The Sam Gilliam Foundation and the Dia Art Foundation have announced the first-ever Sam Gilliam Award recipient, Ghanaian artist Ibrahim Mahama. The prize was created in 2023 to honour artists who have significantly impacted art in any medium. It comes with a $75,000 gift and a public programme at a Dia location in the autumn of 2024. This collaboration comes after Dia’s 2019–2022 exhibition of Sam Gilliam’s artwork.
Mahama, who was born in Tamale, Ghana, in 1987, is well-known for his expansive textile and found-object installations, which recycle materials to promote thought on the social implications of commonplace items. He also highlights the value of community collaboration in his work.
“I was first introduced to Gilliam’s important work as a student by my mentor Kąrî’kạchä Seid’ou, and it has been greatly influential to me ever since,” said Mahama in a statement. “The most important aspect of any community is to share their many gifts, even if they are born out of precarity, for within that point do we expand freedom to all life forms.”
Mahama has had solo exhibitions of his work shown recently all over Europe, including the Kunsthalle Osnabrück in Germany and the Oude Kerk Amsterdam (2022).
A solo show at Edinburgh’s The Fruitmarket Gallery will take place shortly after his commission at London’s Barbican Centre, which is scheduled to open in April 2024.
Ghanaian most decorated rapper Michael Owusu Addo known widely as Sarkodie joins the list of performers at Medikal’s Indigo O2 concert at London scheduled for May 3, 2024.
In a video spotted on Medikal’s social media platforms has Sarkodie confirming his presence for the forthcoming concert in London in support of his colleague rapper.
The excitement surrounding the event is further heightened by the addition of Sarkodie to the lineup, who is well-known for their collaborative hits. Medikal has hinted that more elite musicians will be revealed in the next few days, leaving fans excitedly awaiting more information.
Celebrated movie personality Maame Dokono has revealed that throughout her acting career, she helped numerous Ghanaians achieve success, including Shatta Wale.
The Ghanaian actress, whose real name is Grace Omaboe, disclosed during Happy FM interview that her charitable work also includes people in the corporate and medical fields.
Maame Dokono mentioned the Afro-dancehall musician Shatta Wale and renowned Ghanaian player Asamoah Gyan as recipients of aid, though she did not provide any details.
Grace Omaboe, a.k.a Maame Dokono
Maame Dokono, the seasoned actress revealed; “I’ve assisted many in this country. Asamoah Gyan and Shatta Wale are among those I’ve supported. Shatta Wale, at one point, came under my guidance. Some of the beneficiaries are professionals in banking and medicine, among others. My motivation was to alleviate suffering,” she disclosed.
During an interview with TV3 in 2018, Maame Dokono talked about her role in helping Shatta Wale hone his skills. She mentioned that she provided him with opportunities on the popular show “By The Fire Side.”
“Shatta Wale started as a gong-gong beater on By the Fireside… he’s just one of the many individuals I’ve assisted,” she explained.
Crossdresser Idris Okuneye, better known by his stage name Bobrisky, was taken into custody by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) for altering and misusing naira notes.
The transvestite was taken into custody in Lagos on Wednesday night, according to EFCC spokesperson Dele Oyewale, who spoke with Channels Television over the phone on Thursday.
“He (Bobrisky) was arrested Wednesday night in Lagos,” the anti-graft agency official told our correspondent.
“He has been detained at our Lagos Office and will be charged to court.”
Bobrisky has gained attention for a number of contentious reasons, one of which being that on March 25, 2024, she won the “Best Dressed Female” Award at a movie premiere, which infuriated other celebrities.
In response to the outcry on social media, Force spokesman Muyiwa Adejobi stated that there is no legal provision advocating the arrest of transvestites in Nigeria.
“I have not read anywhere that cross-dressing is an offence in Nigeria,” he said on Channels Television’s Politics Today programme on 2 April 2024. “Let us be reasonable, you cannot arrest somebody you want to prosecute without having credible evidence and as such, crossdressing is not yet a crime in Nigeria.
“Some of them that are into cross-dressing, the allegation is that they are into something else, that’s where the problem lies. We need enough proof that they are actually into ‘that’. All those offences are natural in Nigeria and punishable under our laws,” Adejobi stressed.”
American rapper Chance After five years of marriage, the rapper and his wife Kirsten Corley have announced their decision to call it quits.
Kirsten announced the news on Instagram, saying that the couple had decided to split after a time of separation.
Chance The Rapper & wife, Kirsten Corley
In spite of their divorce, they are grateful for the time they had as a family and are determined to continue co-parenting their two daughters, Kensli Bennett and Marli Grace Bennett.
The couple, who first connected when they were nine years old, started their married life together in 2019 when they exchanged vows in Newport Beach, California.
Ghanaian rapper Medikal recently raised concerns about his safety on his X account with an enigmatic message.
In the post, he asked everyone to question anyone residing in his house, with the exception of his daughter Island Frimpong, in case something terrible happened to him.
This coincides with his declaration of his divorce from Fella Makafui, the mother of his daughter. Fans are left wondering and feeling concerned as Medikal’s statement suggests that there may be conflicts in his family as they adjust to co-parenting.
According to the post’s meaning, the rapper appears to be unhappy about reports that he and his wife, Fella Makafui, are divorcing.
Prominent Ghanaian writer and satirist Kwaku Sintim Misa, also referred to as KSM, has cautioned artists against drug use.
Speaking in a recent Joy FM documentary, veteran actor and comedian Kwame Dadzie pointed out that while the ability of drugs to spark wildly creative ideas is the biggest argument in favour of drug use among industry players, it is risky to rely solely on drugs for any kind of creative endeavour.
“When you get on any drug, it can give you some amazing energy and some creative geniuses that can give you the boost. However, trust me, if you rely on the natural, and you give yourself enough time, you’ll be amazed at what you can accomplish.
The deception is that that one gives you an immediate thing that you can do, and you think this is the way out. But the more you do it, the more you destroy that capacity. So you can be the greatest creative and everything but later on you realize that it brings you down again, very, very fast. So my advice is, don’t depend on any external high to get creative because it will give you just the boost but you can’t depend on that boost,” he said.
KSM acknowledged using drugs in the past and gave an explanation, saying he did it to see if it would actually improve his creative abilities.
“I did it to see how best it can help me be creative,” he said, adding, “and the ideas that I got were all very wild and wow, this thing is amazing, it can give you ideas and things.” to further clarify. However, as it begins to fade, you realise that these were foolish ideas rather than original ones. You do not care, though, at that moment. For me it doesn’t work.”
“I think there is something called the natural high.” He continued, “Those creatives who stay true to themselves and rely on their natural high are always more successful and have longevity than those who rely on the quick high thing.”
Known by his stage name BOLA RAY, Nat Kwabena Anokye-Adisi is one of Ghana’s most well-known and influential radio and television personalities. He has grown over the years into one of the leading experts in the country for event production, business development, and media management. He is now embodiment of discipline and tenacity. Inspired by his entrepreneurial, philanthropic, and artistic pursuits, he is a visionary with a sharp eye for talent.
Bola Ray, CEO of EIB Network
Bola Ray is the CEO of EIB Network. He has hosted various television and radio programmes, including “Starr Drive” on Starr FM and “Revealed with Bola Ray” on GHOne TV since 2017. Revealed with Bola Ray is a luxury lifestyle tourism programme that delves into the opulent lifestyles of well-known individuals. The show has explored the luxurious lives of known personalities including Prez. Akufo Addo, Real estate developer – Nana Kwame Bediako (Cheddar), Togolese footballer Emmanuel Adebayor amongst others.
Bola Ray’s engaging demeanour and aptitude for audience interaction are what make him special. His ability to emcee and entertain audiences through captivating shows and events is evident. He stands out due to his enthusiasm for the media sector and his spirit of entrepreneurship. Bola Ray possesses the ability to unite individuals and create enduring memories. It’s no wonder he has become such a prominent figure in Ghana’s media landscape.
Over his career, Bola Ray has accomplished a lot. He has had a notable influence on Ghana’s media landscape and received recognition for his accomplishments.
Major Shows/Events
Among his noteworthy accomplishments are his role as CEO of EIB Network, his hosting of popular radio programmes, and his successful planning of concerts such as Ghana Meets Naija.
Ghana Meets Naija; An incredible yearly event brings together some of the greatest musicians from Ghana and Nigeria. It honours the dynamic music scenes that exist in both nations. The concert features electrifying performances, collaborations, and friendly competition between Ghanaian and Nigerian artists. It is a much-anticipated event that attracts lots of music enthusiasts. The Ghana Meets Naija event highlights the talent and wide range of African music.
Rhythms on Da Runway, a fashion show, and Empire Entertainment’s Ghana Music Awards are just two of the noteworthy events he organised. He has accomplished a great deal.
Bola Ray’s accomplishments demonstrate his skill, diligence, and commitment to his craft. With his accomplishments, he has established himself as a respected figure in the media and keeps inspiring others.
Bola Ray has nurtured and coached a number of talents in the entertainment sector. Sarkodie, Shatta Wale, and Stonebwoy are a few of the well-known ones. His contribution to their professional development and success has been substantial. Observing his influence on these gifted people’s development is truly remarkable.
Bola Ray’s Inspiring Qualities
Bola Ray’s remarkable enthusiasm for the entertainment industry is his most inspiring quality. He climbed the ranks from modest beginnings to become a well-known personality in Ghanaian media. His inventive ideas, perseverance, and passion are incredibly motivating.
He is happily married to Mrs. Dorcas Adisi, blessed with 3 children.
Ghanaian singer-songwriter Francisca Gawugah, better known by her stage name Sis Afia, has made a strong statement against what she sees as an under appreciation of her contributions to the nation’s music scene, especially at the esteemed Ghana Music Awards.
The music diva expressed her frustration in a Facebook post seen by KobbyJosvan.com. She claimed that the organisers of the Ghana Music Awards scheme regularly ignored and marginalized her efforts in the music industry. Sis Afia feels that she should be given more credit for her contributions to the Ghanaian music scene, having made a name for herself with hits like “Jeje” and “Weather.” She claimed that, in spite of her commitment and diligence, she frequently gets overlooked in favour of other artistes when it comes to Ghana’s largest awards programme. Even though “Asuoden,” one of her hit songs from 2021, was popular, she underlined that it was not nominated.
The singer continued by saying she knew of musicians who received award nominations but did not submit a nomination.
“Have I offended someone at the high table Ghana Music Awards ?? The fact that Asuoden was a big song in 2021 Zero nominations which I still don’t get. I learnt people don’t even file for nominations but get nominations, the downplay on my efforts ever since i started doing music in Ghana hasn’t been fair to my craft And Yes it hurts because I work soo hard.
“I’ve been quiet for soo long because i have respect for the scheme and I dont want to step on no one’s toes!” She wrote.
Rapper Medikal has disclosed that he is no longer married to actress and businesswoman Fella Makafui.
In a tweet posted on Saturday, March 30, Medikal said that the actress is now his baby mother and that they are currently sharing custody of their daughter, Island Frimpong.
The rapper responded with a tweet to a post on X that identified Fella Makafui as Medikal’s spouse.
“Fella is no more my wife, she is my Baby mother, we are co- parenting now and it’s all good,” Medikal tweeted.
Several fans have expressed shock over the couple’s divorce, and he has since become trending on X.
Although none of them publicly acknowledged it, there were many rumours about their breakup around this time last year.
The quiet regarding their breakup appears to have been broken, though, by Medikal’s tweet.
According to checks, the couple has also unfollowed one another on Instagram, and Fella Makafui has changed her username to no longer include Mrs. Frimpong.
Medikal also revealed in a post on X on Saturday, March 30 that Fella Makafui had blocked him.
In an attempt to emphasise that “God knows I have done my best,” Medikal stated last year that marriage is not for creatives like him and alluded to a potential divorce.
In 2020, the couple wed in a lavish ceremony and welcomed their daughter, Island Frimpong, who will turn four this August.
