The Vim Views & Versions - Blogs of a MIghTy African

Before I get into Lira 's music. I debated which artiste to feature in the last spot in my starting eleven. I just had to have someone from South Africa - the country which I believe has the best singers (globally, yes) and maybe the best range of music.  I have been searching for a special happy birthday song she did for Mandela. I loved it enough to blog about it . I have a story about meeting Lira for the first time. Yes, I blogged about it too . In fact, I like Lira's music and aura a lot. That when she followed me on Twitter, I had to write about it too o !  I have a couple of Lira CDs & a DVD even. I really adore how she records her concert and those are sold as albums. Every time I listen to those, I wish female Ghanaian musicians like Efya, Becca and Adina would do similar. The way Hamba is performed live, with the crowd singing it, is magical.  I said South Africa has lots of great singers eh? How come Lira though? Something Inside So Strong. Something Inside So S

#KizombaThursday. Every Thursday for the last number of years, I always listen to Kizomba. It started from going to Kizomba dance nights at Afrikiko in Accra on Thursdays. I have always maintained I went for these because I loved the Kizomba genre . It's true. That love has become deeper. Kizomba music is basically my go-to to ensure I lift myself out of any bad mood. It works. Because I decided accordingly. The one whose voice I like to hear singing the most is Perola . Does it matter that I can't speak Portugese ? No. Do I need to understand the language of Kizomba music? Would be good. Would it change how I feel about the music if I understood the lyrics? I have to think about that one. Would a long stint in Angola help me learn to speak Portuguese? Yes. Would a long stint in Angola help me finally learn to dance to Kizomba? Sim. But I can do that by just going to more Kizomba dance lessons and parties in Ghana.  No. Anyway, to the music by Jandira Sassingui . Nao Custa Na

I first met Adina during a National Volunteer Day (NVDay ) activity in 2014, run by Utopia's Wishlist. We had volunteered to paint an orphanage home. There she was, painting along with us. She was a star, her star was about to shine even brighter. I am very happy about her success as a musician and cannot wait to see her do more.  Adina Thembi was also once my neighbour. No, I did not ever hear singing loudly in her house because I lived near. Her music started getting everywhere. That's what we are here to talk about. I like her aura, her dressing, how she conducts herself, amongst many other things. If I was blogging more in recent years, I would have written at least 2.33 posts about her.  So naturally, I like her music too. Did you know she is half-South African (and yes, half-Ghanaian)? I already said the top singers worldwide per capita can be found in South Africa. Bring your shoulder.  On My Way - 2018 I like the positive, inspirational music the most.  "I’m on

When I think of R2Bees , I think of partying and karaoke, love and having a good time. Mugeez and Paedae combine beautifully. Mugeez has shone featuring on several hits, while people say Paedae is not a good rapper. Debatable. Together, these two twinkle.  I have met Mugeez and Paedae before, especially during my first couple of years back in Ghana (2011-2013) when I used to party a lot, go to many music events for free thanks to Museke . With PartycrewGH , we partied a lot. Friday, Saturday into the wee hours of the morning. The next Friday and Saturday too. We started traveling to party - Ada, Akosombo, etc. In fact, we took partying seriously . R2Bees' music featured heavily on our soundtracks.  Yes, karaoke. One of my favorite songs to do karaoke to is Kiss Your Hand (the remix) featuring R2Bees and Wande Coal. Maybe, it is the " we're rocking with R2Bees from Ghana !".  They are my favorite group. They dovetail beautifully, and they started the new wave of

Now this is our international superstar, not just being a local champion, waving the Ghanaian flag in as many lands and territories as possible. Stonebwoy has been making songs with fellow African stars, all the way to Angola with C4 Pedro. BHIM Nation! I am yet to meet Livingstone Etse Satekla , he seems like a grounded guy. He's one of my favorite musicians to listen to. Starting from when he did that Ghetto love track with Obrafour through to his push for a Grammy.  I do like to sing Dirty Enemies featuring Baby Jet lol. But, but, friends forever. My Name - 2017 Folks have been asking me some questions about myself the last couple of days. Some of the answers to what I do, how I do it, why I am able to do it, is because of what drives me. Ambition . This song makes me think about ambition, and what and who is needed to one there. This is one of my favorite karaoke songs. Whether in an office in Dzorwulu, a pub in East Legon, a restaurant in Cape Coast, a pub in Ho or a cafe

2Baba No Lele! Innocent Idibia had been doing his thing with the Plantashun Boiz before most of us heard about his name with legendary African Queen track in 2004. I met him in Accra in 2004 , in Worcester in 2005 . Cool down to earth dude. Before we get into the faves, permit to re-introduce you to this other great song by 2Face Idibia called My Love . I have been on American TV before o. In 2009, started a small segment on a local TV station in the Bay Area thanks to my friend Melanie. It was connected to the work we were doing at Museke. I blogged about it  here too .  Ebe Like Say - 2005 Ebe like say Manchester United is about to lose another game that it should be winning easily. Nottingham Forest. Really? 2 faces for this ManUtd team. Anyway, back to the music. I just like songs that let politicians know they are in the wrong and need to shape up. Here is one from this Nigerian legend. "Why don't we work together so the future will be brighter. Coz e be like you and I w

Before you read this blog post, you have to read this one . I'd wait.  Did it zouk you? 😀 The Zouk music genre held me, literally. In many good ways. The ringleader for this was and still is Kaysha. I befriended him through the Museke days. I just thought about how I have still not met him in person or seen him perform live. Cos there would be a lot of zouking wherever he is performing. Zoukmelove.  I think I started liking Zouk a lot, because I have always loved R&B and Zouk is like its African cousin.  Don't Change - 2006 This is one of the most beautiful songs ever made, in my opinion. I can cry just thinking about it. Yes, all near 40 year old me.  Another great song without a music video? Sigh. "My cherie, my love, I'm just a guy that loves making music. You're like a melody to me, you inspire me I gotta admit it". Hmmm, I never composed a song - or made music. One Love - 2005 Well, Kaysha only really makes love songs. I mean, I cannot imagine a non-

You thought Beyonce songs should mostly be liked by women? Since when? Since when she sang that Girls Run The World? You don't believe Girls Run The World? She was doing too much in that and other videos? She's too much? Okay, now we are aligned. Yes, I have had a crush on Beyonce Knowles since since. No, I have never met her. I did not go and meet her Dad when he came to Ghana too. Cue the Jay-Z dinner or money conversations lol. Yes, unrelated. In 2001, the very first CD I ever bought in my life, with money that was mine, was a Destiny's Child CD. Yiw. This is how I rationalized the decision with my dad, who I was living with in Syracuse - I am a destiny's child . Ambition. Yes, I still believe it. And/or/but it was Beyonce. Gorgeous gyal. Beautiful body. Voluptuous voice. Why, you no hear some before eh? Cool.  But seriously, the girl can sang. There's one song like that that really proves it in my book. Listen - 2007 Listen. Don't watch the video. Listen .

I've grown up Catholic , and I still am. Along the way, I have just a church-goer, very religious, and now I hardly go to church. I am a Christian , I still am. Gospel music is a constant if you are a Christian. No? Really? I can't think far, otherwise. There are lots of gospel music songs I like, have sang in church, in the shower (yes, there too) and many places. But though I am very very attached to Ghana and Africa - some of my favorite gospel songs - or inspirational music - or #whatchumacallit - comes from an American - Kirk Franklin . Kirk Franklin's music for me touches on the positivity I always think and be about, and the spirit of volunteerism, helping people, etc. Yes, let's #volunteeringh .  Lean On Me - 1998 It started with Lean On Me. I really love the movie of the same name . Yes, the one with Morgan Freeman. The man many says is God in the movies. I had seen this movie on TV in Ghana. Back to godly music. I don't know the Bible much anymore, but

We can't really talk about Kojo Antwi , without talking about Daddy Lumba. Or you disagree? These days, many say Kojo Antwi is like Kidi while Daddy Lumba is like Kuami Eugene. On one side, Kojo and Kidi make a lot of love songs, while DL and Kuami Eugene make a lot of other types of music. I'd leave to you to discuss over some sobolo. Kojo Antwi is Mr Music Man though. Now that's someone whose music I know to sing well in the shower hehe.  Growing up - in Ghana - December 24th was Kojo Antwi's night . A night for couples and lovers to enjoy his craft, his music, and love. I always wished I would go for one of those, with my love :-) I think my first Kojo Antwi concert was in Kumasi - the old City Hotel that Kwame Nkrumah built, on a December 26th in 2010 . I was there with my family. I grew up on his music, at home. Nkwanta Basaa - 2000 Surprised? We are not here for the applause, we are here for the truth.  The song starts with "I came to look for something to

I first noticed Obrafour 's music and abilities when he featured on Tic Tac's Philomena track, a banger released in 1999. As Ghanaian youth, and Ghanaians in general, we were getting enamored with hiplife, after Reggie Rockstone and co had birthed it. Yes, I have to mention Gyedu Blay Ambulley here. Happy now? Anyway, back to the Rap Priest. Lyricist, word play, wisdom, development, consciousness, longevitiy, legendary, you name it.  I was in Presec (Presbyterian Boys' Secondary School - Legon) in 1999. I was starting to get into poetry, and rhyming. Enter Obrafour and my days of rapping along seriously to songs started. I remember rapping to Pae Mu Ka , etc in my dorm in Presec's Clerk House, all the way to the times I spent on exeat at my aunts' in Adenta and Teshie-Nungua Estates, all through to my home in Kumasi. It's been a couple of decades since Obrafour's first album , but many hiplife heads and Ghanaian music historians (like me) would say Pae Mu

I have been a lazy blogger for many years. Especially after posting 233 blog posts in 2013. After my mum transitioned on on June 6, 2022, I told myself I needed to write a book. I'd get back to the book bit later. I promised to write lots of blog posts in 2023 too. It has not gone too well until now.  I (feel I) have a special relationship with music . It is what led me to Museke . As 2023 ends and I hit 40 years of age, I would like to share some of my all-time favorite music. I was going to do one blog post about some all-time favorite songs and how they impact me. I realised the number of songs were increasing as I thought about them. I also realized some of the same musicians were making these songs, and their songs have special places in my heart, head and body , etc for different reasons.  So I present to you the starting eleven of artistes who make music I dey feel waa.  In order of when they started making impact on me.  The years might not be 100% correct, but circa th