Africa UMOJA-The Spirit of Togetherness

My love for theatre prompts me to attend any theatrical event advertised in Accra. I have attended so many of them. However, the Africa UMOJA-The Spirit of Togetherness was a different experience for me altogether. I watched it at the Ghana National Theatre on May 2, 2011. 

Event Logo

Africa UMOJA-The Spirit of Togetherness was a two hour explosion of song, dance and drama performed by an energetic and creative South African crew. It tells the saga of South Africa, its people and the changes that the years, especially those of the Apartheid era, have had on them. I have heard a lot about them so I was eager to watch them when I heard that they were coming to Ghana.

One of the vigorous theatrics

Their costume was a unique one. It consisted basically of stripes of cloth covering the genitals but the upper parts of the body were exposed. Breasts stuck out; protruding sensationally. I learnt it was to expose energy and natural beauty. The men too displayed their ‘warrior’ muscles and enticing chests. African beads form an essential part of their costume.

Performers

The performance itself was full of energy. There was lots of calculated choreography that was full of jumping, running in circles, ululation, drama and story-telling. One can classify the performance as dance-drama as stories were told with stylistic theatrics. One key story I got from the performance was the slave trade. I can vividly recall how the performers were chained and whipped and the resistance put up by ‘victims’. I shed tears at the climax.

I wish Africa UMOJA-The Spirit of Togetherness would be staged again and soon so that I can relive those moments.

My First EHALAKASA Night

My first experience at a spoken-word poetry performance has formed a vignette on my memory. It was at an EHALAKASA night, introduced to me by a friend.

EHALAKASA is a monthly spoken-word poetry performance in Accra, Ghana. EHA means “song” in Ewe language, LA means “sing” in Ga-Dangbe language and KASA means “talk” in Akan (Twi) language. These separate words form EHALAKASA literally meaning “song sing talk”.

Normally, poetry performances are perceived to be boring. Many people do not attend these performances. However, the audience-space was almost full, by the time I arrived at the venue. It was left with thirty minutes to the start of the program.  “This is unusual” I told myself. I found myself a seat and waited for the real show to start.

Edzordzi Agbozo, a poet, in performance

The master of ceremony came onto the stage and shouted “EHALAKASA”. The audience responded “it lives in us”. He then asked someone to prove to the audience that he deserves the name he bears. This was his way of introducing the first performer. I heard a song from behind me. It was a folk song. The audience took up the song and started clapping. I joined in. He moved onto the stage and performed; followed by many poets.

I enjoyed every bit of the program and vowed not to miss the next edition. Unfortunately however, I left for Turku. But I know that, EHALAKASA will be my home on every third Sunday of every month when I return to Ghana.

A good experience on Facebook.

Everyone has a reason for surfing the internet; especially social media. Whilst some people use social media to make friends, others go there to advertise their products and some others buy goods from social media.

I personally use Facebook to connect to my long lost friends. Aside that, there are a lot of businessmen and women, entrepreneurs and other companies who sell their products on Facebook. I love to shop and buy a lot of things. Thanks to Facebook, I buy commodities online, nowadays.

There are a lot of beautiful items on sale online and at affordable prices too. I never knew until recently. I am a Ghanaian, so I love African prints a lot. I bought this African-print bag at a cool price, very affordable. Then I didn't just end there, I went further to buy shoes, earrings and necklaces from this same dealer on Facebook. The prices were pretty cool.

                                                               

Then I regretted that all these years, I had been wasting a lot of money. "How come I didn't know about this?" I asked myself. I could have saved thousands of Ghana cedis all this while.

Facebook also gives me the chance to view the photographs of my friends and actually see how they look now. Frankly I haven’t seen some friends of mine for over decades. I am now able to see them; if not in their physical states, then in their imaginary state. I do not just watch only their photographs, but I also chat with them. I enjoy doing this a lot. 

Social media; where everyone has a say.

Of Late, social media has taken over from traditional media such as radio, television and newspapers. The information from social media that is usually given is of good quality, have a large reach, and the information given is frequent and immediate.

Social media is defined as an interaction among people in which they create, share and exchange ideas and information in virtual communities or networks. In most democratic countries, there is the existence of social media. Typical examples of social media include Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, YouTube, Wikipedia, Digg and Daily Motion.          

                

Social media is usually described as “no man’s land”. This is because just anyone can put just anything on social media.   Nobody questions what is put on social media and there is a lot of liberalism. Mostly social media enables people to market themselves and get new friends. Products, goods and services can also be advertised on Facebook. Usually it is nice when everybody has a say. At least social media provides this great opportunity.

Examples of Social Media

Movies and entertainment events can be watched on Youtube. Typical examples of Ghanaian music videos can be found in these links: 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=LvZSn81XHaYh

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=3rq1A8b6JPw

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=C98p-rRmIi8

There are a lot of dating sites on social media where people get to meet their life partners.  The interesting thing about social media, which I have recently experienced, is that I got in touch with my long lost friends on Facebook. I got the chance to watch their photographs and see how they look currently. I was so elated.

If you are not on any social media, it is high time you join and experience “real things” ... Experience they say  is the best teacher!

A gist about Ghanaian media.

Basically from the little knowledge I have acquired from a media lecture  or discussion, I know that media is defined as the  storage  and transmission channels or tools used to store and deliver information or data. In my own words however, I define media as the  channels through which information is disseminated to an audience.

Newspaper, television, radio and the internet are typical examples of media. Some examples of popular media include; British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC), Cable News Network (CNN), Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (CBC) just to mention but a few.

Narrowing down to Ghana, some examples of media houses include; Ghana Broadcasting Corporation (GBC), Metropolitan Television (Metro TV), TV 3, Daily Graphic, Ghana News Agency (GNA), Ghanaian Times, Daily Guide, Joy FM, Unique FM, Citi FM, Radio Gold, Peace FM just to mention but a few.

                                     

Some Ghanaian Media

These media houses usually perform the role of educating, informing and entertaining their audiences in Ghana and beyond. Most of these media houses report on issues such as politics, entertainment, business, sports and many other important issues. Some of these media houses are either owned by the government or by private individuals.

Radio GIJ of the Ghana Institute of Journalism

As part of the educative role of the media in Ghana, the media telecasts educative  programmes  such as quizzes. In informing its audiences, the media telecasts news virtually every day to let the citizens know about the latest happenings in the country. In entertaining its audiences, the media telecasts programmes such as movies and music videos.

                      

This is just a gist about Ghanaian media, hope you learnt something?

A typical day in a media class

I have always had a little knowledge about media. In fact I think media is the channel through which information is disseminated to an audience. At least that is what I can say in my own words. Journalism for Civic Involvement in Democracy (JOCID II) Project was one great platform that made me practice more of media work.

We had lessons and discussions on media and handling the zoom recorder when JOCID organized a one week intensive workshop in Ghana.

Some exchange students doing practical work

I also got the opportunity through JOCID to be taught by foreign lecturers ,it was really a nice experience.  Back in the Ghana Institute of Journalism (G.I.J) , last semester especially I get excited anytime it was a Wednesday.

This is because Wednesdays were the days we had a course in New Media. The lecturer who handled this course was very very interested. In fact, I describe him as interesting by nature. I usually love his lectures because he makes sure his students practice theory with practicals.

Talking about practicals, we were asked to create blogs, open accounts on twitter, linked in, delicious , face book and what have you. In fact because of this particular course, some of us had to change our phones to smart phones.

Most people who were internet phobia had to become friends of the internet. It is on Wednesdays in particular that you will see a lot of my colleagues with their laptop bags.

A lecture in session

Being interviewed or talking to a recorder or a camera is one thing people fear to do. But I love doing this a lot. My discussions and lectures I have had in media has really boosted my confidence especially when I am the interviewee. Am out...

Variety is indeed the spice of life.

Many a times different people love to do different things just to entertain themselves. Whilst some people will watch movies, others will listen to music whilst some others will go to the club. It is interesting how the television entertains people a lot. Music videos, movies, reality shows and beauty pageants can be watched to entertain one’s self.

 

Television however performs other functions like informing and educating viewers. Educative and informative programs such as news can be listened to and watched on television. I for instance , love to watch beauty pageants a lot. The funny thing is that I never really want to take part. But when it comes to watching , I am the first on the list.

 http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=Fz7QKytTP2U

In Ghana most of the television stations telecast a lot of programmes that are most often meant to entertain the viewer. Some television stations are most often solely meant for only entertainment.  Gh ONE is a typical example of a television station that most often provides solely entertainment for its viewers.

Tv3 is a typical example of a television station that is best in entertainment.They have an entertainment programme for kids called "talented kids". Talented kids mostly entertains and educates viewers especially children.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qKZFbv0Jq3g

They also produce and educative and entertaining beauty pageant known as " Ghana's Most Beautiful".

 

 This programme mostly seeks to portray the beautiful culture and tradition of Ghana through beauty and entertainment.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=gVUmaPsq8xk

Sometimes after a hard day’s work in school, I just relax and listen to some music. This is when the saying “ all work and no play makes Jack a dull boy” occurs to me. " Stars of the future"  a reality show on television is a programme i love to watch in this case.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=gO7XNiKdhJg

As unique as you are in your own way, what do you love to do to entertain yourself. Definitely, there should be something you love...

Advertisements; what I enjoy most on television

Life they say is full of choices. But it is true, this very saying always reflects in our everyday life. The media has also made good use of this saying in virtually everything they do. Viewers, listeners, and readers of television, radio and newspapers always have a choice.

On television especially I just love it. Narrowing down to Ghana where I come from I love watching advertisements a lot on television. It is weird isn’t it? Well whilst some people prefer to watch telenovelas, movies, news or music videos, I love television advertisements. It is funny how I just love them.

There are a lot of television stations in Ghana, both state owned and private stations. We have Ghana Television (GTV), TV3, Metro TV, Viasat1, Gh ONE just to mention but a few. My most cherished television station however is TV3. I really love this station because they are the “first in news, best in entertainment”. TV 3 most often shows advertisements of food, shops, telecommunication groups, water and so much more. Some of my favourite advertisements are Gino advert Tigo cash advert, Vodafone red advert… 

In fact talking about Vodafone, they always have a lot of beautiful advertisements to display.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kfC7LtT5L6

This Gino advertisement is one of my favourites;

 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DuZd2csPWDc

I just cannot go without sharing with you this lovely advertisement on Tigo cash.

http:/ /www.youtube.com/watch?v=x9TNNi4kHLA 

Most of these advertisements are very much attractive, make a lot of sense and they always appeal to the conscience of the viewer.

Just click on the links provided and enjoy … Kiitos!