Ja Rule Rocks Ghana Music Awards

We’ve seen them all; Brenda Fassie, Tony Tetuila, 2 Face, Dade Shoki, Blu 3, Awilo Logomba, Jeff Bogolobolo and D’Banji. They have graced the stages of the most prestigious music industry awards in Ghana and now it has been confirmed that one of America’s best rap artistes, Ja Rule is to headline the Celebrations Jam of the MTN Ghana Music Awards Festival 2008. The music awards festival is the only occasion, year-on-year, during which musicians from Ghana and across Africa are brought together on one stage to celebrate Ghanaian artistes for their works. With the inclusion of Ja Rule on this year’s performance line up, the festival is on a sure route to becoming a music festival like no other. The Celebrations Jams, which comes off a day after the main awards, will also feature star performances by some Ghanaian musicians as well as P Square from Nigeria and Nameless from Kenya. Although the venue for the mega concert has not been confirmed, Ghanaians can rest assured that come April 26, 2008, the power behind the MTN Ghana Music Awards will present an unparallel outdoor party to climax the music festival. The Celebrations Jam is expected to live up to the promise by Charterhouse, event organisers, to provide Ghanaian music enthusiasts with a teaser of what is to come when the award scheme marks its 10th anniversary next year. The MTN GMA festival begins on April 23 with the gala night at which certain strategic music industry awards will be presented at a dinner ceremony attended by a cross section of Ghana’s music industry players. The main awards night which comes off on April 25, is always the high point of the festival. It has a huge audience appeal and is broadcast live on GTV for those who for one reason or another are unable to be present at the ceremony. This way, the organisers hope to give everyone in Ghana the chance of celebrating with the musicians who have kept them dancing throughout the year. Ja Rule, whose first visit it would be to the ‘shores of gold’, has promised to leave lasting impressions on Ghanaians. The prowess of P Square of Nigeria is obvious for all to see in their latest song, ‘E don dey’. Not a day goes by without one hearing the song being played on air. Also topping the bill from Africa will be Nameless, a Kenyan artiste whose song is topping the charts in his country and set to take Africa by storm. The performance by these international acts will in no way detract attention from the many hard working musicians whose contributions to the Ghanaian music industry will be recognised. Artistes like Kwaw Kesse, Ofori Amponsah, Cee, Becca and Ohemaa Mercy are sure to register a strong presence. Meanwhile the voting process is still ongoing. Music enthusiasts are encouraged to make their views on who wins what count by calling MTN short code 1750.