For one reason or other, our celebrities seem to think they can take us for a ride whenever, however and wherever they want. And that includes telling us all sorts of lies, either to promote their image or just to stick it on our faces that we are plain stupid.

But what they seem to forget is that their innocent public, as stupid as it may appear, doesn’t forget easily. All their deeds, utterances and even silence,most often do not go unrecorded. For reading pleasure, here are some celebrities’ ‘lies’ that became ‘truths’, whether inadvertently or deliberately.

Tiwa Savage and Tee Billz

So many times, Tiwa Savage and her manager, Tee Billz were found kissing and caressing each other. Even the social media was rife with pictures suggesting some romantic dalliances between the duo. Yet the ‘Kele Kele’ crooner vehemently denied any relationship between the two of them insisting they had nothing beyond work relationship.

Having grudgingly swallowed this lie and denial, Nigerians were dumbfounded when videos of their engagement began trending online. Today, most people are upset because they were lied to as the love birds recently got married.

Funke Akindele

So many white lies have escaped the lips of our dear Funke Akindele a.k.a Jenifa, especially about her wedding to her ex-husband, Kehinde Adeola Oloyede popularly known as Kehinde Almaroof. She lied in print about the venue of the much talked about wedding.

While the ceremony was scheduled to hold at The Haven Events Centre, Oba Akinjobi Road, GRA, Ikeja, she circulated an invitation card which read, All Seasons Plaza, Lateef Jakande Road, Agidingbi, Ikeja, Lagos as the venue.

Apart from the media, she also misled other invitees, especially those from distant places clad in Aso Ebi, who expressed their regrets and disappointment on finding out the truth. When confronted, Akindele, who spoke through her media aide, blatantly denied knowledge of the card with the fake address.

DBanj

In 2012, when the Koko master premiered his first reality show, Koko Mansion, he made series of promises which till today has remained unfulfilled.

His promise to feature the adjudged winner, which turned out to be Bolanle Okhiria, in the official video of “Fall in Love” is one of those unfulfilled promises. The Koko master was either lying to all or deliberately reneging on his promise as he ended up featuring Nollywood beauty, Genevieve Nnaji, in the video.

Yvonne Nelson

Her recent outburst following her failed romance with Kukere crooner, Iyanya came as a rude shock to many people.

When the going was good, the star actress not only savoured good moments of the romance with the “Your Waist” master; she also denied having an affair with him.

But when the relationship crashed and became an open secret, all she could do was to bow in shame. Suddenly, the lie about not dating the artiste turned out to be the truth.

Tuface Idibia

It may have been that Tuface Idibia had one woman in mind when he wrote and sang ‘African Queen’, but for long, he has been entangled in a love triangle involving not less than three African beauties who have given him children.

He did find this situation funny, hence in an earlier interview, the international star stated thus: “the truth is that marriage is not in my plans. I will never marry. Let me put it bluntly. I don’t want to marry. I am angry.”

Today, Tuface is not only married but had a large society wedding outside the country precisely in Dubai. So, the truth is, either Tu Baba lied about his decision never to marry or he simply had a rethink.

Doris Simon

In March 2012, reports of marital turbulence centred on the family of crossover actress, Doris Simeon when her celebrated filmmaker husband, Daniel Ademinokan allegedly trod the path of infidelity with another top actress, thereby putting the couple’s three-year marriage under tension.

The story made the cover of various newspapers and magazines and equally trended heavily online.

In reaction to the story, the award winning English and Yoruba actress debunked the rumoured crack in her marriage, insisting it was a figment of the peddlers’ imagination, a distraction and a product of idle minds.

Today, Simeon has buried her head in shame, not only because the marriage irretrievably nosedived, but for initially lying and deceiving both the media and her numerous fans about the true state of her marriage.

Source: Vanguard NGR

NATIONAL CHAIRMAN

Paul Afoko                2,034

Stephen Ntim                    1,503

Fred Oware                        1,135

Jake Obetsebi-Lamptey                66

VICE CHAIRMEN

Freddie Blay                  2,933

Sammy Crabbe                 2,358

Fredua F. Antoh                1,813

Sheikh TB Damba                 1,118

Michael Omari Wadie             1,166

Kenwood Nuworsu                 668

Philomena Serwaa Akoto        632

Mukhtar Sahanoon                 482

Hajia Fati Amadu                    231

Afua Nyantakyi                      205

GENERAL SECRETARY

Kwabena Agyei Agyepong    2,529

Kwadwo Owusu Afriyie                 1,990

Yaw Buaben Asamoa                      181

Nkrabea Effah Darteh                    46

NATIONAL ORGANISER

John Boadu                            3,279

Hopeson Yaovi Adorye                  986

Alhaji Moctar Bamba                     476

NATIONAL YOUTH ORGANISER

Sammy Awuku                           471

Pius Enam Hadzide                           115

Emmanuel Attafuah                          28

Richard Nyamah                               19

Michael Ampong                                9

Gifty Oware Aboagye                         7

Charles Adu                                       6

NATIONAL NASARA CO-ORDINATOR

Kamal-deen Abdulai                  84

Abubakr Suleman                               57

Salihu Yahaya                                    39

Alhaji Ahmed Sadat Awudu         39

Alhaji Ibrahim Aminu                     26

Alhaji Abdulai Tamimu                  8

Haruna Maiga                                     32

Baba Gado Ibrahim                             21

NATIONAL TREASURER

Emmanuel Abankwa Yeboah      2,488

Hajia Ruka                               1,162

Suzzy Mensah                             595

NATIONAL WOMEN’S ORGANISER

Otiko Afisah Djaba     276

Gifty Tina Mensah           250

Mawusi Awity                   113 

Sandra Sorice

Sandra Sorice, a 33-year-old Ghanaian model based in Germany, has been busted by German security agencies for allegedly swindling an unsuspecting businessman from Essen, a small town in Germany, of more than 750,000 Euros (approximately GH¢2.6 million), DAILY GUIDE has gathered from sources in Germany.

Ms. Sorice, who was picked up together with her 47-year-old investment banker boyfriend early this month, was accused of deceiving the businessman under the pretext that they could supply him with gold dust, but disappeared promptly after he (businessman) had paid the 750,000 Euros in several tranches.

“…they are said to have led the businessman to believe that the pre-payments are necessary for fees and export taxes,” German newspaperDusseldorf Express reported on April 9, 2014.

Sources in Germany have told DAILY GUIDE that Ms. Sorice and her accomplices are currently in police custody after the office of Criminal and Customs Investigations had raided her apartment and that of five other suspects in a town near Dusseldorf.

According to the Dusseldorf Express, Sandra Sorice and her boyfriend are believed to be the main perpetrators of a gold scamming ring in Germany.

Another German newspaper, Neue Ruhr Zeitung, reported that Ms Sorice posed as the daughter of a Ghanaian prince whose family owned a gold mine. According to the newspaper, Sandra might be in for the long haul because she had been noted for such scams.

About two years ago, a regional court in Dusseldorf sentenced her for a similar issue, and she is still on probation.

In 2010 she was said to have fleeced an amount of 300,000 Euros from a Norwegian businessman. The money was meant for the payment of a purported gold dust from a Ghanaian mine. That same year, she was involved in a deal with an American businessman who parted with approximately US$1.6 million for 831 kilograms of gold.

The deal quickly went burst and she was dragged to an Accra Circuit Court.

Sandra Sorice and her driver, one Yussif Ahmed Akpakli, were cited for defrauding the American businessman of the amount.

The court, presided over by Ivy Heward-Mills, granted them a GH¢300,000 bail with four sureties each after her lawyer, Victor K. Adawudu, had pleaded for bail for them.

They pleaded not guilty to two counts of conspiracy to commit crime and defrauding by false pretences.

Information available to DAILY GUIDE indicated that Sandra, in 2005 got married to one Stefano S., a multi-millionaire management consultant. The couple was said to have lived a life of luxury, dashing to Las Vegas and other prime locations worldwide. But soon the glamour faded, as she was said to have taken 500,000 Euros from her husband, leading to a divorce.

She was said to have started her new trade of gold deals after the divorce, boasting to businessmen that her family owned gold mines – a tale that enabled her to swindle them out of their cash.

Minister Sonnie Badu has successfully rounded up his “Teach Me How To Worship Conference” in Houston, Dallas, Massachusett, Worcester and Texas.

The four days conference which began on March 20^th in each of the three states, ended on April 5^th. At each of the conference, the “worshipper” ministered to a host of people and taught on praise and worship. One of the many topics tackled at the conference was decoding the mysteries of worship.

In a phone interview with Sonnie Badu, he revealed that at the conference many people dedicated their lives to Christ while others gave testimonies after the conference.

“One of the distinct testimonies’ was when a woman who had been operated on breast cancer had pulses. The pulses were not going, she was in pain and during the concert her cancer dried up and the doctors also confirmed that the cancer had dried up. In Minnesota too, there was great, great massive testimonies and Dallas over a hundred people gave their lives to Christ” he further disclosed.

According to Sonnie, the decision to organize the conference stems from his realization that the body of Christ needs to know who God is and the power of his might.

All it took was for anyone who wanted to be a participant of the “Teach Me How To Worship Conference” to register online via the minister’s website www.sonniebadu.com. The event which was free for participants also saw Sonnie minister to the sick, lost and depressed.

The worship conference which has been running for 6 years has already made stops in several cities including Minnesota (USA), Philadelphia, Houston, Dallas and Rhode Island (USA), and is scheduled to be replicated in other countries like Canada, Australia, Nigeria and many other places around the world.

According to the minister, this marks the first half of the “Teach Me How To Worship Conference” so gospel music lovers and Christians should be on the lookout as there is no  doubt that very soon he will be in a city near you. The “Teach Me How To Worship Conference” was graced by many people from far and near.

Meanwhile voting for this year’s Vodafone Ghana Music Awards is still ongoing. Fans of the Minister who are known as Team Sonnie Badu can text A Sonnie Badu for Artiste of the Year to 1767.

Text “I” Sonnie Badu  for Gospel Song of the Year to 1767 and “N” Sonnie Badu for Gospel Artiste of the Year also to 1767 on all networks. This is your chance to join as make history!

Check out the dance cypher of Atumpan’s Regina song featuring Samini. Enjoy the dance and feel the music.

Though Nana Kweku Osei, better known as Nacy, has for the third time running won the Sound Engineer of the Year and Producer of the Year honours at the recent Adom FM-organised Ghana Gospel Industry Awards, what really brought joy to him by the end of 2013 was the acquisition of new recording equipment and premises for a second studio.

Until now, Nacy had been running the Nacy Recordz Studio at Mataheko in Accra where he recorded hits for numerous artistes including Ohemaa Mercy, OJ, Herty Borngreat, Selina Boateng, Superintendent Kofi Sarpong, Cecilia Marfo and others.

The engineer/producer has now renamed the studio Tone Hall and has installed new recording equipment and music instruments from Canada for the transition of the place into a strictly live music recording outfit.

The new premises for Nacy Recordz is just across the street from what is now Tone Hall and it will have facilities for programming and all other aspects of music recording. A video production unit has also been attached to make it easier for clients who want to make videos of their songs as well.

Nacy, who is also the leader of the No Tribe gospel group, says he has finished setting up whatever is necessary to make Tone Hall a first-class live recording studio. The place won’t, however, be available to the public till about late February 2014 when No Tribe would have finished with its third album.

No Tribe’s maiden album was The Altar. It was followed with Three which contained the very popular Bohye song. According to Nacy, it is time now for the group to bring up something new for its fans and the finishing touches are being done at Tone Hall.

“No Tribe is a live act. We relish being on stage and interacting with the fans. We have not put anything new out for nearly four years now and the fans have been yearning for fresh stuff. The next album is strictly live and is all being done at Tone Hall,” Nacy says.

He pointed out that Tone Hall would also be available for any engineer or producer who wants to rent it for a specific project. “Having been blessed by God to equip Tone Hall for excellent live work does not mean I have to monopolise it.

“The more people who are able to get good live sound from there, the better it is for the music business here,”said the multi-award winning engineer/producer.

From 15 April, DStv will be introducing its audiences to Planet Radio TV (PR TV), an innovative channel showcasing Africa’s music and youth entertainment. The channel will be on the pay tv platform for a three-month trial period and will be available on DStv channel 335 to subscribers on the Access, Family, Compact Plus, Compact and Premium bouquets until 15 July 2014.

PRTV has grown from being solely an online entertainment platform and has successfully integrated the live elements of radio and the visual aspects of TV with state of the art technology and boasts more than eight hours filled with live entertainment TV daily!

Viewers will enjoy a multitude of in-house produced productions that cater to the music and entertainment needs of the Pan-African viewers. The channel’s breakfast show, Daily Planet airs on weekdays from 09:00 CAT and showcases exclusive celebrity news and videos. The new-age jukebox, Planet Mix, is sure to be a hit with music lovers as PR TV’s talented VJs provide daily live mixes that satisfy even the most eclectic of musical tastes.

The world of hashtags and retweets comes to life every Monday at 21:00 CAT on the interactive Twitter Sphere while drive time TV launches into the entertainment stratosphere with The Buzz on Wednesdays at 16:00 CAT and Z Drive on Thursdays at 16:00 CAT. The channel also shines the spotlight on the best that Ghana has to offer with GH on Point, weekdays at 11:00 CAT.

Viewers should lookout for Idols Cameroon winner Zinnia (host of the Z Drive), former Big Brother Africa housemate Kwaku (Daily Planet host), the stunning Nadia (field reporter), the talented DJs Waxxy, Scratch Masta and Leon (Planet Mix) plus a whole lot more young, driven media professionals.

Planet Radio Television channel will be available on DStv channel 335 from Tuesday 15 April at 11:00 CAT for a period of three months.

For more information log onto www.dstv.com 

The Chairman of the National Development Planning Commission (NDPC) Dr. P.V. Obeng last Friday commended MUSIGA for taking an initiative that will catalyse the future development of the Music sector and the larger Creative Arts sector.

He promised to assist in the early release of Government allocated budget to the sector. He however urged all Creative Sector groups to emulate the example of MUSIGA by working to improve and create the needed opportunities for clearer policy decision making options and adoptions for easy implementation.

Dr Obeng further indicated that Government will definitely provide the needed infrastructure for the creative Arts Centre.  In the area of performance Halls for example, he mentioned the possibility of renovating the National Commission on Cultures’ Cultural Centers which currently lie idle in almost all the regions in the country.

The NDPC Chairman however called for unity among all players within the Creative Sector as the continuous perception of disunity within the sector makes it difficult to take the Creative Arts seriously as industry professionals.

This advice was given when the NDPC boss chaired the Stakeholders Validation and Review Forum on a Draft Report by KPMG on a Comprehensive Study on Ghana’s Music Industry in Accra.

Dr PV Obeng indicated that the report when finalized will form a good reference material for the needed policy and infrastructure decision making interventions to be made for the short and medium term development framework on the Music sector.

Present at the forum were representatives from academia, policy makers, marketers, educationists, financiers, creators and the media.

Download a copy of the Draft Report by KPMG

Samini and Shatta Wale

DANCEHALL is BIG. But the hidden truth is that, REGGAE is BIGGER. Reggae is far bigger than Dancehall in terms of intrinsic message and ratings, GLOBALLY. Dancehall is ONLY LOUD with youthfully exuberant lyrics, but REGGAE rates higher.

Reggae is the grandmother of dancehall just as Highlife is the grandmother of Hiplife.

It is necessary that every Ghana Reggae/Dancehall artiste knows this fact. Reggae artistes play MORE PAYABLE SHOWS than Dancehall artistes. As a Dancehall artiste, in my personal opinion, it would be nice if you consider doing or infusing the Reggae aspect of it.

If you doubt my words, ask Busy Signal why he had to focus more on Reggae than Dancehall. REGGAE is the REAL MARKET. Dancehall is just a SHOW OFF style of music. The biggest shows across USA, Europe, Asia are played by Reggae artistes, not Dancehall artistes. Dancehall artistes only get to play SINGULAR GIGS AT A TIME. But the Reggae artistes play LINED UP CONCERTS that truly pay and grow their musical CVs.

Many Ghana artistes don’t know this so I have to blow the vuvuzela again so we direct our industry in the right path to fit us here in Africa. I am NOT condemning Dancehall though.

It is just nice and ADDS MORE VALUE to any strictly Dancehall act to create some part of their act for Reggae music as well. Big up every Reggae n Dancehall artiste in Ghana. Reggae music (Roots Reggae & Lovers’ Rock) represents a more marketable brand and Reggae represents generational music than Dancehall.

Because most of us are enthralled with the ‘extraordinary twists and turns’ of Dancehall, many people feel sweet in their head and think Dancehall is bigger than Reggae meanwhile in reality, Reggae sells more than Dancehall. How many Dancehall artistes globally have been able to break into mainstream American market apart from Shabba Ranks, Shaggy, Beenie Man?

Even the highly talked about Vybz Kartel is not big in America or Europe in terms of ROYALTIES and STAGES. Vybz Kartel is a good brand and a real dope act in terms of Dancehall but I am sure if he would be true to himself he would admit that he earns far too less in Dancehall music he has recorded over the years.

Dancehall has a limited market – more pointing to the fact that many people think it is a “violent music” also is a factor that affects its market. More seriously, Dancehall music was NOT started on violence.

The likes of Josey Wales, Barrington Levy, Yellow Man, Buju Banton, Burro Banton, Capleton who are known are the genesis or early pioneers of Dancehall music did not employ violent lyrics until the likes of Ninja Man, Bounty Killer, Vybz Kartel and many others began introducing “gun lyrics” into Dancehall where the genre swayed into what the world has come to describe as “Dancehall is violent.” The messages in Reggae music are clearer and the music fights for causes. The greatest reggae performers consider themselves as messengers carrying a divine message.

Practically, at the biggest concerts in Europe, the organizers want to give fans something different because there are lots of people who don’t like the current mainstream music in every country. Some of those people are wealthy and they like reggae.

There are professors and big bankers who have no idea who these ‘loud’ Dancehall artistes are but they rather patronize strictly Reggae shows. We are beginning to have “same disease” here in Ghana where many upcoming acts think Dancehall is bigger than Reggae (all owing to the fact that Dancehall in Ghana is bigger than Reggae) but they forget that Reggae ON THE GLOBAL STAGE has MORE WEIGHT than Dancehall.

I have decided to voice my mind on this topic and advise my people doing mainstream Dancehall before it gets out of hand – especially the upcoming acts who fancy Dancehall.

By: Elorm Beenie

Davido

The management of Empire Entertainment led by Nat Kwabena Adisi (Bola Ray) has announced that preparations have been put in place to host the 4th edition of the ‘Ghana Meets Naija’ concert in Accra.

The 4th edition of ‘Ghana Meets Naija’, will bring together the best of Ghana and Nigeria’s music industries on one stage. Stars to represent Ghana include Sarkodie, Castro, Asamoah Gyan, Guru and Lil Win, among others.

The event which will take place on Saturday, May 24 at the Accra International Conference Centre (AICC) will also witness performances from some selected stars from Nigeria such as Davido, Kcee of Limpopo fame, Wizboy of Wizolingo fame, among others.

Both Nigerian and Ghanaian stars billed to perform at the event at the AICC have promised to put up a splendid performance.

The organisers who are busily working to make the event historic are currently holding meetings with selected Ghanaian and Nigerian artistes billed to perform at event.

According to the organisers, last year’s edition of ‘Ghana Meets Naija’ was so successful that it had to return this year, and they intend to make it even better, adding that “the ‘Ghana Meets Naija’ brand has become entrenched in the minds of music fans as the ultimate musical mega jam.”

Mr. Adisi, said the event was being organised to give Ghanaians a party like no other this year.

He stressed that music fans who would attend the historic event will have the exclusive chance of sampling the music that will make the charts in Ghana and Nigeria for the year 2014.

He, however, said the list of artistes billed for the show and the dress code would be unveilled in May at a press conference to officially launch the event.

The ‘Ghana Meets Naija’ concert is largely regarded by many music lovers as a musical showdown of sorts to establish supremacy between two countries whose musical trends have continuously influenced and rivalled each other in every way.

The 4^th edition of Ghana Meets Naija is brought to you by the nations’ telecommunication network MTN with support from Unibank- official sponsor of the Black Stars, Smirnoff- World’s no 1 Vodka, Africa World Airlines, Oak Plaza Hotel and Atlas Rent A Car

Grab your VIP tickets for GHs 150 and Regular at GHs 100 from MTN Stores (Osu, Accra Mall and Tema Community), Unibank Branches (Kokomlemele World Trade Centre, Accra Mall and Tema Community 1), Joy FM, Koala in Osu, Empire Entertainment, or Krew Mens Grooming Dansoman.

Tickets would go on sale from April 28, 2014.

You can reserve in advance your tickets by calling 054 594 9067 and 054 606 1118 or visit www.globaliconsagency.com/ticket to buy online. Advanced tickets before April 28, 2014 attract a discount of 10% on www.globaliconsagency.com/ticket.

For limited VVIP tickets which comes with complimentary drinks and front row seating, call 054 594 9067 and 054 606 1118.

For more information, visit www.facebook.com/ghanameetsnaijamegaconcert or follow @ghmeetsnaija on twitter.

SOURCE: Daily Graphic

Lil Win

Two of local comedy’s poster boys Kwadwo Nkansah Lil Win, and Kwaku Manu, will come face to face with each other when the maiden edition of the Night of Dance 2 Laugh holds at the National Theatre on May 2.

Both are part of a crack line up of musicians and comedians/actors who will take to the stage to do battle in the test for supremacy.

Powered by events company 2M Consult, Night of Dance 2 Laugh would bring together the finest from the local music and comedy scene in an exciting event, which would sit thousands of patrons.

Castro, and Pope Skinny, as well as the evergreen Dasebre Dwamena, and youngster Tutulapato, will form the core group of musicians for the event while local comedy poster boys Kwadwo Nkansah Lil Win, Kwaku Manu, and Salinko will seek to give them a hot match.

Also joining them is actor Kyeiwaa.

Kwaku Solomon, 2M Consult, CEO, says: “we are ready to stage the first edition of Night of Dance 2 Laugh. A lot of work has gone into this, and we are hopeful it would pass the test.”

Tickets for the event will go on sale in the coming days, the organizers have said.

Gates open at 7pm. MC for the event is Afia Schwarzenegger.

Shining a spotlight on the African continent and the amazing achievements of Africans around the world, MTV Base today revealed the nominees for the 2014 MTV Africa Music Awards KwaZulu-Natal supported by Absolut & The City of Durban.

The prestigious MTV Africa Music Awards (MAMA) nominations were revealed at a glittering nominations celebration at The Sands, Johannesburg, South Africa byMTV Base VJs Nomuzi Mabena and Sizwe Dhlomo, alongside Alex Okosi, Senior Vice President & Managing Director, Viacom International Media Networks(VIMN) Africa, Tim Horwood, Channel Director, MTV Base and Shirley Mabiletja,Brand Manager: Absolut, Pernod Ricard South Africa, in the presence of nominees AKA, Beatenberg, DJ Clock, Burna Boy, Mafikizolo Professor, Oskido andYuri Da Cunha.

The biggest and brightest contemporary artists from across the African continent and beyond were nominated in 15 different categories including Best Male, Best Female, Song of the Year and Artist of the Year.  Broadening the scope of the MAMA awards franchise, achievement in non-music fields was recognised in “Personality of the Year”, and “Transform Today by Absolut”, an award designed to recognize and support young, emerging and original African creative talents who use their imagination to fuel social transformation and bring positive attention to the continent. 

Tied for first place in the nominations were South African artists Mafikizolo and Uhuru, and Nigerian artist Davido, who each scored 4 nominations while going directly head-to-head for Song of the Year, Artist of the Year and Best Collaboration.  Following closely behind with 3 nominations each were Nigerian artists P Square (Best Group, Artist of the Year, Song of the Year), South Africa’sMi Casa (Best Group, Artist of the Year, Song of the Year), and Angolan artist Yuri Da Cunha (Song of the Year, Best Lusophone and Best Collaboration).  Hot on their heels with two nods each were Angolan star Anselmo Ralph (Best Male, Best Lusophone), Nigeria’s Wizkid (Best Male, Best Collaboration); Gabonese artistArielle T (Best Female, Best Francophone) and Diamond from Tanzania (Best Male,Best Collaboration).

Other artists from across the African contemporary music spectrum nominated for the awards included: 2Face, AKA, Amani, Beatenberg, Big Nuz, Burna Boy, Chidinma, Danny K, Diamond, DJ Buckz, DJ Clock, DJ C’ndo, DJ Ganyani, DJ Kent, The Arrows, Donald, Don Jazzy, Dr Malinga, Dr Sid, Efya, Espoir 2000, Fally Ipupa, FB, Ferre Gola, Flavour, Fuse ODG, Gangs of Ballet, Goldfish, Heavy K, Ice Prince, JD, KCEE, Khuli Chana, LCNVL, Lizha James, Matthew Mole, May D, Mi Casa, Michael Loman, Nakhane Toure, Nelson Freitas, Olamide, Oskido, Professor, The Parlotones, Phyno, Radio and Weasel, R2bees, Sarkodie, Sauti Sol, Shortstraw, Stanley Enow, The Arrows, Tiwa Savage, Toofan, Uhuru, Youssoupha and Zakes Bantwini.

Celebrating musicians and achievers who have made the most impact on African youth culture throughout the year, MAMA 2014 will feature dazzling performances from African and international artists, including the awards’signature collaborations between artists of different genres and cultures – a high point of every show.

Commented Alex Okosi, Senior Vice President & Managing Director, Viacom International Media Networks Africa, “We congratulate all the nominees for the2014 MTV Africa Music Awards. This year, the MAMA offers a stunning platform for African artists, it also celebrates the young personalities, leaders and creatives who are making a positive impact on the continent.” 

Commented Desmond Golding, Head of Department of Economic Development  & Tourism, KwaZulu-Natal Province, “KwaZulu-Natal Province congratulates all the artists and stars for their achievement in being nominated.  We look forward to welcoming these hugely talented artists and personalities to the Durban ICCon 7 June for the biggest contemporary music spectacle that KwaZulu-Natal Province and South Africa has ever seen.”

“As a brand, ABSOLUT is thrilled to be associated with the 2014 MTV Africa Music Awards, and we would like to congratulate all of the nominees announced for this year’s awards and wish them the best of luck on this journey,” commented Shirley Mabiletja, Brand Manager: ABSOLUT, Pernod Ricard South Africa. “Each generation there are a handful of artists who leave a transformative mark, and the MTV Africa Music Awards most certainly celebrates these artists. As the perfect platform, ABSOLUT has proudly sponsored one of the new categories, “Transform Today by Absolut“, which forms part of ABSOLUT‘sTransform Today campaign, aimed at celebrating the power of young individualswho transform the image of Africa through their creativity and vision. We are excited to celebrate this initiative and our ongoing involvement in contemporary culture through creative collaboration.”

The MAMA nominations in full:

MUSIC CATEGORIES

Best Male:

Anselmo Ralph (Angola)

Davido (Nigeria)

Diamond (Tanzania)

Donald (South Africa)

Wizkid (Nigeria)

Best Female:

Arielle T (Gabon)

Chidinma (Nigeria)

DJ C’ndo (South Africa)

Efya (Ghana)

Tiwa Savage (Nigeria)

Best Group:

Big Nuz (South Africa)

Mafikizolo (South Africa)

Mi Casa (South Africa)

P Square (Nigeria)

Sauti Sol (Kenya)

Best New Act:

Burna Boy (Nigeria)

Heavy K (South Africa)

Phyno (Nigeria)

Stanley Enow (Cameroon)

Uhuru (South Africa)

Best Live Act:

2face (Nigeria)

Fally Ipupa (DRC)

Flavour (Nigeria)

Dr Malinga (South Africa)

Zakes Bantwini (South Africa)

Best Collaboration:

Amani ft Radio and Weasel – ‘Kiboko Changu’ (Kenya/Uganda)

Diamond feat Davido – ‘Number One’ (Remix) (Tanzania/Nigeria)

Mafikizolo feat May D – ‘Happiness’ (South Africa/Nigeria)

R2bees feat Wizkid – ‘Slow Down’ (Ghana/Nigeria)

Uhuru feat DJ Buckz, Oskido, Professor, Yuri Da Cunha – ‘Y-tjukutja’ (South Africa/Angola)

Artist of the Year:

Davido (Nigeria)

Mafikizolo (South Africa)

Mi Casa (South Africa)

P Square (Nigeria)

Uhuru (South Africa)

Song of the Year:

Davido- ‘Skelewu’ (Nigeria)

DJ Clock feat Beatenberg – ‘Pluto’ (Remember Me) (South Africa)

DJ Ganyani feat FB – ‘Xigubu’ (South Africa)

DJ Kent feat The Arrows –‘Spin My World Around’ (South Africa)

Dr Sid feat Don Jazzy – ‘Surulere’ (Nigeria)

KCee – ‘Limpopo’ (Nigeria)

Mafikizolo feat Uhuru ‘Khona’ (South Africa)

Mi Casa- ‘Jika’ (South Africa)

P Square – ‘Personally’ (Nigeria)

Yuri Da Cunha -‘Atchu Tchu Tcha’ (Angola)

Best Hip Hop:

AKA (South Africa)

Ice Prince (Nigeria)

Khuli Chana (South Africa)

Olamide (Nigeria)

Sarkodie (Ghana)

Best Pop:

Danny K (South Africa)

Fuse ODG (Ghana)

Goldfish (South Africa)

LCNVL (South Africa)

Mathew Mole (South Africa)

Best Alternative:

Gangs of Ballet (South Africa)

Michael Loman (South Africa)

Nakhane Toure (South Africa)

Parlotones (South Africa)

Shortstraw (South Africa)

Best Francophone:

Arielle T (Gabon)

Espoir 2000 (Ivory Coast)

Ferre Gola (DRC)

Toofan (Togo)

Youssoupha (Congo)

Best Lusophone:

Anselmo Ralph (Angola)

JD (Angola)

Lizha James (Mozambique)

Nelson Freitas (Cape Verde)

Yuri Da Cunha (Angola)

NON MUSIC CATEGORIES

Personality of the Year:

Chimamanda Adiche (Nigeria)

Omotola Jalade Ekeinde (Nigeria)

Trevor Noah (South Africa)

Lupita Nyong’o (Kenya)

Yaya Toure (Cote d’Ivoire)

Transform Today by Absolut

Anisa Mpungwe (Tanzania)

Clarence Peters (Nigeria)

I See a Different You (South Africa)

Leti Arts (Ghana)

Rasty (South Africa)

Voting for the MTV Africa Music Awards is open at www.mtvbase.com from 16 April 2014 until midnight on 4 June 2014.

The MTV Africa Music Awards KwaZulu-Natal supported by Absolut is a spectacular awards show and music celebration, taking place in South Africa for the first time on 7 June 2014. Held at the Durban International Convention Centre (ICC), the awards will air live across the continent at 21:00 CAT on MTV Base (DStv Channel 322) and MTV (DStv Channel 130).

New video from Daddy Lumba. He calls it “Ye Nea Woho Beto Wo”. Enjoy!

Check out the video below

Are you someone who likes to cuddle up against your partner at night? Or do you tend to wake on the other side of the bed, facing the wall?

New research shows that the position in which we sleep is highly revealing about the strength of our relationships.

The key is the distance between couples, according to a study of 1,100 people.

Partners who sleep less than an inch apart are far more likely to be happy together than those maintaining a gap wider than 30 inches, the researchers found.

It’s Official! Michael Ayittey Okine a.k.a. Ayittey Powers has agreed to fight Braimah Kamoko a.k.a. Bukom Banku on May 16 at Accra Sports Stadium.

The two boxers answered few questions from the Ghanaian media during a press conference organised by the Ghana Boxing Authority (GBA) and the promoters.

Check out some pictures at the Press Conference.