 On Friday September 14th 2012, the Musicians Union of Ghana launched the first ever Ghana Music Week at the Coconut Grove Regency Hotel in Accra. The actual festival will be celebrated at the National Theater from October 15 to 21st 2012.The launch, which attracted young and old Ghanaian musicians, some MUSIGA regional Executives, the media, various stakeholders and lovers of the industry, was chaired by Honorable Mike Gizo, an ex-Minister of State. In his welcome address, the Chairman acknowledged that he was honored to have been called upon to chair the launch of the first ever Ghanaian musical festival of this magnitude.
Also present at the launch were Honorable Fritz Baffour, the Minister for Information and Baba Jamal, a Deputy Minister for Tourism; both officially endorsing the celebration and reiterating Government’s recognition of the upcoming Celebration.
“We hope that as MUSIGA fine-tunes activities of the celebration, it would consider the need to use this festival to ensure our artistic products are better-packaged and branded to meet international standards”. He then cited the Azonto Dance as a potential showbiz export”.
Just after expressing his admiration for the Azonto fever, Lexis Bill, the MCs of the event put Baba Jamal on the spot, and ensured the deputy Minister danced Azonto for about 3-minutes before taking his seat.
After his brief speech and before he officially launched GMW 2012 Programme, Honorable Fritz Baffour predictably tested his artistic ‘animal’ by calling upon the 2nd Vice President of MUSIGA, Bessa Simon, to support him on keyboards as the Minister treated the audience to a performance of blues, aptly backed by the band for the night.
Mrs. Diana Hopeson, the immediate past President of MUSIGA officially out-doored the logo for Ghana Music Week 2012. The Launch experienced performances by AB Crentsil, Steve Bedi, Pat Thomas, Kesse, Paulina Oduro, Racquel and Asabea Cropper.
In a speech read on behalf of the President of the Musicians Union of Ghana, Bice “Obour” Osei Kuffour, who was on assignment in the U.S. at the time, the 2nd Vice President of MUSIGA, Bessa Simons stated the main objective of the Ghana Music Week Celebration as: creating the industry’s biggest platform to bring together and encourage participation of artistes, stakeholders, media and policy makers.
He said: “GMW will seek to recognize, promote and underscore the importance and value of all Ghanaian music forms and foster and promote a lifelong interest in music as a basic human experience and a right within cultural expressions”.
An Administrator of MUSIGA, Ahuma Ocansey walked the gathered through the main activities of the October 15-21st celebration. He enumerated activities such as Sales & Exhibition (all week), Seminars, Symposiums and Workshops for Industry members, including training managers of musicians and their services”.
““A major attraction”, he noted, “will be the Stakeholders Dialogue, where best brain in the industry will join with invited professionals from across the world to discuss ways of improving the standard of the industry”.
Mr. Ocansey, said, “According to the Event Diary, there will be a National Music Essay Contest and Photo Bar & Exhibition. GMW will also be an avenue where musicians can launch their new products. He said, the Terrace on the third floor of the National Theater, would be the Food & Chill Zone Area, which will include bars, and a Niteclub
operating throughout the week.
Mr. Ahuma Ocansey ended by revealing that, “two major musical concerts are scheduled on October 19 (Highlife Fiesta) and Saturday, October 20th, 201- The All-Star Concert featuring the first MUSIGA Honours.
The Full Event Diary for 2012 GMW will be available at www.musiga.org.gh on Wednesday, September 19th, 2012. |
