Established 1961 13 Lifestyle Features Thursday, May 6, 2021 Ghana Afropop musician, Stonebwoy, sings during a recording session at his stu- A man dances in an open-air night pub, famous for playing Afropop music mainly Ghana Afropop musician, Stonebwoy, poses for a portrait during a recording ses- dio in his house in Accra, Ghana. — AFP photos from Ghanaian and Nigerian artists. sion at his studio in his house in Accra, Ghana. n Saturday night at the Purple Pub soared in popularity to secure a place as Ashanti people to Western instruments in Ghana’s capital Accra even the the most played song of all time on brought by the colonists. It was thanks to Opandemic and an official shutdown Spotify, surpassing one billion streams. Highlife that Ghana enjoyed its first suc- of bars and clubs can’t stop the music. In cess on the international music scene. “By the bustling Osu district, early revelers Nigeria’s shadow the 1970s, big Highlife groups like Osibisa laze on plastic chairs emptying local drinks Now, alongside Nigerian stars with mil- were already filling entire stadiums,” as speakers cranked to full volume drown lions of social media followers-Wizkid, recalls Ghanaian-Romanian musician out their voices. After midnight, the chairs Burna Boy, Davido-Ghanian musicians are Wanlov the Kubolor, avant-garde cultural empty, whether it is Sarkodie or emerging to take their turn. Gyakie and icon and author of an offbeat album called Stonebwoy, the kings of Ghanaian Joey B boast hundreds of thousands of ‘Afrobeats LOL’. Afrobeats soon have the whole street Instagram followers while KiDi has 1.6 mil- “But the recent popularity of Afrobeats swinging. lion, Sarkodie 4.4 million and Shatta Wale is of a different nature.” Thanks to the In a music scene long ruled by giant 3.2 million. Shatta Wale’s “Already” featur- internet, young Ghanaian artists can neighbor Nigeria, Afrobeats from Ghana ing Beyonce and Major Lazer was one of achieve viral success very quickly, he said. are now finding favour not only in Accra’s the hits of the summer of 2020, securing But Ghana’s scene now faces another clubs but in a thriving international market Ghana a place among the countries which challenge: the COVID-19 pandemic and beyond West Africa. “Not only is Afrobeats now count on Africa’s pop scene. the strict health restrictions put in place by hyper-popular here in Ghana, it’s now Jefferson Seneadza, co-founder of the the government since March 2020 that gaining real recognition on the internation- Ghanaian music streaming platform have been a blow to the music sector al stage,” says Stonebwoy in his Accra Aftown, which aims to promote African across the world. The cancellations of fes- recording studio, which is lined with inter- music, has noted “a massive interest in tivals and concerts, which represent the national accolades. “We are seeing Ghanaian music”. “Our music industry is A member of a Ghanaian production company checks the camera before starting filming a music bulk of income for African artists, have fur- Afrobeats festivals appear in Europe, I am finally being taken seriously,” he says, say- video in Accra, Ghana. ther weakened a sector where funding happy to see West African music go so far. ing the country can now take its talents to was already fragile. “All eyes are on Africa I even have hardened fans in India and the international stage. Stonebwoy’s latest Donnett, public relations manager of Sony right now, and we, the young Ghanaian Bangladesh,” says the singer who counts album, for example, has been listened to Music West Africa. “But it’s healthy compe- The Highlife creators, feel that it is the right time to 3.6 million Instagram followers. over a million times in a week on the plat- tition.” Musicians attribute this success to The result: contagious rhythms which, emerge,” says young talent Sofie on the Afrobeats takes its name from the form. “And a lot of those tapping came the mixture of genres. “My music is Afro- served by a powerful voice, form irre- sidelines of a shoot for a new video in a Afrobeat musical genre of the 1970s pop- from abroad,” Seneadza said. Young dancehall influenced by Caribbean music,” sistibly catchy pieces. But the Ghanaian private villa in Accra. “What we lack now is ularised by the music icon Fela Kuti and singer Gyakie signed a contract with US says Stonebwoy, a bright red cap resting Afrobeats stand out from their Nigerian big a real industry, structured and funded with which exploded in Nigeria. Western audi- giant Sony Music earlier this year, shortly on his braided hair. “I borrow from sister in one particular way: the legacy of the help of the state.”— AFP ences were discovering the Afrobeats after a delegation from the label travelled Jamaican dancehall, reggae, and cook it “Highlife”. The genre appeared in colo- scene in 2016 thanks to the hit “One to Ghana to scout the local market. all in the big pot of African music, adding nized Ghana, then called Cote-de-l’Or, at Dance”, featuring Canadian superstar “In Afrobeats, Ghana is now in a posi- the rhythms and melodies unique to the the beginning of the 19th century, by Drake and Nigerian Wizkid. The tune tion to compete with Nigeria,” said Jim continent.” adapting the traditional rhythms of the im Kardashian found herself caught up in an unlikely international art Ksmuggling row Tuesday involving an ancient Roman sculpture that was imported to California under her name. US prosecutors last week called for the statue fragment-which was seized at a Los Angeles port in 2016 — to be forfeit- ed and returned to Italy, citing an Italian archaeologist who found it saying the piece had been “looted, smuggled and illegally exported.” Court documents said Handout picture released by the Venezuelan Presidency press office showing Venezuelan President the consignee and importer name was Nicolas Maduro (right) shaking hands with US actor Steven Seagal during a meeting at the listed as “‘Kim Kardashian dba Noel Miraflores presidential palace in Caracas.—AFP photos Roberts Trust’ in Woodland Hills, In this file photo festivalgoers attend the 2019 Governors Ball Festival at Randall’s Island on June California” and referred to an invoice “for ingly but appeared to warn Maduro when 1, 2019 in New York City. — AFP photos the sale of the defendant statue by the leader put his fingers close to the Action star Steven blade. for which many attendees had to take a Vervoordt to Noel Robert Trust, dated In the decades since the height of his ferry. According to a video rendering of March 11, 2016.” Hollywood fame, Seagal has been a the site’s layout, the stages will be set up Seagal gifts sword Billie Eilish to vocal supporter of Putin and once in parking lots carpeted with astroturf, not dropped in on Philippine leader Rodrigo inside the baseball stadium. Organizers Duterte as the southeast Asian nation did not offer any details on whether they to Venezuela’s battled Islamic State group extremists. headline 2021 will require proof of vaccination or a neg- Russia granted Seagal citizenship in ative coronavirus test, but said they 2016, which included Putin personally would “follow all state and federal guide- Maduro handing over a passport to the actor in a lines mandated at the time of the event.” Governors Ball televised meeting. Maduro, whose 2018 “As more New Yorkers become vaccinat- ollywood action star Steven reelection has been deemed fraudulent ed by the day, we’re proud to support arts Seagal, known for dropping in on by the White House, is subject to and culture and welcome back Governors illie Eilish, Post Malone and A$AP Htough guy leaders like Russia’s Western sanctions and labeled a dictator Ball and their fantastic lineup, including Rocky will headline New York’s Vladimir Putin, paid a visit to Venezuela’s over alleged voter fraud and other abus- New York City’s own Princess Nokia, In this file photo US media personality Kim B2021 Governors Ball festival, with leftist president Nicolas Maduro to give es. Opposition leader Juan Guaido A$AP Rocky, and King Princess,” Mayor Kardashian West arrives to attend the amfAR Megan Thee Stallion and J Balvin also him the gift of a samurai sword. The hero declared himself Venezuela’s leader in Bill de Blasio said in a statement. Gala in New York. — AFP slated to perform, organizers announced of 80s and 90s hits including “Hard to Kill” 2019, rooting his legitimacy in his role as The lineup announcement comes one Tuesday. The music festival normally held and “Under Siege” appeared in state-run speaker of the opposition-led National in late spring is set for September 24-26, day after Governor Andrew Cuomo The Noel Roberts Trust is an entity TV footage on Tuesday passing the Assembly. His claim has been recognized with organizers hopeful widespread vac- announced the easing of pandemic linked to real estate purchases and sales katana to Maduro, who then sliced the by more than 50 countries, including the cinations will allow for festival-scale live restrictions beginning May 19, with the made by Kardashian and her estranged blade through the air several times in an United States.— AFP performances. Organizers moved the return of 24-hour subway operations husband Kanye West in the United ornate office. Seagal, dressed all in black beginning May 17. Last year’s edition of and without a face mask, nodded approv- Governors Ball, which was to feature States. Axel Vervoordt is a Belgian art Missy Elliot, Tame Impala, Stevie Nicks, dealer who was responsible for the deco- Vampire Weekend and Solange was ration of Kardashian’s mansion near Los forced to cancel over the pandemic.