Category: Entertainment

Madam Juliet Yaa Asantewa Asante, Chief Executive Officer of National Flim Authority, has asked players in the film industry to use the internet to promote local movies to the world.

She said the local film industry needed to use new technologies such as the Internet to distribute, exhibit, and market their films to the rest of the world.

She made the call during the film’s sector stakeholders meeting in Tamale organised by the National Flim Authority in partnership with Ghana Tourism Authority and funded by the World Bank.

It was to build the capacity of the stakeholders in the film industry in the Northern Region to promote their films globally.

Madam Asante urged the film industry to develop technical standards for productions to meet the global standard and build their capacity by learning from other countries.

She encouraged the film industry to use films to project the country and her rich culture to the world.

Mr George Bosompim, Public Relations Officer of Ghana Academy of Film and Television Arts, advised the film producers to comply with the laws regulating copyright and disbursement of royalties.

He urged them to conduct research on films in the country and the world to help them improve their production standards.

He also advised them to promote and facilitate co-production between local and foreign producers as part of measures to promote their movies.

Professor Gabriel Eshun, Technical Advisor for Ghana Tourism Development Project, also called upon the film industry to promote the moral, ethical, and aesthetic value of Ghanaian society as part of tourism promotion to the world.

Source: Ghana News Agency

The activities marking the 2023 edition of the Korean Week celebration was Friday climaxed with a K-pop contest and food exhibition to showcase Korean popular music and dance as well as indigenous food.

Organised by the Embassy of the Republic of Korea to Ghana, the annual celebration exhibits Korea’s culture in various dimensions, promote cultural exchange, and acknowledge the fruitful bilateral ties between Korea and Ghana.

This year’s celebration kick-started with a quiz dubbed: ‘Quiz on Korea’, which tested the knowledge of Ghanaian contestants on Korean history and culture.

Samantha Kyei, a 24-year-old data analyst, emerged winner of that contest.

Subsequently, Mr Lim Jung Lim, the Korean Ambassador to Ghana, delivered a lecture on the economy of Korea.

The activities for the week reached a high point when some young Ghanaians on Friday battled it out on stage with sizzling performances on K-pop music and dance – to the excitement of both Ghanaian and Korean nationals that patronised the event.

Daniel Appah, a teacher, emerged winner of the K-pop contest and was presented with a Samsung tablet.

Genia Stormz and Marie-Ann Adae clinched the 1st Runner-up and 2nd Runner-up positions respectively.

Participants were also offered an opportunity to taste rich indigenous Korean delicacies and beverages.

In an interview with the Ghana News Agency, Mr Appah, who appeared elated about the win, said he was a strong lover of Korean music and had spent the last one month learning about their dance and music.

‘I travelled to Korea in 2018 for a dance festival. I spent three months there. I learnt mind dedication in Korea and I also got to develop my talent within three months,’ he said.

Ms Kyei said she developed an interest in the Korean language through movies and had since infancy being an ardent admirer of the people of Korea and their craft.

She said it was her dream to travel to Korea one day to undertake her master’s degree and learn more about the people of Korea and their culture.

Mr Lim said the purpose of the Korea Week celebration was to create awareness about Korean culture.

He said he was amazed by the extent to which young people in Ghana had embraced the Korean culture especially dance and music.

Mr Lim said Ghana and Korea shared a common history, mind set and values such as respect for the elderly and prioritised the welfare and education of children.

‘We want to show Korean music and food and hospitality of the Korean people to the people of Ghana through this event’ he said.

Mr Lim said annually, the Government of Korea offered more than 100 Ghanaians the opportunity to study in Korea and expressed his desire for the numbers to be increased to offer more Ghanaians the opportunity to experience Korea.

Source: Ghana News Agency

An Ocean Fair, organised by the Danny Faure Foundation showcasing the work that several organisations are doing to preserve the oceans, opened on Thursday.

Governmental and non-governmental organisations, educational institutions, the fisheries industry, and local artisans are among those participating in the exhibition open from June 1-3 at the Camion Hall in the capital of Victoria.

The spokesperson of the Danny Faure Foundation, Larrey Chetty said, “They are all organisations that since the foundation was launched, we have interacted with them.”

The exhibition, which is being held under the theme ‘a sustainable ocean’, is part of the activities being organised to mark World Oceans Day on June 8.

The stalls at the exhibition are displaying informational materials, educational games where visitors can test their knowledge. (Seychelles Nation) Photo License: CC-BY

“Everybody can come together so that we can showcase what we are doing to protect and preserve the ocean; and for us to have a sustainable ocean,” said Chetty.

This year the United Nations is celebrating World Oceans Day with the theme Planet Ocean with the aim to join forces with decision-makers, scientists, private sector executives, civil society representatives, indigenous communities, celebrities and youth activists to put the ocean first.

Seychelles, with an Exclusive Economic Zone of 1.4 million square kilometres, has one of the most biologically diverse marine ecosystems on the planet with seagrass beds accounting for 99 percent of the blue carbon extent.

The stalls at the exhibition are displaying informational materials, educational games where visitors can test their knowledge and the Foundation’s memorabilia, some of which are made by Seychellois artisans – on sale for the first time.

“We are excited to welcome everyone to the Fair as the participants gather to showcase all the amazing work they are doing for the protection, conservation and sustainable development of the ocean,” said Chetty.

He also took the time to caution those visiting the fair, that it was a time to remember “that whatever we do today, the children will suffer the consequences.”

Former Danny President Danny Faure, the founder of DFF (right) with one of the displays at the exhibition. (Seychelles Nation) Photo License: CC-BY

The Island Conservation Seychelles (ICS), is one of the non-profit organisations present. Its aim is to sensitise people not only to the extensive work carried out on the several islands under its responsibility but also to talk about some of its challenges.

ICS spokesperson, Sharon Meriton-Jean, told SNA that their presence at the fair aligns with their “role of preserving and monitoring and coming up with projects to continue our preservation work.”

One of the challenges ICS is faced with is the number of fish aggregating devices (FADs) found on the outer islands.

“We want people to know that while we do have our tuna fishing industry, we also have the FADs to deal with as a consequence,” she added.

In addition to the organisations working for the preservation of the oceans, there were also artists like Nigel Henri and James Agricole showcasing their work.

“I took the time to exhibit my work, which is also for sale as this is how I am doing my part in preserving our oceans,” painter Nigel Henri told SNA.

Chetty expressed satisfaction at the number of organisations who have shown interest to take part in the fair.

“Until this morning we were still getting calls from people who wanted to take part,”‘ but added that DFF could not accommodate them due to a shortage of space.

The Danny Faure Foundation was founded by former Seychelles’ President Danny Faure to “contribute towards the sustainable development of Seychelles and to join the global community in its efforts to achieve a more equitable, just, sustainable and healthy planet, for the present generation and the future generations to come”, according to its website.

Source: Seychelles News Agency

With the aim of creating a comprehensive database on the work and status of artists in Seychelles, that will be accessible to all locally and internationally, the Creative Seychelles Agency (CSA) is launching a national census soon.

Through the State of Artists Census, the agency will collect details such as the form of art the person is involved in, the number of years the person has been practicing the art form, and if the individual is practicing the art full-time or part-time amongst other details. It is expected to take a year to complete the census.

The executive director of the agency, Emmanuel D’Offay, said in a press conference on Tuesday that “the census is very important for us, as it will provide us with all the information that we need so as to know the state of arts and of artists in the country.”

“We often find ourselves in situations, where, especially on an international level, we get a lot of demands for specific artists, and we do not know all artists in that specific field. So if we are aware of only one person who does jazz, for example, we are always sending that one person overseas, and other artists complain,” explained D’Offay.

He said that the database to be compiled after the census will tackle this problem.

“Each artist, regardless of the art form they practice, must make it their responsibility to participate in this census,” added D’Offay.

Once the census is launched, artists can access the form online on the Creative Seychelles Agency Facebook page, the National Arts and Craft Council of Seychelles website as well as that of the Seychelles National Institute for Culture, Heritage and the Arts.

During the census, a team of people, led by Jany Letourdie, a well-known Seychellois singer, will be responsible for the collection of information. She will go to districts and do the necessary to ensure that we get the maximum of artists to partake in the census.

“As an artist myself, I already know quite a number of artists. We can go through associations as well, put out adverts, and word of mouth. We will make announcements when we are going to different districts,” said Letourdie.

Once the information is collected, it will be handed to Sybil Labrosse, who will compile the information in the database, which will later be placed online on the upcoming CSA website.

CSA will then be able to establish the number of artists at each level of professionalism. Post-census, the agency will meet up with artists to provide training and talks, to provide information on diverse areas in the creative field, such as making it to the international scene, the need to have managers, and having a retirement plan.

“Anyone with a sense of creativity can become an artist, but not everyone can be placed in the same category or level. So this census will allow us to be able to establish if an artist is a professional, an amateur, or debutant amongst other categories,” said D’Offay.

The census will also provide statistics to hold talks with banks and insurance companies among others to find ways to better serve artists in the country.

Source: Seychelles News Agency

Peduase, President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo has tasked the Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture to ramp up promotional activities to achieve the target of two million international arrivals by 2025.

That, he noted, would result in corresponding earnings of some $4 billion to the national economy, in addition to the hundreds of thousands of jobs that would be created in the tourism value chain.

Speaking at the opening of the Presidential Summit on Tourism at the Peduase Lodge in the Eastern Region on Tuesday, President Akufo-Addo said that the government had placed tourism at the forefront of national development.

He said the tourism sector is a major driver of economic growth, enterprise development and job creation, thus players must pull efforts and resources to develop ‘sustainable tourism to ensure that benefits reach every corner of the country.’

The two-day summit is on the theme, ‘Rethinking Tourism for Economic Growth and Job Creation.’ It is being organised by the Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture and the Ghana Tourism Authority.

Some 400 participants are taking part in the event. The summit aims to encourage critical thinking about tourism’s future and its impact on national development.

The gathering also seeks to create a platform to explore novel approaches to tourism and prioritise sustainability, and community involvement, and facilitate dialogue and collaboration among stakeholders in the industry.

With the tourism sector demanding partnerships in all approaches, the President called on all stakeholders to unite efforts, share knowledge and pull resources to create a comprehensive framework that facilitates dialogue.

He suggested that players in the industry must adopt a four-fold approach- Preservation, Promotion, Policy Leadership and Partnership- to make the tourism sector a driving force for national development.

President Akufo-Addo indicated that the government and all stakeholders in the tourism sector ‘must preserve what we have as a country…We are the guardians of Ghana’s natural wonders, and it is our responsibility to safeguard them for future generations.’

‘We must amplify Ghana’s unique tourism appeal on the global stage through strategic marketing campaigns, enhanced digital presence, and targeted investments in infrastructure,’ he said, adding, ‘Through this effort, we can showcase the diverse attractions the nation has to offer.’

The President urged the private sector to show policy leadership in creating the right climate and platform for investments to grow in the tourism sector.

He stressed the need for a collaborative approach involving all stakeholders to unlock the economic potential of the tourism industry.

‘Let us unite our efforts, share knowledge, and pull resources. Let us create a comprehensive framework that facilitates dialogue, cooperation, and innovation.

‘Together, we can develop sustainable tourism models, empower domestic entrepreneurs, and ensure that the benefits of tourism reach every corner of our beloved country.

‘We are building a thriving tourism economy with many tourism sites currently undergoing improvements. We are determined to build a tourism economy where hospitality, arts and culture are used as tools to spur economic development,’ President Akufo-Addo said.

Dr Ibrahim Mohammed Awal, the Minister for Tourism, Arts and Culture noted that the tourism industry has started showing signs of recovery and growth after the devastating impact the COVID-19 pandemic exacted on the sector.

He called on sector players to support the efforts the government was making to position Ghana as the tourism destination on the African continent.

‘The first quarter of this year (2023) tourism numbers grew 47 per cent from 170,000 last year at this time to 247,000 arrivals. If each tourist spends $3,000.00 dollars, you can imagine how much that is.

‘Our destination Ghana project is on course, and I want to assure all stakeholders that we are not resting. We want you to give us your support, partner us and we will make Ghana the choice for tourists,’ he said.

Dr Awal disclosed that Ghana had overtaken the Gambia and Senegal as the most desired tourism destination in West Africa.

‘Ghana is now the most attractive tourism destination in West Africa. Just two years ago, it was Gambia and Senegal, today we are number one. It was projected that this achievement will be done in 2026, however, under President Akufo-Addo’s leadership, today, Ghana is the most sought-after place for tourists. We will continue to do our best,’ he said.

Data shows that tourism is gaining ground again following the lull caused by COVID-19.

International arrivals saw an 81 per cent growth in 2022, whilst domestic tourism also grew from 600,000 in 2021 to almost a million in 2022.

Source: Ghana News Agency

This year’s celebration of the Seychellois African heritage – FetAfrik – is set to have more participation from the private sector and more activities for the general public, the executive director of the Creative Seychelles Agency (CSA) said on Tuesday.

Emmanuel D’Offay told reporters that he and his team are happy with the fact that the organisation of FetAfrik “this year did not entirely depend on the Creative Seychelles Agency.”

“We do not have enough funds to do all activities by ourselves. One of our mandates is to create business opportunities for other people. We are a facilitator and we work alongside them. For example, it is easier to provide a discount on our restaurant than to provide funds for an activity. We are happy to see that business-minded individuals are starting to initiate activities rather than it being the other way around,” said D’Offay.

He outlined that with the involvement of more people and businesses, there is the possibility of bringing the festival to other islands, or districts.

“FetAfrik is really important for Seychellois, as it is a window to our African heritage. As a nation, we should never forget that we are from Africa. We cannot continue to celebrate our colonisers through La Francophonie or Commonwealth Day, without celebrating our African heritage. We want our people to be proud of their heritage,” said D’Offay.

This year, the Creative Seychelles Agency decided to remove the opening ceremony of the festival as it is costly and restricted to certain people.

FetAfrik 2023 scheduled for May 26-28, will allow Seychellois to embrace their African heritage through live performances, fashion shows, discos, culinary experiences, and more.

On Friday, May 26, a local band, “Leko,” is working with the agency to host the “Leko Tanbour dan Victoria” (The Sound of the Drum in Victoria) event. This will take place at the Unity Stadium car park from 12 noon to 11 pm, with a musical show set to kick off at 6 pm. The day will conclude in an open-air disco.

The director of Leko Prodiksyon, Berno Cedras, said that there will be African music as well as Seychelles’ own dance; the ‘Moutya’.

On Saturday, May 27, an African bazaar will be hosted at the National History Museum in which artisans and the African community in Seychelles will participate. It will start at 10 a.m. and end at 6 p.m. From 4 p.m. onwards, there will be live entertainment with the participation of the School of Dance and local artists.

“This year we are placing a lot of emphasis on the participation of African communities in Seychelles. On Saturday, we will also have the participation of artists who we haven’t seen performing for some time, in the likes of Jany Letourdie and Jean-Marc Volcy,” said D’Offay.

Two fashion shows are also scheduled for Saturday – one in Victoria by the Belonie School and another at Maison Marengo by Telly’s Modelling Agency. The students will be showcasing different African costumes made from recycled materials, whereas Telly’s Modeling Agency will be hosting an Africa Day from 12 noon to 12 am. From 7 pm onwards, there will be dinner and a fashion show.

On Sunday, May 28, at the Seafront Restaurant, there will be African Fusion – an event organised by another private company with food, drinks, a live band, and a fashion show.

D’Offay outlined that this year there will not be an exhibition as the agency does not have a venue to hold such activity.

“To compensate for the lack of an exhibition, on Saturday during the fair, we will have a live exhibition. We will have people doing braiding and other ways of styling hair,” he explained.

This year, Creative Seychelles Agency organised the event with a budget of SCR250,000 ($19,000).

Source: Seychelles News Agency