Everyday Scenes in Ghana

I’ve been meaning to make an entry about interesting places and events in Ghana. However, I realised that instead of a long blog entry, pictures might tell the story better. So here are 11 randomly selected photographs that hopefully closely depict everyday scenes in Ghana. Please let me hear your feedback concerning what you think about the photos, what pictures you would like to see, and even if this whole idea of letting photos tell the story sometimes is cool. Enjoy!

Relic of colonialism: one of the many castles that dot Ghana’s coast

History 101: Ghanaian high school students learn about the country’s past

Cultural extravaganza: One of Ghana’s many colourful traditional festivals

Football fever: Accra stadium packed to capacity as Ghana plays Cameroun during CAN 2008

Ecotourism: Wli waterfalls offer both scenic beauty and refreshing coolness

Beach time: Revellers taking it cool at Bojo beach near Accra on a weekend

Living on the water side of life: Nzulezo, the vlllage with buildings on stilts

Night life: Cultural performance at Labadi beach in Accra on a Wednesday night

Transport: Food for thought on the ubiquitous trotro

Pets: Three beautiful dogs in a Ghanaian home

Caught in the act: Two dogs on the streets at Korle-Gonno

Ayigbe Edem: Hiplife’s New Poster Boy

Hiplife has attracted many dedicated followers ever since it emerged as an authentic music genre in Ghana in the early 1990s. For starters, hiplife is a type of Ghanaian music that incorporates some elements of hiphop (particularly rap) into the more popular and traditional highlife music. Due to its high marketability, the the hiplife industry is growing tremendously and consequently experiences a high turnover of musicians and performers. In most people's books, Reggie Rockstone, Obour, Obrafour, Tic-Tac, VIP, Samini, Praye and Sidney would go down as true hiplife greats. Lately, concern has been raised over the quality of hiplife music on offer. A number of music critics contend that there is a low degree of originality emanating from the Ghanaian hiplife scene. A new breed of Ghanaian hiplife artists are exerting their lyrical and rhythmic muscles to reverse this trend. Prominent among them are Kwaw Kesse (Abodam!), Asem, Richie and Ayigbe Edem. Ayigbe Edem's uniqueness is three-fold: language (he is the most notable Ewe rapper today), rhythmic quality and depth of lyrics. He also comes across as a humble and unassuming chap. In separate interviews with ghanamusic.com, Edem emphasises his originality and the irrelevance of language in communicating through music. In a short, concise and direct manner, Edem shares his passions, motivations and dreams with us.

Q: Why do you sing/ what influences your unique style?

A: I sing because that's my passion. Basically good music influences my style, and what happens in our part of the world also does. Every human being is unique -once you find yourself and what you stand for, you will find your style. From there, it takes you constant practice.

Q: Why do you rap in Ewe and not in Twi or English? How easy is it (rapping in Ewe) to accomplish?

A: Cos I don't have to rap in Twi or English...what I have to do to make it is to understand rap as an art form. Nothing is easy to accomplish. PERSEVERANCE is the word

Q: Who are some of the music stars you look up to?

A: Eminem, Mase, Bob Marley and Wyclef.

Q: How big would Ayigbe Edem be in 10 years?

A: Soo big... I aim to have my own record label, to be a guru in the industry and also export my music

Q: How well is the Ghanaian music industry doing? Why is Ghanaian music failing to sell outside Ghana, compared to Nigerian, South African and Congolese music?

A: Cos there is no formal structure in place...

Q: What are some of the interesting aspects of your life that you want to share with your fans beside music?

A: I love education...I am shy and I don't drink or smoke...I am also single

I'd take my leave now, allowing Edem to strut his musical stuff on The Gamelian World.

Poetry

I'm really excited to be back to the blogosphere after a long break. To mark my return i present two poems: The Return and Why are you so weak? Looking forward to get lots of reactions!

The Return

I know I have erred my darling

For all the days that I was gone without notice

The journey was long and tiring

And I fell into a hole

Without you there were no sweet dialogues

There were only_____________monologues!

So let the celebration of love and expression

Herald the return of our long lost union

As we wave the dreary, weary, cold nights goodbye.

Why are you so weak?

This question you posed to me

When we revelled under the mango tree

In the centre of the village square

Proved a handful for I racked my brains

So hard and long yet…no answer was in sight!

Then you sounded so worried

And cried for a thousand minutes

In my arms where you found temporary solace

The redness of your eyes told a tale

Of the anxiety that pervaded your entire being

Yes, that night when I returned home

Clothes drenched with your tears

Remains firmly etched on my mind

I recall with astonishing detail your very words

That encapsulated the feelings of the moment

For I share in your joys and sorrows

And that was what I always wanted you to know

Remember our rendezvous at the village dance?

Yet you left when it counted

When you could have shown the world you really cared

With the merchant's son, you left to the big city

Pretending you could get used to its glitz and glamour

I know what you thought then, that money was it all

No wonder you failed to detect

The subtle deceptions of your "lover"

Who was about to defect

Now you know t'was a big illusion

Truth is life is worth more than a couple of bucks

And true joy lies in simplicity-of friendship, honesty and loyalty

Your red tomato eyes tells it all: that pain dominates your soul

Thus you spend all days and all nights mulling over

The consequences of your action

So why are you so weak?

You are weak because you are moved by sight

Of things that hold no permanent value

In fact, you are blind!