Entertainment
Miss Golden Stool Kumasi audition takes off today
Sally Akua Amoakowaa Mensah, CEO, Miss Golden Stool
The Kumasi audition for Miss Golden Stool Ghana is slated for today at the Cultural Centre from 10am and would continue on Sunday, September 4 at the same venue.
Speaking to The Spectator after the Accra audition, founder of the beauty pageant, Sally Akua Amoakowaa Mensah said, coming back from break as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic and the challenges thereafter, they were pleased with how the auditioning went.
In all, they are looking at 12 or 10 contestants depending on the level of competition during the audition.
“When the contest is so keen, we will have no option than increasing the finalists from 10 to 12, to give opportunity to intelligent ladies who know their culture,” she said.
She said the quality seen from those who turned up at the audition in Accra, from August 27-28, at the AH Hotel was very impressive.“From their appearance to how they went about answering questions posed to them about their regions was impressive,” she said.
According to her, the contest was this time round not limited to only Ashantis, but all the Akan speaking regions. She said, they were looking at contestants from, Ashanti, Bono, Ahafo, Western, Central, Eastern regions among others.
Akua Amoakowaa revealed that all those who would be selected at the Kumasi audition would be brought back to Accra for a final audition.
Those who will then make it to the contest would have a shoot for their music video, and take them to the reality house, for the main programme to commence on September 27 to November 20.
AkuaAmoakowaa expressed appreciation to the judges, Nana AmponsahAdepa, Kyidonhene of AkyemTafo and Akumaa Mama Zimbi for their dedication.
She said Miss Golden Stool is looking for a confident lady who knows her culture, tradition and history of her people.
By Edem Mensah-Tsotorme
Entertainment
AfroStepz Dance Academy clinches wins Praise Dance Battle 2024
The Praise Dance Concert of the 10th Ghana Dance Festival came off last Saturday, featuring the best of Praise Dance Ministers in a holy dance battle for the number 1 spot.
The event which was held at PIWC Atomic, in partnership with the PIWC’s Ministry to Celebrities, saw AfroStepz Dance Academy emerge winners, ahead of Dance 360, Flames Dance Company, CDS, Shepherds, KTwins Gh, and Pawers Nation.
The three-round competition had audience spellbound from start to finish, with dance ministers giving off their best in each round.
For round one, dance ministers performed to their own mix, laced with a Scott Evans song, where the following groups made it top 5- AfroStepz Dance Academy, Dance 360, Flames Dance Company, Shepherds, and CDS.
In round two, dance ministers took on the creative task of using Dance Drama to couch various messages including values from Samson and Delilah; The Prodigal Son; Elijah and the prophets of Baal; Unity and Love over division by parties ahead of coming elections; amongst others.
After the second round, Flames Dance Company were declared winners of the 3rd position with 1000cedis as their prize. AfroStepz and Dance 360 moved on to the final round, where they had to battle for the 1st and 2nd position.
The battle had a face-off format, and featured two of their best dancers in a round of Afropop and hiphop songs, per DJ’s choice.
This round was declared a tie by the competition’s esteemed judges – Illyboy (Leader of Arenees Dance Crew), Erica Appa (Leader of Heroz Dance Crew, and House Ghana), The GreatNet (Leader of Let’s Dance Africa), Abena Lar (Dancer-Bachelor of Arts in Dance and Psychology) and Scott Evans (Urban Gospel Artiste).
To break the tie, the judges called for another face off. In the end, MC of the event, Psalm One, announced AfroStepz as 1st place winners, with 4000 cedis prize money, and Dance 360 as 2nd place winners, with 2000 cedis prize money.
According to CEO of the Ghana Dance Festival, Robert Klah, “dance means different things to different people and the are happy to use their platform to allow for the different expressions in gospel fraternity.
He said, ” This year, we decided to bring the praise dance back to the church, and to offer more people the opportunity to use their dance as a tool of worship and service to God.”
He said “We grateful for the partnership with PIWC Atomic, facilitated by Pastor Michael Laryea and approved by Apostle Athony Mensah. While we are happy with the event, we look forward to a bigger experience next year.”
The event also saw a discussion on how the dancers and the urban gospel singers can work together.
In the panel discussion moderated by Robert Klah, several issues on promotion were discussed. Urban gospel artistes Scott Evans, Kobby Salm, and Kingz Kid represented the interest of the urban gospel musicians.
Kingz Kid highlighted the role of dancers in the promotion of gospel songs using this experience as a reference point.
On his part, Kobby Salm charged the dancers to play their role in the ecosystem by working with musicians to build the industry.
Additionally, Scott Evans reached out to dancers for more collaboration in for collective growth.
Jay Smoke, who was the event DJ used the opportunity to highlight REPJESUS.com platform as a main source of urban gospel library accessible to anyone interested in Ghanaian urban gospel songs.
The session closed with an appreciation of dancers and musicians with a clear understanding to working together, to achieve kingdom objectives.
Also ministering at the event were Let’s Dance Africa, Tema Dance Academy, Incredible Afro, City of Twins, The Talent Tribe, KCC, Yung Commissioner, and JoVarni.
Royal Vessel Incorporated charged the atmosphere with praise and worship at the beginning of the programme.
The programme was made possible with the support of Ps Michael Laryea, and coordinating team Nana Akoto Agyapong, Enoch Agyepong and Dompe, all of PIWC Atomic.
The Praise Dance Concert of the 10th Ghana Dance Festival was in collaboration with DanceSport Ghana, Dancers & DanceSport Association of Ghana (DDASPAG), Ministry to Celebrities of PIWC, and powered by Dancetera.
Entertainment
Jamaica, Ghana Link Up: King Lagazee announces first project
Come November 30, 2024, all roads will lead to Untamed Empire, off the Spintex Road, Adjacent Action Chapel, for this historic event hosted by King Lagazee!
Wendy Shay, Epixode, Ras Kuuku, Konkarah Jahvybz, Osagyefo, Aklerh will be headlining the gig for the Ghana side while Dillgin and Boss Champs will be defending the Jamaican side of the business for this maiden edition of the ‘Jamaica x Ghana LINK UP’ Festival.
This initiative is powered by Lagazee Sound International and Yaad Settingz on Asaase Radio 99.5fm.
Kicking off at 5:00pm on the date, tickets are already out on sale.
For King Lagazee, defending the Reggae & Dancehall genre over two decades and scounting, there’s no better time than now to institutionalize his own concert to celebrate and highlight the ‘twin-genre’.
He is very hopeful this maiden edition of the concert will bubble the scene and revitalize the Reggae & Dancehall scene as it used to be.
“Trust me, this is something I’ve always wanted to do and promote Reggae and Dancehall from home and also infuse some new energy into our talents so they can be proud of a concert that takes care of them in terms of what they represent in music. I am very hopeful this will yield meaningful results. We are very open to more sponsors to come on board to support us as well as partners from across different spheres of the music business to make it possible, not just for once but for subsequent editions”, King Lagazee intimated.
King Lagazee holds a very enviable CV in the Reggae & Dancehall terrain, both locally and internationally, as the most decorated award-winning Selector on Radio and Television for the Reggae/Dancehall Fraternity.
King Lagazee has been at the forefront of the Reggae, Dancehall & Sound System Culture for over two decades and he is a well-respected crooner in that field both locally and internationally.
With his huge catalogue of well-meaning interviews granted Music Heavyweights from Grammys to BET, IRAWMA, Ghana Music Awards winning/nominated Musicians like Rita Marley, Morgan Heritage, Busy Signal, Anthony B, Ninja Man, Rocky Dawuni, Freddie McGregor, Stonebwoy, Shatta Wale, Samini, Charly Black, Etana, just to name a few.
Beenie Words and Events 21 are giving media support and production assistance for the upcoming concert.
