Entertainment
Stonebwoy releases video for Manodzi featuring Beninese queen, Angélique Kidjo
Multiple award-winning Ghanaian dancehall star Stonebwoy releases his most prestigious video for the brand new single, Manodzi, featuring 5 x Grammy Award-winning singer Angélique Kidjo.
Directed by Ghanaian filmmaker, director and cinematographer, Yaw Skyface, the video was shot on location at the palatial Chateaux Bouffémont in the Bouffémont commune in France.
Dating back to 1860, the chateaux provided the perfect backdrop for the video’s sweeping introduction, setting the scene for the true African royal experience taking place within its walls.
The video reflects the message behind the single Manodzi well. Referred to as Stonebwoy as the ‘root’ of his 5th Dimension album, the track is aptly placed last in track-listing. But it also has a deeper meaning concerning where Stonebwoy feels he is going in life and urges listeners to take comfort in the meaning.
The song simply means, ’keeping on’, whilst working hard to achieve one’s dreams. “I call it the last, but not least track on the album”, he states, because its uplifting message drives the listener to remember where they come from and where they are going – and getting to work with Angélique Kidjo has been a dream for Stonebwoy since the beginning of his career.
“It was an honour to work with Ms. Kidjo, she is like a mother to me and Africa at large,” Stonebwoy revealed.
Kidjo is a multi-faceted singer, actor and activist and well-known for her immensely diverse approach to African sounds.
Through Manodzi she expanded further by contributing vocals sung in the Ewe language, one that is not her native tongue. It is also her first feature outside of her primary language, which fans are finding particularly poignant.
The internet has exploded with love for the track, with social platforms and react videos calling it Stonebwoy’s most spiritual track to date, proving that the collaboration resonates with listeners regardless of language.
The video itself is without a doubt one of the finest cinematic experiences that Stonebwoy has released in his career.
Produced by London-based Casey Kobia, the crew and cast pulled out all the stops to produce one of the finest African music videos to date.
It instils the sense that Stonebwoy is taking his rightful place amongst leaders in the African music industry, and with Ms. Kidjo making an appearance in the video alongside him, it is the perfect culmination of years of dreams and hard work paying off.
Catch the video live right here on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pf7aZsUHe5Y
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.
