While the main program is going on at Alliance Francaise, this Official Blogger is unfortunately not there enjoying it, but instead home with malaria.
Hopefully back here soon though.
Today’s Bless the Mic Event for the Official Blogger
The Bless the Mic Arts & Music Festival comes to a slow start this evening with a corporate mixer for invitees only. I’ll be there and snap some photos to post in this space.
So if you are going, make sure to comb your hair…
Pic from Twist & Locs Saloon here in Accra.
This Friday: Tema Bless the Mic Club Night
Most events in Ghana happen in Ghana’s capital Accra. However, Bless the Mic every now and then takes their show to Tema.
On Friday, 28th May 2010, starting at 8pm, they do it again! The place is Barcadi Nite Club, Community 4, Tema.
It will be a night of freestyle battles between some of the most exciting MCs from Tema and Accra including Macho Rapper, Yaa Pono, El, Ronny O, Pope Skinny, Scizo and the All Star cast from Tema. In attendance will be international guest DJ Floro (Spain) and DJ Champagne (Y Fm). Apart from music, there will also be graffiti art.
I called up the man behind BTM, Papa Yaw to find out why he is taking his show on the road:
– Because Tema is very vibrant in the music business right now and we want to promote the Tema music community, thats the reason…
As I am a proper “Tema girl”, I must say I appreciate BTM coming to Tema.
Come around 8pm on Friday and pose for pics to be posted in this space!
Battle illustration by Ghanaian artist Godfried Donkor.
On Air: Kajsa on E-TV
So here’s the promised report from my 5 minutes of fame.
I came into the E-TV studio in Asylum Down at 7.30am on the dot. I was whisked into the make-up booth, although I had already used an aging powder at home thinking they might not have my shade available…
In minutes, I was sitting next to the glamorous presenter of the “Awake” show, Ester, and without much ado she introduced me as “a very interesting lady living in Ghana”. We chit-chatted about how come I ended up in Ghana (“love”), what my favorite Ghanaian food is (“omo tuo and groundnut soup”) as well as on differences between Ghana and Sweden (“basically everything!”). I was allowed to talk about my blog and about Ghanablogging. I felt relaxed and Ester cheered me on through chuckles and follow-up questions.
Maybe best of all was that afterwards, I had the chance to speak to the producers of the show and promote Ghanablogging and my fellow bloggers. They sounded very interested and likely this will not be the last time a Ghanablogger goes on air with E-TV.
Reviews?
My Ghanaian family was very proud and called me after the show to congratulate me. A friend texted me saying “you are so sweet on TV – another career to discover!”
All in all, a good experience even though I had to leave home at dawn.
Yours Truly on E-TV
I have been invited to E-TV, Ghana’s newest(?) free-to-show tv-channel, and their morning show!
I’ll be speaking to George, who found me through this blog. Heasked me to prepare for the following topics:
how you first heard about Ghana, a bit about your PHD project, your teaching, why you married a Ghanaian, and your future plans.
Tune in tomorrow Friday around 7.30 am. Tune in or I’ll tell you in this space how it went!
Blog Book by Boakyewaa Glover
Well, maybe it is a stretch to say that Circles by Boakyewaa Glover (click to go to her blog) is a blog book, it is maybe rather a book by a blogger.
On Friday, May 21st there is a book launch for Circles, a book I have already seen for sale at the Silverbird Bookstore in the Accra Mall. It looks good!
Another recent book by a Ghanablogging blogger was Pretending to be President by Ato Kwamina Dadzie. I have it here at home, but haven’t been able to snatch it from my husband who reads it and chuckles.
Minor Field Study (MFS) in Ghana
Yesterday, I met up with two students coming to do their minor field study (MFS) in Ghana.
MFS is almost an institution in Swedish academic circles. Since 1968, MFS is a stipend financed from Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (SIDA), administered by the International Programme Office for Education and Training (in Swedish: Internationalla Programkontoret) in collaboration with higher educational institutions in Sweden. The goal with the program is to expose young university students to life in developing countries and give them an experience of doing research there. The student has to propose a research plan and spend at least 8 weeks in the chosen field destination. The stipend covers travel expenses and a little more. Over the years more than 10 000 students have gone through the program. Recent theses coming out of the program since can be found in this MFS Thesis Database. Usually, the program is very popular and highly competitive.
Back to yesterday afternoon. I first took Emma and Ebba to eat some fufu and drink some bissap at Buka. We talked about everything from clinics to corruption, from surveys to soup, from PhD to perfect beaches. After washing our hands, we went around to do some errands, see some Ghanaian art and crafts and finished the day with a drink by the beach. I could see myself in them – the personal involvement in student activities, the interest in the foreign and exotic, the wonderful curiosity. I was impressed with their confidence and their future goals.
Emma and Ebba are not the first MFS students I take around Accra. They follow Emilie, Asa, Jessica and Ulrik – all MFS students who I have met in Ghana. To some I have been a contact person, an address to put on the VISA application, to others “Field Supervisor” and a discussion partner. I must say I enjoy spending time with them and gladly share what ever small knowledge on research I possess as well as my own experiences in this green country.
Ironically, my own MFS application was not approved when I was studying for my Bachelor’s Degree. But that is another story.
On Becoming an Artist
I am happy to announce that yesterday was the first day of my career as a visual artist.
Even though I have been drawing, painting and sculpting since I was a child, cheered on by my parents, and even made paintings for official spaces as a university student in Uppsala, yesterday marked something different.
I was ASKED to partake in an upcoming exhibition curated by famous Ghanaian painter Kofi Setordji at Nubuke Foundation. The exhibit which focus on Ghanaian public space will be called “My space, your space”. Together with my friend, Miss V, I had prepared a concept note which we presented to Kofi. He liked it and invited us to work on the project for the net few weeks.
At this stage, the project is TOP SECRET, but I have the feeling that in the near future it will do very well in a blog format.
Now I’m curious to know, what is your second career?
Behind the Scenes: Coz ov Moni
So, later today the pigen musical Coz of Moni premieres here in Accra.
While we wait, or if you can’t make it – let’s check out these beautiful behind the scenes photos by Mike Schrieber.
See one example (slightly cropped) next to this text.
Finally: Coz ov Moni Premieres
On Saturday May 15th, the time has finally come for this creative, fresh and rocking musical movie, Coz ov Moni, to open to the world! Directed by King Luu and produced by Panji Anoff of Pidgen Music. It is featuring musicians Wanlov – the Kubolor and M3nsa (together they form the FOKN Bois), but also poet Mutumbo and legend Reggie Rockstone as well as other Ghana celebs!
This is the plot:
On a normal morning in Gbese, Accra. The FOKN Bois wake up and plan to go clubbing with some lady friends after chasing an evasive debtor for their money. Their free-spirited and seemingly conceited attitude makes them a few enemies as the day progresses. How will this day end for the FOKN Bois? Do they deserve what awaits them at the end of it all? Come find out!
Do you remember the funky Coz ov Moni trailer I posted some time ago? For the premiere, think that x 20!
DATE: Saturday, May 15th
VENUE: National Theatre
TIME: 6.30pm & 8.30pm (Two screenings)
TICKETS: 10 Ghc
This is going to be so great! Why? Coz of Moni! See you there!
Read more about the premiere at Ameyaw Debrah, Museke, African Hip Hop , Ghana Celebrities and fellow blogger MacJordan. Also read the lovely interviews in Dust Magazine with Kubolor and M3nsa.
Gallup Reveals the Secret Behind Few Africans Banking
Few people in Africa have bank accounts. In Ghana, just like the sub-Saharan African region over all, it is 19%, but it varies from 49% in South Africa and 1% in Congo/Kinshasa and Niger.
So why do not Africans go to the bank and open an account?
Gallup includes the answer to this question in their report Few in Sub-Saharan Africa Have Money in a Bank:
“Two-thirds say the lack of money is the main reason why they don’t have accounts.”
What a shocker.
Read the whole Gallup report here! And/or read more Ghana related Gallup news!
My Favorite Tree: Flamboyant
My favorite tree in Ghana is the Flamboyant (Delonix Regia) that periodically turns in to a huge, red bouquet.
Which is your favorite tree?