God Doesn't Know Ghana!!!

I am very happy now that I stopped going to church. The last time I went to church was about 2 years ago, I have been thinking about that institution though since I stopped because I was raised in a home where I had to be in church every Sunday. I had my way when my mom died. But now I am happy that I stopped church because it has been revealed, I rejoice now because I now know. I now know that the Jesus/God that we worship, that we go to church to hear about is not in Ghana. He doesn’t even know there is a country called Ghana. And this is a proven fact. Please I would advice you all to stop going to church with immediate effect because you are wasting your time, all your praise and worship, your chants and tongues is not getting anywhere. Kindly listen to my words before it is too late, have you heard? Keep your collection money, use it to pay for the lights we are not getting and the water that hardly flows. Or you can also use it for petrol since they keep on increasing the price or gas, because who knows, they might increase it by 50% soon.

Even the Government of Ghana, led by his excellency, John Dramani Mahama knows that God or Jesus has no idea that there is a country called Ghana. I wonder why they are making it public now after all these years, Kwame Nkrumah should have told us this kraa. We have wasted our praise, worship, money and ‘wives’. Yes, wives, those who slept with Mr. Pastor because his penis is the key to heaven. The reason for these words is know by some Ghanaians, the first time I heard about it was from this video made by the FOKN BOIS. At first, I thought they were just joking, I thought they had made something up but I saw it in the headlines yesterday. I read that the Government of Ghana is sponsoring 200 pastors from recognized church bodies to pray for the country in Jerusalem, Israel because that is where Jesus is based. Anyway, the government of Ghana is going to spend $600,000-that is the budget for this pilgrimage even though there are rumours that the actual budget is $2million. Well, if you ask me, I think the $600,000 is quiet small for these 200 pastors so I know it is more than that. Okay, lets just leave this for another day, okay? Please bear with me.

These 200 pastors are going to Jerusalem to pray for the country, our president and the court case that is pending in the high courts. Oh, you didn’t know that there is a court case? Akuffo Addo of the NPP is challenging the results of the last elections in court right now. Personally, I think that case will be in the courts for 4 years before a verdict is given. Yes 4 solid years. I simply don’t understand why the Government is sending these people just to pray, prayers keke oo…just common ‘halababababababa’. Like are we serious at all? I am disgusted by this move of the government, I don’t agree with some of their decisions but with this move, I really think that there is something wrong with minds or they have been cursed or someone somewhere is doing them Juju. Ah, what should I say? Does this even look or sound normal to you? I mean, I thought the bible said ‘where 2 or 3 are gathered, I am in their midst’ or whatever. This is God/Jesus speaking here oo, so if this is in the bible, why do we have to make trips to pray to God? This is why I am saying that they know the truth and do know how to make it public. God is not in Ghana. Jesus has no idea there is a country called Ghana.

Ghana is such a beautiful and peaceful country, its citizens are very ‘warming’ and welcoming, on the other hand Israel is not peaceful, there have been tensions there for time and we really think that Jesus or God is there, right? Such a waste!! The government is noted for putting the cart before the horse and this is a clear example. Mr. President, I dey feel you waa, I hope you saw my post about who I voted for. I have been voting for the NDC since I started voting but some of the decisions you guys make are out of order and this crowns it. Ah so you mean, the current power issues we are having is not important to you or what? Or you will find money for that one. Teachers are going on strike and we know why. Our teachers are not paid well at all and you are sending some people to all the way Israel just to say some prayers and come back, whilst our teachers, nurses and doctors suffer, right? Look at the allowances of these MPs, I hear they were given huge sums or they will be given some huge some of money for them to build their houses. Like seriously? Why shouldn’t there be a flat or apartments for MPs where they can stay during their term in office and after they leave. Why cant there be something like this? Or I am talking nonsense? So that means, after every 4 years, you are going to part away money to MPs to build. Imagine someone like E.T Mensah then. We are wasting money too much on nonsense and its time you sit up paa. When a politician comes to power, the first thing he thinks about is how to enrich himself with the nation’s money and not how to help the country in his own small way, what a mindset.

Our God will even be angry at us for such a move, I am sure and God please don’t add me to these bunch when you are punishing oo.. Me I was in my small corner doing my thing for coins. Most of the pastors said it was wrong timing because Easter is just around the corner. So they were also going to make this trip? Nkwasiafuor akwaaka!!!

As for Ghana, we will suffer oo… it will never be well with ways like these!! Never!! I need to end this post now before my lights go off, kindly continue for me.

INDIE FUSE 2012

I was looking forward to it for 2 months, not because I had nothing else to look forward to but because it was exciting in 2011. I hate it when good things happen just once in a year, like birthdays, Indie Fuse and Independence, even though we are still dependent. Nobody should fight or argue with me over this, we are still dependent as a country. But that isn’t what I want to ‘argue’ about in this post. I want to touch on something spectacular, something original and authentic.

Indie fuse came off over the weekend (15^th December,2012) at Alliance Francaise in Accra, and it is one of the few shows, if not the only show that started on time, well not exactly on time but I mean, just some few minutes late didn’t hurt anyone. We were even late for the show and we kept on getting calls that the show was about to start. Someone, texted me that the show was starting without me and I thought all were jokes, these friends just wanted us to talk before the show like we always do. I got there with Glen aka @simpol_tinz and the first act was already on stage.  But before this the crowd enjoyed some good tunes from the funky professor himself Kobby Graham who was supported by DJ Kev. I really like Kobby’s choice of music and I think when it comes to music, we share something in common. I think. The hosts of the show were not present so someone else had to play host for the mean time.

Indie Fuse is all about artists being themselves and putting out their works on platforms in the most imaginative way possible. At Indie Fuse, you will find ‘skillful’ artists performing with a live band and this means no miming. Things that happen here are different, even the songs you hear and most of the artists, you hardly hear on radio. The industry follow a single path, it hates to discover, it hates to dig deep into the underground to find out what goes on there. All it deals with are mainstream artists and this becomes boring to me especially. I hardly listen to the radio because most of the music I hear on there are straight trash. I think I am wrong to even call that ‘music’ and they lack creativity. You will be amazed with what you will hear when you branch out of the single path that the industry rides on. There are young people who are built and are doing their thing for fans who are lucky to find them, and I am that type of guy who likes ‘digging’ to discover new artists, Indie Fuse has been one of my grounds. Indie Fuse is a music platform that promotes Ghanaian artists, both locally and abroad and connects them for projects. I connected with Kae Sun, a Ghanaian musician who is based is Canada, thanks to Indie Fuse.

I had been at a couple of rehearsals and also the sound check on that day so I knew this version of Indie Fuse was going to be awesome so there was no way I was going to miss this for anything. Finally, I was going to experience some good live music, whew!! Been to a couple of ‘mime’ shows in these last couple of months and I had been itching to free myself with a good show and Indie Fuse did the trick. So finally the show started, this group called the @sankwasbois were host and I must say that these duo are fools, they branched out of the normal ‘Chris Attoh’ way of hosting and incorporated humour, art and more humour. They did not just come on stage to just introduce the next act just like that but ‘played the fool’ and sometimes blended their introduction of the next act into their ‘fun ways’. This is one of the few times that I have seen a crowd look forward to see the hosts come on stage and even their outfits were…..hmmmm..

The first on stage was Zantou Lansre a group from Niger and from their outfits to the women who were dancing for them really took my mind to a place, the ‘desert region’. The only thing missing on stage was a camel but their songs replaced that. They took the crowd through a couple of their songs which they call the northern mojoblues funk music and you could see the faces in the crowd, they listened with rapt attention and the applause that came after their performance was awesome. Even though a majority of the crowd did not understand their lyrics they really absorbed it and this is why I believe that music is indeed a universal language.

Next was Lyrical Wanzam who also brought his own band to do a song, he also got backing from the ‘in-house’ band, Afro Harmony as well. This band is gradually etching their name in the bosom of the music industry and they are made up of young men who are in their early 20s. They have style and don’t lack creativity at all. They are diverse so serve all, no matter your type of music. Lyrical Wanzam released a mixtape a couple of months back called the AfroPolytank and it did very well. He is made songs with Manifest and I am sure he is cooking something for his fans.

Lady Jay is a soulful singer from Pidgen Music and that mean I share a common label with her. I think she was the simplest dressed artist of the night. She killed it though with her songs which came to live and how she related with the crowd was on point. Sewor, an instrumentalist from the African Relaxation Technique (A.R.T) was there to back her. I have seen her improve by the minute and I am looking forward to what her 2013 will be like.

Jojo Abot, another marvelous singer came on stage to do her thing and she introduced a violinist into her performance. I had good comments from the crowd after her performance and they were surprised that they had never heard about her or heard her music on the radio or tv. This is what Indie Fuse is all about, innit? She has an EP coming out soon and I am looking forward to that. I have seen her perform so many times and she always kills it. What I like about her is how she blends her native Ewe Language into her songs, she mostly sings in English and the ewe helps her cut across boundaries.

Before I forget, let me send a big shouts to Alliance Francaise for the good sound that they have produced over the years. Their sound is always on point and this is where I say Rest In Peace to Mr. Cephas who passed a couple of months back. He was the sound engineer and the person who has taken over is also doing a wonderful job. Mantse was keen on sound during sound-check and I think the finished product was crystal-clear, every instrument was on the right level. Correct nsenku!!! The lighting too was in sync and I love the various colours that clad the stage.

Paapa who is a Jesus Freak and from the Skillions Records had his chance on stage. He is a one-man band with his keyboard and loop station and the melodies that he creates on these equipment are awesome. Jayso introduced him after the Sankwas Bois has (please note why I am using ‘has’ all you English teachers) introduced him and the crowd kept on chanting ‘ice water’ which is a single he released a couple of months ago. Paapa stammers, I met him in 2006 and I am amazed with how he has improved with both his speech and art form. He is very good on the keyboard and I know he has a whole lot up his sleeve for 2013.

If you have seen them perform before, you know how the crowd goes berserk when they perform their single I Dey Feel You Die. Its an AfroRock Band here in Ghana and we all know them as Faint Medal. I am yet to find out the meaning on their name, will leave that for another time. They didn’t perform their hit song this time, but they did perform some wicked songs which I know will catch on pretty soon. Their lyricist, Syn, is very smooth on the mic and Kyekyeku is very agile on the guitar. This time, they brought a young man who did the whole rapping thing on their sound and you should see the energy of the crowd as this man laid his verses. Even though the crowd was expecting I Dey Feel You Die ft Yaa Pono they were satisfied with the show Faint Medal Band put up and I know that those songs will catch on soon.

Yaa Pono was present and also had his time on stage. This young man is always fire when he is on stage and always, and I repeat always gets the crowd on their feet. He is from  Pidgen Music  and I think he has performed on all the previous Indie Fuse Shows. I was mostly back stage when he was performing and I could hear the ‘roars’ from the crowd, it was deafening. I remember his show from last year’s Indie Fuse, I remember like it was yesterday and the little that I saw with this one…….saved!!

Alliance Francaise was filled to capacity, people couldn’t find seats, the aura was bliss and the whole place was made up of people who loved the arts, people who wanted to see authentic artists, people who wanted to watch live performances from artist that they hardly see or hear but know how awesome they are. Everybody who came knew they were paying 10ghc to watch something that will live with them and they were not failed at all. I have read reviews about the show and I have not read anything negative from any of the websites or blogs. I can say this is the most successful show this year and I am already looking forward to next year’s. Yes, already. I have been saying that Indie Fuse should be held twice in a year instead of the current once a year. People can’t wait for that long, when something is that good. I am not looking forward to any other shows this holidays because I know that all I will see is mediocre and nothing but miming.

There were 2 headliners and the first to come on stage was Tawiah, a Ghanaian who is based in the UK and has made a name for herself all over. She has done back up singing for Amy Winehouse and Corinne Bailey Rae. She has worked with Cee-Lo, Mark Ronson, Wale and GhostPoet. He performed with the Afro Harmony Band and also performed with her loop station and Guitar as well. Tawiah has performed on numerous stages including the Glastonbury Festival and I saw her back in 2008 perform at the Bless Da Mic Christmas edition. The crowd loved her, I remember a friend of mine come to me like, ‘cha, that girl be serious oo!!’. Yes she was very serious on stage and just look her up on google/youtube and feel her small wai? I really hope she has other shows in Ghana this December before she leaves for the UK.

I would like to commend ACCRA [dot] ALT who are the producers of Indie Fuse and also all those who came on board to support this good course especially the Institut Francais, Alliance Francaise, The Republic Bar and Grill, REDD KATT, Dust Magazine, Fullish Art, Pidgen Music, Skillions Records, Nandimobile, Goba Hub, Smoothy’s Café and Global Outdoor Systems. They made Indie Fuse 2012 possible and I hope that come 2013, more companies will come on board so we have a better show.

The second headliner was a group called the Fokn Bois…hmmm.. need I say more? I know that most of you are aware of this fokn group and their ways already. I am sure that you know how they get creative on stage and also involve the crowd in the performances, and I am also sure that you are aware of the depth in their lyrics. This duo, made up of Wanlov and M3NSA performed some songs on their latest Fokn Wit Ewe album and from their solo albums. They performed all the songs with the Afro Harmony Band and they were also joined by Ryan Ansah, who is good with the guitar. A section of the crowd had to give up their seats and come to the front of the stage to work their feet to songs like Adjuma, African Gypsy and Gimmie Pinch. I remember how the crowd laughed and giggled to the lyrics of Sextra Terrestrial Sex. Joking about how semen would float in space and how comets are really the semen of aliens etc. The fokn bois really live up to their name and it was good to see them together once again on a local stage after touring several countries in Europe during 2012.

This post is so long so I need to just end here before most of you stop reading. I am sure by now some stopped reading somewhere in-between, too bad. But Indie Fuse 2012 was so successful and like I said, I cant wait for the next one. There was also a mini show at the Republic Bar on Friday 14^th December and that too went well even though I had to leave early because I was so tired. Anyway, the hosts of the show were really myself and @simpol_tinz and we make up the Sankwas Bois.

Kudos to Mantse and Sionne of Accra[dot]Alt and also to Gyedu Blay Ambolley for that small talk during the show.

Big In Ghana Tour(Kumasi&Accra)

Of late dier I am trying, anaa? I have been able to post regularly, yes, I do, and I love every minute of it. All my previous posts are worth reading so do well to go back into time and just enjoy. Finally the Big In Ghana tour came to an end on Saturday 1st September, 2012 with the biggest concert at the Holy Gardens, Kwame Nkrumah Circle, Accra. We all knew that Accra’s version was going to be the biggest and our thoughts came to life. I have already told you guys about the Takoradi and Tema versions of the concert, I am left with Kumasi and Accra then my job is done.

Kumasi was awesome, the people and the energy. We got there at 2:30 on Thursday 30th august, 2012 and it was straight to business after we checked into our hotel called the Promised Land (I dey feel the hotel ein name waa). Wanlov and Mensa went straight to Kapital Radio to be interviewed by DJ NY, one of the DJs who have given my spoken word album, Photosentences loads of love in Kumasi. The interview was awesome, it gave us a good welcome to Kumasi. But charley, on the real, Kumasi traffic is on another level ooo… No lie!! Not much was done on the Thursday apart from the fufu I ate with Mensa at that place and I remember the guy who came to ‘short’ us. He didn’t show mercy on our fufu at all, the guy chop oo…

On the morning of the day for the Kumasi version of the Big In Ghana Tour, Mensa and I went to buy some hausa koko in the morning paa and charley, this koko was very brown, I mean deep brown, far from the ones we have in Accra and I think I know why Kumasi makes her koko very brown. Nobody should ask me. Anyway, let me fast forward to the show itself but before, I really enjoyed interviewing some of the artists on Friday morning. I did what happened in Takoradi again, yes; I entered each and every room with no ‘permit’. The concert took place at the Cultural Centre in Kumasi and I had to interview some people there as the stage was been put together. I interviewed Pim of AfricanUnsigned with @simpol_tinz, we also spoke to the music director, Mr Sewor and a couple of other people. Show started a little bit late as usual and Efya couldn’t make it to Kumasi but things went smoothly. The four artists/contestants, Anas, Amoakohene, NT4 and Bright rocked the stage after an Azonto Competition and some raps by people who were selected from the crowd. I really love the Big In Ghana stage charley, no mistake kraa, on point!! Bradaz passed through to spice up the whole thing and Blacks also came on stage to do some things, they are 2 young guys and charle, I feel them roff.

Yaa Pono was killing it on stage, he did a couple of songs, about 5 and some freestyles. Charle, the crowd was feeling him!! It’s funny how the people know his songs because the radio hardly shows him love, but the crowd knew the words to most of his songs. So, hmmm, he wasn’t done yet, he was going to do more songs and then, fui!, The generator set decided to go off. Oh charley, wey yawa this?? The guy didn’t buy enough fuel for the generator, he pocketed some of the money. This is what I wanted to do to him-lay him on a bed of roses in the sun and smear shit on him charle. Dude didn’t try but that didn’t stop us even though a section of the crowd had dispersed. The lights came back on and the foknbois took the stage. Honestly, nothing stopped them, ignoring the fact that most of the people were gone, they put up a massive show and when I say massive, I mean massive!! Sankwas Bois (@simpol_tinz and mutombo) also went on stage to do some tunes charle. It was awesome!! I will never forget Kumasi.

We went to sleep at the Promise Land late and woke up around 7am to move back to Accra in order prepare for the Accra version that evening, charle, just imagine, we were all tired. And I dread travelling because I have ‘car-sickness’. I always want to throw up and I feel uneasy all the time, the feeling is so rude but on our way to Kumasi I found a remedy, well wanlov did and it is magic. They were teasing me and Wanlov gave me some tangerine peels to squeeze into my nostrils, In that state, I would do anything just to feel better so I did it and guess what, all what I was feeling vanished one time. I swear down!! So at every stop, I got some tangerines. Simple!!

The Accra concert was huge, the energy was awesome and the people were ‘responsive’. Efya was present here and she rocked the stage with her tunes, this lady is always on point. Yaa Pono has been killing it throughout this tour and here was no different. But the host, PY was talking too much, I guess it is all because of the crowd. The performance from the foknbois was fit for a climax and I know all those who were present will go home with something to tell and it will stay in their memory for a long time.

Enough love to Bavaria for making this possible, AfricanUnsigned, Kasapreko, Pidgen Music and all those who played a part to make this tour fruitful. It was awesome! As for the pictures dier, I have plenty on my facebook so add me (mutombodapoet Percy) and check out my tumblr too- mutombodapoet.tumblr.com

Unplugged

I have not been well, I have to admit, sicknesses keep on coming and going but I still have ‘vim’. As for the vim, I will never lose it. But I am getting better by the minute, today I woke up feeling ‘easy’ and I know by noon or evening, I will be strong. I just need more sleep. Through all these mishaps, my mind is focused on one thing, my show tomorrow 18^th August, 2012 and I can’t wait charle!!!

Been looking forward to this show for a couple of weeks now and it’s almost here. Tomorrow, I am going to share with the audience, my experiences and words from when spoken word started for me. I will perform spoken words back to back and the audience will be involved throughout. This is going to be the most intimate show you have ever attended, and to tell you the basic truth, it’s going to be awesome!!

I will be performing with a guitarist and I hope you all know Kyekyeku and also a percussionist called Joe Black, we have been sharing ideas and all and because we want this to be ‘raw’, we don’t spend time rehearsing and rehearsing, we just share ideas and that is it. I don’t even know what to expect on that day and that makes it awesome. I am going to call random people from the crowd to come to the mic and this is something I am looking forward to, putting people on the spot. There is one person that I am looking forward to ‘bug’ paa.

Guess what? M3nsa and Wanlov aka FOKN BOIS will be there to support me and they will step to the mic , Yaa Pono and Lady Jay will also be there to support charle. It’s a Pidgen Music thing!!! I can’t wait to see everybody there and I can’t wait to have fun!! Everybody will get a copy of my spoken word album, PHOTOSENTENCES. It starts at 7pm and it will take place at Hush Lounge, in the premises of Labone Coffee Shop, Labone Accra.

More Vim!!!

Youtube Ghana Launch

21-July-2012 was that other day. I had a solemn morning and also a calm early morning and then around 2pm, I had to meet Wanlov and Mensa so we go to the Youtube Ghana launch at Citizen Kofi. We ‘chopped’ fufu first at a base around Asylum Down, I hadn’t eaten the whole day so I did justice to the fufu.
We were to perform at this launch and in my mind, I thought it would be fit to perform something around the theme ‘YOUTUBE’ but I had nothing like that. The notice came a little late so I didn’t have that time to write something down.
The launch was graced by familiar faces, people in the media and all. A youtube representative who came down from Spain took audience through the ‘youtube journey’, thus, where they started to where they are now. Some of the figures he mentioned was baffling to me especially the videos people watch on youtube daily. I think the figure was 4 billion. So why don’t people watch my videos then? Anyway, here is my youtube channel-www.youtube.com/mutombogh. He also told us about how people are using youtube to make a name for themselves and stuff like that. It was an awesome presentation even though I wasn’t attentively.
I took to the stage and did a spoken word performance, took them down memory lane to the period where youtube wasn’t around and told the audience how every person is capable of being a star nowadays because of youtube. Those days, it was just the television but now we can shoot a video with our phones and other video gadgets and just upload on youtube. Other youtube reps came to basically talk about how people are using youtube and how people can use youtube to their benefit. The beautiful songstress, Efya took the stage to perform a song and after, XO Senavoe joined her on stage to do a song for mothers. It was awesome.
What basically went down was how to use youtube for results and at a point, five people were engaged in a short interview. This was basically about when they started using this website and how beneficial it has been to them. This panel included Ameyaw Debrah and my Pidgen Music Label boss, Panji ANOFF. The Fokn Bois finally performed and as usual, they were so fokn on stage. They force the host to say the name ‘FOKN’ and Estelle struggled a little before saying this.
It was a good launch and we welcome YOUTUBE GHANA. You see, I forgot that Carlos Sekyi came to talk and represent the Ghana Music Union or something like that. He didn’t say anything proper and was dry charley. We were given a youtube bag with some youtube goodies and I am even using the portable mouse now. My thing is, why is it so necessary to have YOUTUBE GHANA (www.youtube.com.gh)? Like what difference will it make??
Pictures of this event can be found at mutombogh.tumblr.com

I Am Grown And Sexy

 Rockstones Office, which is located behind the Police Headquarters, has been the chilling spot for tons of people in the past few years. I have been there so many times and it’s the only joint that I love to be, not because of Reggie Rockstone and not because I always get to enter free, its because of the environment and how relaxed the place is, especially if you go there early. Nice waiters and workers and yes, their waakye as well.

What I really want to focus on is what happens on Wednesdays at this joint. Grown and Sexy is a mid-week entertainment ‘thingy’ that goes on at Rockstones Office and it’s the best thing to ever happen to peeps that have nowhere to chill during the week. Grown and Sexy is more like an open mic where random people can get on the mic but each Wednesday has a special guest performer. And the most amazing thing is, every performance is backed by a band. This is where artists get to test their skills with a live band and I have seen a couple of acts flop because most of them do the miming thing all the time. Oh Ghana!!!

Rockstone’s Office is a place to be on Wednesdays because you also get to meet random people, make some connections and basically chill. I am mostly there on this day just to see people work the mic and I have performed there on so many Wednesdays doing my spoken word thing and sometimes messing with some rap lines with my homie, Simpol Tinz. I have seen so many artistes like Gyedu Blay Ambolley, Ben Brako, Kwawkese, Tinny, R2Bees, Mensa, Wanlov, Okyeame Kwame, Efya, Yaa Pono, Lady Jay, Zigi, EL etc perform there on Wednesdays and most of the times, the grandpa himself, Reggie Rockstone who is also the owner of the joint gets on the mic too.

Its hosted by KOD and I simply love the way he engages the audience and calls random people to the mic sing, rap or do anything. You will be surprised that, you get all this entertainment for free no matter how big the artiste is. All you have to do is to buy drinks, chill and watch live performances from stars from all over. Reggie should be recommended for creating something like this and to all those other joints, you are late!! We need to start getting innovative and try out different things. The ‘party this, party that’ is becoming much, let’s create charle. More vim to Grown and Sexy and I hope it stays around for a very long time, just like GBC.