered… as YFM steps up the game, remember in life change is necessary.
From the 1st of July a radio station will be re launched, with a fresh LOGO, it will bring innovative ideas into its programmes and importantly it will make its listeners ‘YEARN FOR MORE’. Don’t forget that every good products in this world needs to be maintained, and modified in order to keep the product fresh on the market.

For this reason therefore YFM your ultimate music party radio station will be changing its frequency from YFM 107.7 to YFM 107.9… Yes! The game will be changing from the 1st of July 2010. The news is no longer a surprise to the many listeners of YFM in the capital but I am sure many will be asking the question WHY?
Remember that at the beginning of my story “I said IN LIFE CHANGE IS NECESSARY” the answer to the question “why is YFM 107.7 changing to YFM 107.9, Remember in one of the station’s slogan it says that “your best station shall be the last one, only on YFM 107.7 with that slogan, YFM will have to move to the last frequency point on your radio set that is 107.9, hence the switch from 107.7 to 107.9, because your best Station shall be the last.

My source at the station confirms; In order for our listeners to enjoy our new frequency we (YFM107.9) have upgraded our technicalities, added some new presenters and have drawn a list of activities to mark the switch. Now on YFM 107.9 your weekends will never be the same as the original “Papa Sly” is set to take you through a weekend of excitement and fun with his new programme, then for the reggae lovers YFM just got better with you as the introduction of the “Black Santino” formally of Vibe 91.9fm will take you to the highest of all highest places in the world of reggae with the new improved reggae show, all of these on for your weekends.

The week day shows from Ryse and Shyne with Miss Naa , midmorning Show with Sammy Forson, Aphro Politan Mix will be on with Flexy, the Drive of your Life has gone better with the Nester Nocus , Y lounge, relax Jeremy Will drive, Y Campus Express with Trigmatic and the Sunday heat with Jay folley and DJ kess have all being freshly remade just for your listening pleasure always remember its “YFM 107.9 YEARN FOR MORE”.

On Wednesday 30th June 2010, YFM will have the cooperate launch to mark the switch at the Silver Bird cinemas from 5pm, this continues with an after party at Citizen Kofi for the countdown to 12midnight. The station goes off at 12 midnight and starts work on Thursday morning with Black Santino followed by Papa Sly it is a holiday bash for the switch, then every other programme continues in a new style it will make you “YEARN FOR MORE”.

For the youth radio just got better as my source confirms that there will be interesting activities on the station for all and sundry. There is no need to search for Yfm 107.7 after Wednesday 30th June, don’t be wondering if there is a fault with Yfm because it will and has step up the game from Thursday 1st July 2010 to 107.9. If you check on your radio set at home the last number on the frequency list is 9, so the next time you will want to tune into YFM, don’t hustle just tune the number from 107 to the last number on your radio set and automatically you will be logged on to the station “FOR THE YOUNG AND YOUNG AT HEART” in all this know that IN LIFE CHANGE IS NECESSARY and YFM has done what has never being done in the history of radio before ‘STEPPING UP THE GAME’.

Keep on reading THE PICTURE magazine for an exclusive interview with the General Manager of YFM 107.9 Mr. George Brew as we count down on Wednesday LIVE from the cooperate Launch and after party at citizen Kofi. DON’T MISS THIS ALL EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW….
Story By: Nana Yaw Wiredu.