Entertainment
Shatta Wale’s ‘Kumerica Invasion Project’, a good omen for budding musicians
Gone were the days when Kumasi was seen as the citadel of Ghana’s creative arts industry producing prominent musicians, movie makers, among other amazing talents in the entertainment circles.
For some time, this long held title, has vanished, due to lack of support and spotlight to enable artiste cross over to mainstream stardom.
This has led also to a surge in musicians and actors who cut their professional teeth in the trade in Kumasi move to Accra to grow their craft and take it to the next level.
Interestingly, the script, seems to have changed for budding musicians in Kumasi following the ‘Kumerica’ trend. One of the sectors in Kumasi which has benefited enormously from the ‘Kumerica’ sensation is the music industry, as the trend has put a lot of spotlight on music talents.
Kumerica is an internet slang for the Garden City of Ghana, Kumasi in the AshantiRegion. The word Kumerica was coined from a blend of Kumasi and America (Ku + merica) by the young people of Kumasi who live ostentatious lifestyle full of luxury and display of jewels and flashy cars like the people of America.
Originally, their main purpose was to showcase their riches and luxurious lifestyle, to tell the world that though they live in Kumasi their lifestyles are like Americans; and this includes how they speak American English.
In the light of this, the Kumerica vibe has gripped the whole country in various dimensions, to the extent that, music talents from the region have taken advantage of the trend to release a lot of songs to catch the attention of the world.
This culminated in the dancehall heavyweight, Shatta Wale who stormed Kumasi on Thursday, November 5, 2020, for an initiative termed as “Kumerica Invasion project.”
From the scenes, and interviews granted so far by artistes like, Amerado, Ypee, Phrimpong, Kweku Flick, King Paluta, Kofi Jamar, and Phaize who are involved in the project, Shatta Wale’s presence in the region was a dream come true for young upcoming musicians.
Many see it as a masterstroke to instill confidence and energise the base of music in the region, and subsequently open the door for many to rise to the top.
Though other accomplished artistes over the years had extended support to budding artistes through collaborations and others means as this move by Shatta Wale has taken a different turn from the normal route.
Shatta Wale decided to go to Kumasi, shoot the various scenes of the music video in the neighbourhoods of the artistes featured on the song.
A move which has validated the artistes in their communities, increased the buzz around them and shot up their popularity.
One of them said, the initiative had made him and his other colleagues more popular in their community which was good for their brand. Clearly, from the numbers the activities have attracted coupled with the media hype, these young artistes could take advantage of the situation to make a strong case for their careers.
This calls for unity, hard work and consistency to keep the Kumerica Movement strong and going.
Kudos to Shatta Wale and his team for extending this helping hand to budding musicians in Kumasi.
By Edem Mensah-Tsotorme
Entertainment
TGMA unveils nominees this Saturday
The air is electric in Ghana’s music scene as the long-anticipated nominee announcement for the 26th Telecel Ghana Music Awards (TGMA) is nearly here.
Music lovers should mark their calendars for Saturday, March 15, when the nominees will be revealed live on TV3 and across the Ghana Music Awards official social media channels.
This year’s nominations promise to be some of the most competitive yet. After weeks of submissions and meticulous deliberations, music fans across the country will finally learn which artists and groups will be contending for the highly coveted awards.
The Road to the Nominees Announcement
It all began on January 21, 2025, when nominations officially opened for the TGMA. Artists and groups had until 16th February to submit their works released between January 1, and December 31, 2024.
The response was nothing short of phenomenal, with over 1,500 entries pouring in from more than 130 talented artists and groups—a true testament to the dynamic and ever-growing nature of Ghana’s music industry.
The Deliberation Process
Once the deadline passed, an expert panel of industry insiders and stakeholders rolled up their sleeves for the daunting task of sifting through the entries.
The review process was thorough, with each submission evaluated based on a set of specific criteria to ensure only the most deserving artists and groups made it onto the shortlist.
The final selections were validated by the TGMA board and key industry players, ensuring transparency and fairness every step of the way.
The Big 5 Categories: The Showstoppers
While every category brings its own set of thrills, the Big 5 awards are the ultimate crown jewels. These prestigious categories will be revealed live on TV3 on Saturday, 15th March, it includes; Record of the Year, Album of the Year, Telecel Most Popular Song, New Artiste and Artiste of the Year.
The Telecel Ghana Music Awards: Celebrating Excellence
The Telecel Ghana Music Awards play an essential role in showcasing and celebrating the best of Ghana’s musical talent. By recognizing excellence, the awards inspire artists to reach new creative heights while fueling the growth of the industry.
They also serve as a unifying force, bringing together artists, industry leaders, and music lovers in a shared celebration of Ghanaian music.
With Ghana’s top artists and groups battling it out for the prestigious honors, the anticipation is at an all-time high. As the music industry continues to evolve, the TGMA remains a true benchmark of excellence.
Entertainment
Ghana need industry bank to fund talents — Rocky Jigga
Ghanaian UK-based afrobeat singer, Emmanuel Rocky Gyeniaw Jnr known in entertainment circles as Rocky Jigga has expressed the need for an industry bank to fund talents.
According to him, this will help Ghanaian musicians to compete effectively with their foreign counterparts.
Rocky Jigga believes that many talented musicians have coiled back into their shells due to funding challenges.
“There’s more room for improvement. The industry needs more investors from both the government and private sector at large. We need an industry bank that funds talents, events and everything entertaining,” he said.
Rocky Jigga recently released ‘Slow Down,’ featuring Ball J.
The song which came with its video was produced by B Boat and it emphasised a man’s preference for an ideal woman irrespective of the size.
