Move To Support Musicians

The success story about Ghana-Nigeria collaboration in film production is set to spread to the music industries in both countries.

Two entertainment gurus, Mr Kiki Banson, Director of the Celebration Night Club and Entertainment Centre, Ghana, and Mr Ken-Calebs Olumese alias Guv’nor, the owner and Chief Executive Officer of the Night Shift Entertainment Company, Lagos, have met in Accra to discuss ways to promote musical works from the two countries.

Mr Olumese who is also the director of the Coliseum Night Club, Lagos, the biggest Night Club in Africa, has expressed his preparedness to create a big market in Nigeria, for Ghanaian musicians.

In the last few months, the creme de la creme of hiplife music, Reggie Rockstone, Lord Kenya, Slim Buster and Tic Tac have had the opportunity to play gigs at the 5000-capacity Coliseum Club. The next group expected in Nigeria is VIP.

Some top Nigerian stars are also expected to visit the country periodically at the invitation of the Celebration Club. Recently, Nigerian celebrated musician, Tony Tetula, was in the country to grace the Ghana Music Awards ceremony and information reaching The Mirror indicates that another super star, a gospel singer, Sam Okoro will be in the country for the Ghana Gospel Music Awards.

There is no doubt that Nigeria has a big market for musicians and Mr Banson has given the assurance that local musicians will be supported to breakthrough that Market.

According to him, the most important thing is for the local music scene to be made attractive to catch the eyes of the international community. This, he said,will enable the musicians to reap maximum fruits for their labour.

“This is one of the reasons why I set up the Celebration Club. I have provided an atmosphere for musicians and members of the business community particularly young executives and various players in the economy to meet and talk business. This happens on Wednesdays during the “corporate happy hour session”.

He said on Thursdays, musicians from Africa and the Diaspora are given an opportunity to present their works to music lovers at a special Afro-Carribean programme at the Celebration Night Club.

In the 70s, African great musicians such as Fela, Hugh Masekela, Osibisa and the Hedzole Sounds succeeded in bringing the peoples of the continent together through the power of music and it is hoped that with the support of people like Messrs Banson and Olumese, young musicians on the continent will take over from where the great men left off.

Mr Banson has hinted that the once popular afternoon jam sessions that dominated the entertainment scene in the late 70s and 80s will be re-introduced at his club before the end of the month and the show will be on every Sunday.

• Kiki Banson (middle) introducing Mr Ken-Calebs Ohimese to Mr Eusebius Fredna-Mensah, a leagl advisor to the Mayor of London. this was when the three met in Accra recently.