Contributor | Gabby Nash – Page 2

THE BIG QUESTION: Which Is More Important In A Contemporary Relationship- MONEY OR LOVE?

01/30/2015 11:37 am

Thanks to film producers and fictional story writers, we have repetitively been bombarded with the notion that love always triumph in the battle between love and money vis-a vis relationship and marriage.

The visual plotline is just like this-a pretty but poor damsel will outrageously reject a mouth-watering offer from a potential rich suitor in favour of a pauper, who is quite handsome in most cases. In the end they will defy all odds and be together, and in the language of these creative writers, the pair “live happily ever after” aptly made possible by the pulsating love they share for each other.

This propaganda has had a gripping effect on many for years now and rather sadly people have not jolted from the fluid imaginary ingenuity of these writers to a practical world where there is staggering contrast between the two worlds.

Love is one word that is difficult to define and it goes beyond the realm of rationalism. Some say is an emotional pleasure we gain from the virtue we perceive in others. In my own words it is such a stunning feeling that embodies the most pleasurable abstract entity on earth.

People are living in a denial that the 21st century world is a ‘kpa kpa kpa movement’. In a world that has evolved and human beings tend to adapt to meet the requirements of abrasive challenges every single day presents, it has become essential to view this age long falsifiable mantra that love is better than money.

Asamoah Gyan is The Best Ghanaian Player Ever…Do You Agree?

01/16/2015 2:41 pm

by Contributor | Gabby Nash

The above caption will surely generate a huge furore among soccer fans. There is nothing that captivates the interest of fans more than intense debate over who is the finest of the greatest players. Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi continue to dominate world football, leaving soccer pundits and laymen marginalized in their thought as to who the current world best player truly is…

Let us narrow our scope to Ghana. One player who over the years has proven and endeared himself to Ghanaians is Asamoah Gyan. At just 29 years, the Al-Ain forward is Ghana’s all time leading goal scorer, a very great feat indeed.

After making his début for the senior national team on 19th November, 2003 where he scored his first ever goal for the Black Stars against Somalia, the man affectionately called Baby Jet has demonstrated his lethal prowess and currently regarded one of the continent’s finest.

Growing up, I had the rare opportunity of watching some of Ghana’s greats like the legendary Abedi Pele. He was brash, skilful and dexterous to the extent that Edson Arantes do Nascimento popularly known as Pele threw the name “Pele” to him. Pele went further to enlist Abedi Pele’s name in his list of FIFA 100 Greatest players.

Then, in the early 90’s emerged another Ghanaian prodigy called Nii Odartey Lamptey. Again the world best player of all time was so impressed with the Ghanaian that he predicted the young chap will be the player to succeed him. Of course legends like Mohammed Polo, Wilberforce Nfum, Osei Kofi, Tony Yeboah (who is regarded by many as one of the best players to have played in the English Premier League) and the great stars who graced the football pitch with sheer brilliance are worthy of recognition.

But the question is do they have what it takes to be regarded as the best player ever in the history of Ghana football?

Best Hiplife Collaborations of All Time….

01/15/2015 12:35 pm

by Contributor | Gabby Nash

The Akans have a proverb which when translated means a single person is not the sole repository of wisdom. Over the years musicians have employed the mastery of collaboration to maximize productivity and augment their fan base.

Regardless of the collaborators status in the game, music collaboration helps the participants tap immense knowledge from each other and ultimately it becomes an enjoyable activity altogether.

Below is a list of hiplife songs that I strongly believe represent some of the best collaborations of all time. It is not the mere fact these songs were great hits but the immeasurable talents and creativity exhibited on the work that qualifies the under listed songs into “my hall of fame.”

Reggie Rockstone Ft KK Fosu (song-Ah)

Reggie had prior to this song done a lot of collaboration with mainstream artiste like Lord Lust, Mensa and Sydney just to mention a few, but none of those songs catapulted him to widespread acceptance of his brand and a thorough endorsement as a true hiplife originator like this particular song did.

KK Fosu whom he featured rendered his input seamlessly, amidst thought provoking lines in conformity with the theme of the song. He verified why he was a toast of music lovers during that era.

Reggie also proved his brilliance with careful punch lines that sat well with his reputation. The duo capped the song with a good video directed by Abraham Ohene Dzan. The song won Ghana’s first Kora award.

httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RPGKRm1ZTHc

King David Ft Batman (song-Aye Fe Nost3)

King David wasn’t a household name in the music industry until this song burst out and broke music protocol. Majority of Ghanaian songs are sung in Twi, the widely spoken language in Ghana.

However his gamble paid off when he decided to sing strictly in Ga, a language of a minority group along the coast of Accra. The song mirrored everyday happenings in life and instantly people, Ga and non Ga speakers easily related to the song. His lyrics were carefully selected to help convey his message with precision.

What A Man Can Do, A Woman Can Definitely Not Do a Quarter of It | We Are in A Man’s World…

01/15/2015 9:45 am

by Contributor | Gabby Nash

“What a man can do a woman also do.” For some time now women have armed themselves with this slogan, aimed at affecting a radical revolution in a bid to empower them to gain significant recognition in the society and in every facet of their lives.

Somewhat, you wouldn’t be indignant about their overzealous pursuit. The following facts about violence and oppression women are subjected to consolidate their stance.

Gender Discrimination: In Asia, most parents prefer boys to girls. A 2011 report estimates that in some of the world, nearly 134 million girls are missing from the population as a result of abortion, infanticide and neglect.

Education: Worldwide, women and girls make up two thirds of those who had less than four years of schooling.

Sexual harassment: Over 2.6 billion women live in countries where marital rape is not considered a crime.

Health: In developing countries, a woman dies from pregnancy as result of basic medical care.

Property rights. Although women cultivate more than half the world’s crops, in many countries they do not have the legal right to own certain properties or inherit land.

The above statistics represent a gloomy picture for women. In primitive minds, women are deemed s*x objects, washing and cleaning agents whose place should only be in the kitchen.

This has exponentially spurred their action and they simply want a reversal of their predicament. Women pressure groups are trumpeting this notion with the belief that there would be a rectification as regard the uneven and inconsistent approach to implementation of gender equality issues that has resulted in missed opportunities and in under-resourcing of many efforts to enhance gender equality, women’s rights and women’s empowerment within mainstream institutional structures.

And this is where my beef is. Women who are advocating for equality are grossly exaggerating and seem to be oblivious of a palpable truth that there is a vast difference between men and women. Hence it is absolutely false that what a woman can do a woman can do and even do it better.

5 Hyped & Talented Ghanaian Rappers Who Failed to Glitter…

12/19/2014 9:36 pm

by Contributor | Gabby Nash

Let’s look at 5 distinguished emcees who got ‘extinguished.’ These rappers had huge potential to make it big in the Ghana music industry and some of their creative songs suggested so. They were consequently hyped and labelled the next big thing, only to whimper and take a bow before one could actually say, “Jack Robinson.”

Below are these artistes…

Mensa

Mensa is still in the game but he has not seen the huge attention that was accorded him when he first made his entry into the Ghanaian music industry. Mensa was born in Accra but was raised in USA (Los Angeles-California) and UK (North London).

He was a member of the defunct Lifeline family that bragged of members like T-Blaze and Yoggy Doggy…

Presently, Mensa has formed a musical alliance with Wanlov Da Kuborlor. Together they released a musical film dubbed “COZ OF MONI”. Mensa has become popular in recent times, not with his music but his engagement in unwarranted controversies..

Scizo

This man took Ga rap to a different dimension, something that created a perceived rivalry between himself and Tinny. His ‘throw one stone’ song became a street anthem and earned him a good name. In ‘sound of our time’, his ‘ke shikale ne egbo’ was the most played song on radio in Ghana, after Bollie’s song.

Somehow, Scizo disappeared and has not reappeared.

Ghana League Is Dying | Ghana Football Association Should Wake Up

12/19/2014 8:53 pm

by Contributor | Gabby Nash

The once upon time enviable Ghanaian league is on the brink of collapse as result of a protracted lawsuit instigated by the bank roller of King Faisal Babies Alhaji Karim Grusah. The 2014-2015 season is yet to commence and it seems people have even forgotten a Ghanaian league exists.

Supersport has threatened to withdraw their services and sever any form marriage they have with Ghana football association if the “symptoms persist.”

In the early 90’s right through the early part of the new millennium, the Ghanaian league was a toast of many soccer fanatics. People trooped to the various stadia to catch a glimpse of their favourite football players.

The two most glamorous clubs in Ghana; Accra Hearts Of Oak and Kumasi Asante Kotoko gave spectators the real brand of soccer artistry typical of Ghanaians. Charles Tailor, then with Accra Great Olympics and later transferred to Hearts was our own version of Brazilian legend Romario. Talented footballers like Ishmael Addo, Emmanuel Osei Kuffour, Stephen Oduro and the endles stars whose names cannot fill my limited space here ensured Ghana league was rated one of the best on the continent.

It was during that era that our various national teams blossomed and annexed several trophies in various tournaments.

As it stands now, the league is nothing to write home about. It is neither lucrative nor appealing. Every player wants go and play outside. As disgusting as it may sound, there are many Ghanaian players in ‘impoverished’ countries like Vietnam and Thailand wasting their talent because to them it’s better than what they had in Ghana.

Will Politicians Go to Heaven? | The Answer Better Be NO

10/29/2014 8:58 am

by Contributor | Gabby Nash

A hilarious joke I once read in a newspaper when I was in High School exposes the barometer with which people measure politicians. The joke says a farmer was going about his normal duties when he suddenly heard a loud bang.

He ran to find out what the noise was all about. Only to be met with a bizarre spectacle, a mini bus has somersaulted and its occupants numbering about fifteen were lying lifeless on the ground. He was soon to learn that the men were politicians.

Days after, the mayor and some cops visited the farmer to interrogate him. He gave a vivid account of what happened and even showed them the graves where he buried the men. The mayor wasn’t enthused and asked the farmer if he was sure all the men were actually dead before he proceeded with the burial. The farmer retorted, “Well some of them said they were alive, but you know politicians and their lies. I did not believe them so I went ahead and buried them all.”

This joke underlines the benchmark of public mentality about politicians. Politicians all over have attained notoriety for corruption and various degrees of heinous crime.

In Africa, many consider politics as the shortest and quickest way to make money. One cluster of belief says being a pastor is the most lucrative venture than politics but that will be the topic for another day. Africa is the poorest continent on earth, largely blamable on corruptible practices perpetuated by people put in the helms of affairs.

Old and New HIPLIFE, Which One Rocks?

10/25/2014 11:03 am

by Contributor | Gabby Nash

When Reginald Osei, popularly called Reggie Rockstone masterminded the Hiplife movement, little did he know he was creating an avenue of limitless possibilities. Decades down the line, the genre (an amalgamation of Hiphop and Highlife) has been sustained through diverse ways, aptly through the creativity and dexterity by its crusaders.

Chicago and Ex-doe arguably raised the bar a bit higher and spurred the youth. Nananom, a group comprising of Barima Sydney, Omahane Pozo and Jotti joined the bandwagon. The boisterous Nima based group called VIP and Lord Kenya took over with their sharp lyrics. Then came in the man often regarded as the best Hiplife artiste of all time; Obrafuo. These artistes churn out hit songs that were highly appreciated and assimilated comprehensively by all.

Pundits and ‘Highlife custodians’ predicted the fall of Hiplife years ago. On the contrary, Hiplife keeps on growing and breaking frontiers. Almost all international awards chalked by Ghanaian musicians are Hiplife musicians or their works influenced by Hiplife.

A Case for GOD | Does God Exist? YES…

10/24/2014 7:54 pm

by Contributor | Gabby Nash

Lots of people have asked this question, and finding an answer to it can have a deep impact on our lives. We came into this world knowing nothing. Knowledge acquisition was through agents like the family, schools, and largely the society.

Our hollow heads were filled with lots of things pertaining to this world, one of which is religion. We have been taught that God created this world and everything in it. Though we may occasionally ask paradoxical questions like, “who created God, how does He look like and who are His parents?”, not even the wisest men and scholars of high repute have provided answers to these questions.

Even Jesus Christ, His only begotten son, as recorded by the Bible, said he has never seen God before. That is why many find it puzzling that people still go ahead and worship God with their heart, soul and mind as mandated by His guide book, the Bible.

Many scientist and evolutionist have argued that there is no God. The likes of Charles Darwin, Sigmund Freud and Friedrich have all shrouded their philosophies in science and have consequently dismissed the existence of a supreme God.

Others also see little practical value in religious teachings, or at any rate, fail to practice what churches preach. This is partly blameable on the perceived disconnection between Christians and their way of life. Pastors and their extortion in the church coupled with their opulence have further deepened the belief that even if God was alive, he is now dead.

Many who claim to believe in God make decisions as though he did not exist. Suffering and unprecedented calamity have befallen mankind. “If God really exists and he is all powerful”, the sceptics argue, “why does he permit suffering and doesn’t do anything to get rid of it?”

Some also equate faith or on a broader scope, believing in God with gullibility. They say that people who resort to faith do not want to think for themselves or allow hard evidence to influence their beliefs. Such infidels imply that those with strong religious faith ignore reality, making the subject of God and its related theories a mere myth. The foregoing scepticism surrounding God and religion is by no means new.

In order to provide answers that will change our perception and embrace the idea of God and his existence, let’s consider some hard probing facts.

Why Most Africans Are Just Like the Monkeys in the Supposed 5 Monkeys & Banana Experiment

10/11/2014 6:20 pm

by Contributor | Gabby Nash

It is obvious that today’s people have become the product of weird dogmatic practices without pausing for a moment to scrutinize why things are the way they are. We strictly follow and adhere to principles pertaining to traditions, religion, politics and other systems blindly because “that is the norm.”

Although somewhat contested, it is believed that Stephenson, G. R. in 1967 contacted an experiment to point out the flaw of this human’s disposition.

Five monkeys were put in a room and in the middle of the room was a ladder, leading to a bunch of bananas hanging from a hook on the ceiling.

Each time a monkey tried to climb the ladder; all the monkeys were sprayed with iced water, which made them miserable.

Soon enough, whenever a monkey attempted to climb the ladder, all of the monkeys, not wanting to be sprayed, set upon and beat him up. Soon, none of the five monkeys ever attempted to climb the ladder.

One of the original monkeys was removed, and a new monkey was put in the room. Seeing the bananas and the ladder, he wondered why none of the other monkeys were doing the obvious. But undaunted, he immediately began to climb the ladder.

All the other monkeys jumped on him and beat the hell out of him. He had no idea why he was being beaten. However, he no longer attempted to climb the ladder.

Is Majid Michel Really the Best Actor in Africa? | Stella Damasus Says YES

10/11/2014 5:43 pm

by Contributor | Gabby Nash

Majid Michel celebrated his birthday few weeks ago. Well, he his 34 years old now. His friends organized a surprise birthday for him in far away U.S.A and It was during this moment that Nollywood screen goddess Stella Damasus declared unequivocally that Majid Michel is the best actor on the continent.

This is might be a harmless compliment meant to boost Majid’s already bloated ego, but I know perfectly well this would ruffle the composure of lots of the actors in the industry especially against the background that Africa has a huge array of stars who are considered far better than Majid Michel.

Majid rose to prominence in the series, ‘Things We Do for Love’ in 2000. The series was very popular with the youth and became a huge success. He played the role of a womanizer who wrecked girls’ heart into shreds. ‘Things We Do for Love’ also launched the career of Adjetey Annang, popularly called Pusher, Vincent Maccauley and the adorable Jackie Appiah.

Majid’s major breakthrough came when he featured alongside Van Vicker in ‘Divine Love’ a film written by Abdul Salam Mumuni. He has gone on to feature in a lot of films—both in his native land Ghana and Nigeria.

What Really Happened to Hiplife Duo-Nkasie? | I Hope a Tuabodom Curse Did Not End Their Musical Career…

10/4/2014 8:29 pm

by Contributor | Gabby Nash

httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9k7JZ7tLx-U

The hiplife duo, nkasie shot to fame in 2006 with arguably, the most controversial song of all time in the history of Ghanaian music. The song, tuabodom, catapulted them to a pedestal of success.

Ironically that song has proved to be their undoing, as they have taken a hiatus ever since. The group, made up of Kwame Godlove Yeboah (Shy) and Isaac Mensah (Naa K) happened to be the first group to collaborate with Reggie Rockstone, the pioneer of hiplife genre. Their hit song, Ekomamu released on the album Bisa in 2000, still resonates in my mind and is a favourite of many revellers.

The song was a like a tsunami. It shook the foundation of the musical landscape. The people of tuabodom, a country side in the Brong Ahafo region of Ghana who were the subject of the derogatory remarks of the song, felt outraged and vowed to deal with the artiste through any means. It caused a great uproar, prompting a legislator who hails from the region to call for it outright banned. Some even tried desperately to hide their identity to avoid any further ridiculing.

The song itself is a folktale. It portrayed the dwellers of the town as lacking civilizing influences.

As the story goes, many years ago a school in tuabodom was invited to participate in a sports competition in Kumasi. Prior to their departure, one of the teachers of the school decided to teach the students a very unique song that will make the people of Kumasi acclaim them as “the brutal of the brutest.”.

Bring Back ‘Thursday Theatre’ or Something Close to It…

10/4/2014 8:10 pm

by Contributor | Gabby Nash

The demise of good old Thursday theatre, (famously called so because it was shown on Thursdays) is something I am yet to fully comprehend. This was the programme that made television viewing a worthwhile experience. GBC-TV became the toast of many Ghanaians. Well the fact is that there wasn’t any other TV station!

The series introduced to us some distinguished characters who told the Ghanaian story with a touch of dexterity and a sense of pride. Augustine Abbey, better known as Idikoko, and other producers contributed immensely to sustain the art. I have good memories of some of the episodes and relish them with excitement. And those were the moments when Ghana movie industry was booming.

Now foreign telenovelas have invaded our industry and what once unified us in the form of entertainment have been relegated to the background. Ghanaian companies proudly sponsor these foreign materials at the detriment of ours, leaving the creative industry to decay.

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