Dancehall Africa

Tag: News

[News : Ghana] MzVee shines at Adidas launch
Mzvee took the centre stage to entertain guests at the launch in Accra of adidas, the leading global sports retailer, over the weekend. MzVee shot to fame with her smash single “Natural Girl” and followed it up with hit collaborations with Shatta Wale, Stone Buoy and Lazy of VVIP.
The reigning dancehall queen of Ghana performed some of the songs that made her the toast of music fans currently.
The adidas launch saw the grandpapa of Hiplife Reggie Rockstone, D-Black, former Black Stars skipper Rev. Osei Kofi, Coach Ibrahim Sunday and some Ghanaian celebrities in attendance.
The guest of honor was the Deputy Minister of Youth & Sports, Hon. Vincent Oppong-Asamoah.
The Senior New Business Development Manager of adidas Africa, Astrud Meintjes expressed delight over their entry into the Ghanaian market, which represents a new era for the brand’s expansion into more African countries.
“The stores in Ghana rival some of the best in Cape Town, Johannesburg and I dare say some European countries, offering a fusion of performance and style items that will revolutionize the consumer experience of Ghanaians.”
December 8, 2014
Zimbabwe: Buffalo Souljah Up in Arms – Zim Does Not Value My Efforts – Why Only Kirsty, Chidzonga?
South African-based dancehall star Buffalo Souljah, real name Thabani Ndlovu, broke his own record over the weekend when he bagged yet another Channel O Music Video Award in The Most Gifted Reggae Dancehall category. Winning against Basawine Orezi (Nigeria), Patoranking (Nigeria) and Shatta Wale (Ghana), he remains the only Zimbabwean to get 12 nominations at the regional awards and winning six times over the last 10 years.
Now the Mufakose-bred musician has embarked on a campaign to get recognition in the country and will be writing an open letter to the President.
In an interview with The Herald, Buffalo Souljah said he was not going to remain silent when he continues to be ignored despite raising the country’s flag in a discipline that has the same magnitude as the Africa Cup of Nations.
“Mwana asingachemi anofira mumbereko. I’m proudly Zimbabwean and have been bagging awards and raising the country’s flag for the last 10 years without any recognition from my country.
“I am marketing the country to over 50 million viewers across the continent and that is why I am requesting for the same acknowledgement that the likes of Kirsty Coventry and Munyaradzi Chidzonga have received in the past,” he said from his base in Mzansi.
While he posted his request on his Facebook page, Buffalo Souljah said his team was in the process of penning an official open letter to the President.
“It is hard to come out in the open here and say where you are from since there are always people who hate you for it. Because of that many others who are making it beyond our borders choose not to acknowledge their Zimbabwean roots or associate themselves with anything Zimbabwean,” he said.
Besides the prestigious Channel O Awards, he also takes pride in his Nigerian Sound City Viewer’s Choice Award and Africa Music Awards nomination under his belt.
He, however, said although some people think he permanently resides in South Africa, he is in Zimbabwe most of the time, visiting his mother in Budiriro or their rural home in Zvimba.
Meanwhile, Buffalo Souljah announced his retirement from music, signing out with a 23-track album, “The Chosen One”, last month.
He said after years of “hustling to stay relevant” he was now working behind the scenes and pushing upcoming artistes through his record label United States of Africa.
The stable is home to Vanessa (Queen Vee) Sibanda and Lil Wayne look-alike Antonio “Young Nucho” Kalembe from Angola, among others, and has Buffalo Souljah as producer.
His new accolade has not deterred the 34-year-old musician, who was discovered by the late Prince Tendai, from quitting music.
December 3, 2014
[News] Channel O Awards: Tiwa Savage, Olamide, Kcee Win Big
Africa’s biggest night in music, the 2014 Channel O Africa Music Video Awards, was once more a massive celebration of the crème de la crème of the music industry even as our own Eminado crooner, Tiwa Savage, won the Most Gifted Female Artiste of the Year even as Olamide and Kcee were the other Nigerians that scooped an award each.
It was Tanzania’s Diamond and South Africa’s Cassper Nyovest who scooped the most awards on the night. In their 11th year running and hosted by Eku Edewor of Africa Magic’s Jara and Vuzu’s Siyabonga Ngwekazi the 2014 Channel O Africa Music Video Awards were broadcast LIVE from the sold out mammoth Expo Centre
Bongo Flava recording artist Diamond Platnumz proved that he too is a force to be reckoned with when he took home the Most Gifted Newcomer, Most Gifted Afro Pop as well as Most Gifted East awards for his breakout hit “Number One”. Cassper – who has been on a winning streak this year and most recently celebrated his debut album Tsholofelo going Gold – his catchy club banger “Doc Shebeleza” earned him a win in the Most Gifted Male, Most Gifted Southern and the biggest award of the night the Jameson Most Gifted Video of the Year categories. Beating the likes of DJ Clock, Tiwa Savage, K.O, Riky Rick, Burna Boy, Emmy Gee including the Prince of Hip Hop himself A.K.A who were also nominated in the latter category.
Up against Nigeria’s Seyi Shay. Mozambique’s Liza james, SA’s Thembi Seete and Bucie, “Eminado” featuring one of the continent’s well-respected producers Don Jazzy garnered a win for Tiwa Savage in the Most Gifted Female category. KCEE won the Most Gifted Duo, Group or featuring award for his song “Pull Over” which features one of Nigeria’s best selling artists Wizkid, beating K.O, who undoubtedly has had one of the biggest songs of the year. The awards for the equally competitive categories Most Gifted Kwaito and Most Gifted Hip Hop went to Uhuru featuring Oskido and Professor for “Y-Tjukutja” and A.KA for “Congratulate” beating Khuli Chana and Cassper Nyovest respectively. Other winners included Busiswa (Most Gifted Dance – “Ngoku”), Buffalo Souljah (Most Gifted Ragga/Dancehall– “Turn Up”), Donald (Most Gifted R&B – “Crazy But Amazing”) and Olamide (Most Gifted West – “Turn Up”).
In true Channel O Africa Music Video Awards style, the night was dominated by never-seen-before collaborations and mash-ups. K.O and A.K.A had the crowd in a frenzy when they opened the show with their hit songs “Caracara” and “Run Jozi”. Other mind blowing performances included “Tsekede” and “Yaya” by Dreamteam and DJ Dimplez featuring Anatii respectively; Patoranking featuring Tiwa Savage (“Girlie ‘O” remix); Bucie (“Easy to Love”); Donald (“Unpredictable”); Davido (“Aye”); Lil Kesh (“Shoki” remix); Riky Rick (“Amantombazane” remix); Cassper Nyovest (“Doc Shebeleza”) and Emmy’s Gee’s Rands and Nairas remix.
Check out the full winners list below…
Most gifted male
Cassper Nyovest – Doc Shebeleza – Winner
Davido – Aye
Riky Rick Ft Okmalumkoolkat – Amantombazane
K.O. Ft Kid X – Caracara
Sarkodie – Illuminati

Most gifted female
Thembi Seete – Thuntsha Lerole
Bucie Ft Heavy K – Easy To Love
Lizha James Ft Uhuru – Quem Ti Mandou
Tiwa Savage Ft Don Jazzy – Eminado – Winner
Seyi Shay – Irawo

Most gifted newcomer
Dream Team Ft Tamarsha, Aka & Big Nuz – Tsekede
Cassper Nyovest – Doc Shebeleza
Emmy Gee Ft Ab Crazy & Dj Dimplez – Rands And Nairas
Diamond – Number One – Winner
Patoranking – Girlie O (Remix)

Most gifted duo, group or featuring
Uhuru Ft Oskido & Professor – Y-Tjukutja
Dj Clock Ft Beatenberg – Pluto (I Remember)
R2bees Ft Wizkid – Slow Down
K.O. Ft Kid X – Caracara
Kcee Ft Wizkid – Pull Over – Winner

Most gifted dance
Uhuru Ft Oskido & Professor – Y-Tjukutja
Davido – Skelewu
Dj Clock Ft Beatenberg – Pluto (I Remember)
Psquare – Personally
Busiswa Ft Various – Ngoku – Winner

Most gifted ragga dancehall
Buffalo Souljah – Basawine – Winner
Orezi – Rihanna
Jesse Jagz Feat Wizkid – Bad Girl
Patoranking – Girlie O (Remix)
Shatta Wale – Everydoby Likes My Ting

Most gifted Afro Pop
Davido – Aye
Mafikizolo Ft May D – Happiness
Diamond – Number One – Winner
Flavour Ada Ada
Iyanya – Jombolo

Most gifted kwaito
Uhuru Ft Oskido & Professor – Y-Tjukutja – Winner
Character Ft Mono T & Oskido – Inxeba Lendoda
Big Nuz Ft Khaya Mthethwa – Incwadi Yothando
Dj Vetkuk Vs Mahoota – Khaba Lenja
Dj Cndo – Yamnandi Into

Most gifted R&B
2face Ft T Pain – Rainbow
Jimmy Nevis Ft Kwesta – Balloon
Gb Collective Ft Brian Temba & Reason – Chocolate Vanilla
Donald – Crazy But Amazing – Winner
Niyola – Toh Bad

Most gifted Hip Hop
Cassper Nyovest – Doc Shebeleza
Khuli Chana Ft Da L.E.S & Magesh – Hape Le Hape 2.1
Phyno – Alobam
K.O. Ft Kid X – Caracara
Aka – Congratulate – Winner

Most gifted southern
Dj Clock Ft Beatenberg – Pluto (I Remember)
Cassper Nyovest – Doc Shebeleza – Winner
Aka – Congratulate
Zeus – Psych
K.O. Ft Kid X – Caracara

Most gifted west
R2bees Ft Wizkid – Slow Down
Davido – Aye
Burna Boy Ft D’banj – Won Da Mo
Olamide – Turn Up – Winner
Dr Sid Ft Don Jazzy – Surulere

Most gifted east
Sauti Sol – Nshike
Diamond – Number One – Winner
Navio – No Holding Back
Eddy Kenzo – Sitya Loss
Elani – Kookoo

Most gifted video of the year
Emmy Gee Ft Ab Crazy & Dj Dimplez – Rands And Nairas
Davido – Aye
K.O. Ft Kid X – Caracara
Burna Boy – Run My Race
Tiwa Savage Ft Don Jazzy – Eminado
Dr Sid Ft Don Jazzy – Surulere
Riky Rick Ft Okmalumkoolkat – Amantombazane
Cassper Nyovest – Doc Shebeleza – Winner
Sarkodie – Illuminati
Dj Clock Ft Beatenberg – Pluto (I Remember)
Aka – Congratulate
Diamond – Number One
December 3, 2014
KOD paid GHC 1,000 for “Books N Rhymes”.
Kofi Okyere-Darko (KOD) was the only on air personality who chased Edem’s “Books N Rhymes” album for GHC 1,000.
Not to say others can’t buy the album at the same amount or even higher; but for a Radio/TV personality to ‘boldly’ but an artiste’s album for GHC 1,000 speaks volumes. In our part of the world where hard copy CDs hardly sell, it is not so common to find people buying it at such a price.
It is only laudable to applaud KOD for setting the tone on Edem’s album which many would love to see other on air personalities emulate.
Edem himself feels very humbled about it while he was interviewed at the launch of “Books N Rhymes” few days ago.
For so many years, most Ghanaian artistes run away from putting out albums even to take a bold step to produce hard copies of it for sale. But surprisingly, it is working for Edem and his VRMG Management.
The album sales in hard copy is receiving good patronage already in other Regions where it began selling this week.
Links to the online stores selling the “Books N Rhymes” album would be announced soon. Meanwhile anyone who wants to purchase can get in touch with Daniel Masoul on 0544213190 or speak to Elorm Beenie on 0245116795.
November 21, 2014
[News] Zimbabwe: The Soldier Does It Again
South Africa-based dancehall star Buffalo Soldier has scored big with his 12th nomination at the upcoming Channel O Music Video awards scheduled for November 29.
Again the only Zimbabwean in the regional music awards, he is vying for the Most Gifted Ragga Dancehall award for the song “Basawine Orezi” against Jesse Jaggz featuring Wizkid (Nigeria), Patoranking (Nigeria) and Shatta Wale (Ghana).
While he is excited about raising the Zimbabwean flag, he pleaded with locals to participate in their numbers and vote for him on the Channel O website.
“I would love to have my people to take charge like they do on the Big Brother Africa. I look at the awards as the music version of the African Cup of Nations. I have been waving the Zim flag out here since 2007 with videos airing on Mtv, Channel O, Trace Tv, Nigeria Sound City and Afrobeat Music Channel,” he said.
He said it was now up to the Zimbabwean media and those in different parts of the globe to support him as it was motivating to have his people back him.
Big Buff, as he is also known, said such support was the strong force behind the growth of other regional artistes who were enjoying massive airplay and success in other countries.
“There is always this stigma and hatred from my fellow artistes that are not OK with how I’m the only Zim artist who gets nominated.
But this is because I am consistent with my content. Each year we produce high quality budget music,” he said.
In that respect, the “Ezandla Phezulu” singer applauded locals for taking positive steps in producing good music.
He, however, said the secret to breaking onto the regional platform was to invest in quality videos also.
“I’ve said this before to our artistes. Our music production is sounding good but missing quality music videos that can stand against Nigerian artistes like Davido and P-Square,” he said.
He said it was the collective efforts from different sectors that would lead to the growth of the music industry, the essential stakeholder being the corporates that need to extend financial support.
“It takes money to pay for international collaborations and it is unfortunate that Zimbabwean corporates do not believe in sponsoring the local artist. This has led to the slow progress in our success in making a mark on the regional scene like what the Nigerians and South Africans have done,” he said
Of his 12 Channel O nominations, Buffalo Soldier has won five times. He also has the Nigerian Soundcity Viewers Choice Award under his belt
In terms of his visibility on the local entertainment scene he said he was disheartened by how local promoters were not booking him for local shows.
He has also not had any award nominations in the country.
“My team and I are planning to come home for a launch tour for my album this December. I want to thank some Zim radio stations that have been playing my music,” he said.
October 30, 2014
Dancehall Artiste Campaigns For Freedom of Innocent Fan In Jail

Stories about the injustice in Ghana’s prison machinery have always been sidelined in the media and worse among Ghanaian artistes who are either scared or unwilling to bring to the public’s attention the kind of unfair treatment given to persons who end up on the unfortunate side of the law.
In spite of the challenges involved in making public such happenings, sensational dancehall artiste Sean Taylor who has proven to be a force to reckon with in Ghanaian showbiz has recorded his latest song titled “Free up Jacob” to speak about the injustice being delivered to a fan and friend from Nima who had been arrested and kept on remand for almost three years for no apparent charge.
‘Free up Jacob’ according to Sean Taylor, known in real life as Theophilus Tettey Taylor was out of the hurt and emotions he feels about Jacob’s situation and how many other people may be going through the same situation without any help.
In the track Sean Taylor explains his belief that everyone deserves to be free and be given the opportunity to a fair trial.
The “Everybody Bard” hitmaker by the song hopes to get Jacob freed or the least tried in court fairly and in all justice so as to determine the true fate of the innocent Jacob.
“Free up Jacob” was officially released on 17th June 2014 and has since been welcomed by the masses who believe in freedom and justice in the country.
According to Sean Taylor’s management, Maseda records, the video for ‘Free up Jacob’ will soon be released to push the campaign for is freedom further.
July 23, 2014