Circumspecte

                           Some time back I wrote a blog on a genre of music I call “conscientious” GH music – the kind that makes you stop right there in the midst of an azonto move or heart-thumping beat. Not because the tune changed, but because you have to think - to actually ponder the weight of the words contained in song. For that category I mentioned folks like Efya and Manifest, and hinted at new comers like Chase. I also mentioned Paapa of “Songs for Kukua” fame as someone to watch. Well, watch I did. Last Saturday Alliance Francaise hosted Paapa in collaboration with 3rd Channel Direct, Skillions Records, 6Milu Media and Accra [dot] alt. The talented young song writer and musician decoded his inaugural album which is home to the masterpiece of a single, Write for Me”. To say that we witnessed talent in realization would be an understatement. Appetizers - Funky Prof, Sandra Huson, Sharifa, Fai...

The Vodafone Ghana Music Awards took place last night in Accra's International Conference Center. In prior years I've simply read social media updates on the event - many of which towed the lines of "a waste of money and time" - and never actually watched the event myself. You can imagine how excited I was to find out that the event was being live streamed via Vodafone's Facebook page by GTV and GhOne. The highlight for me was the fact that real talent and good conscientious (positive, inspirational) music was rewarded. For me, music is poetry in motion and so I really am a sucker for great lyrics that inspire. Here, I'm talking about Efya, Manifest, EL, Chase and R2Bees. Efya is simply phenomenal. Her voice is something else and her music pushes the edge (check out her cover of Duncan Mighty's "Obianuju"). That aside, she's really developing her brand as an afro/soul singer and I'm willing to place bets that she will do great on th...

It's day three of the year 2012. Already! First off, I wish each and every one of you a great year ahead. May you have enough of everything you need to achieve your biggest dream and highest potential, and may you never want for the love, support, strength and confidence to get to where you want to be. Second, Youssou Ndour - world renowned Senegalese musician - just announced his candidature for Senegal's presidential election on February 26, 2012! I'll admit, the first person I thought of when I read the news was Wyclef Jean who put in a similar bid for Haiti's presidential seat in 2010. But let's not dwell on that. It's a new year and if the recent past has been any indication, it's that anything is possible. Besides, unlike Jean who didn't even meet the constitutional requirement of having lived in the country for at least five years, Ndour has been very visible on the local scene - mainly through his music - and is also a UN goodwill ambassado...

A free urban arts festival, the Chale Wote Street Art Festival could soon be the in-thing on the GH street arts scene. Co-sponsored by ACCRA [dot] ALT , The French Embassy (in Ghana) and Institut Francais, the first edition of the soon-to-be annual international festival will take place on July 16, 2011 in the Jamestown community of downtown Accra from 10am till 10pm. The event is the brainchild of Mantse Aryeequaye (an independent filmmaker) and Dr. Sionne Neely (a researcher and writer); both coordinators of ACCRA [dot] ALT.   In the words of the organizers, its purpose is “to promote the exhibition of alternative art in Ghana and to nurture an appreciation for different kinds of art among Ghanaians.” The first time I read about the Chale Wote Street Art Festival, I thought: interesting name. The second time around during GhanaBlogging ’s July meetup over the weekend, I got a peek at the schedule of events and thought, interesting concept/project!   Now, after some m...

This is just a quick note to recommend the latest video from Ghana's Afropop Queen, Becca, appropriately titled: African Woman. You know Circumspect couldn't pass this one by. Check out her other vids too; she has such a unique and authentic flavor and def love how she reps her African identity! Here's to the Visionnaire in Becca! Enjoy! Photo Source: http://www.ladybrillemag.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/09/Becca-2.jpg

For Immediate Release Contact: help@museke.com Diaspora: +1 617 818 3102 Southern Africa: +277 9468 1310 East Africa: +254 722407717 West Africa: +233 21 230276 Museke Online Africa Music Awards (MOAMAs) Nominees 2010 Wande Coal, Lizha James, Barbara Kanam, AY, HHP, Bracket, Blu3, Radio & Weasel, Alikiba, Black Coffee, and Cheb Khaled lead the nominees for the Museke Online Africa Music Awards. The MOAMAs will award the best of African music over the last year and put the winners in the spotlight as Africa prepares to host the globe at the World Cup in South Africa. The awards are being organized by Museke.com, home of the African music fan which seeks to unify Africa through its music. The nominees were selected over a 3 month period by an academy made up of African music enthusiasts and fans. Nigeria has the most nominees with 31, followed by South Africa with 22, Kenya with 18, DR Congo with 15, Uganda with 14, Tanzania with 13 and Mozambique with 10. There are 28 c...

Another double (multiple?) entendre piece. Enjoy! -- I'm in that mode again. You know, the one that only I can savor and others find irritating. I'm not trying to be anti-so[cial]. Far from it. I'm totally engrossed. In. YOU. Try as I might, I keep coming back to this place. If only to hear you utter one more line. And even when you fail to switch it up, and it's the same thing on replay  I'm too hooked to notice. Or rather, I'm too hooked not to notice...YOU!  People say "her ears dey sweet her". I don't care. Let them blabber. All I'm listening to is you. Some figure it should be a quick act - a hit it and quit it. But me? No way. I want to savor every delicious bit. You hear that? Every. Delicious. Bit. Now, I'm not saying that I overanalyze.. But the things you say, I simply can't resist. I have to comply. When you say sway slightly, my hips react on their own And you talk about beautiful smiles, my lips curve in reply My ears ...