Entertainment of Monday, 1 February 2010

Source: AKOSUA BOATEN

Boogie Down Nima Productions Promotes International Understanding Through Music And Education For 2010

Boogie Down Nima Productions (BDN) based in Bronx, NY and Accra, Ghana navigated the turbulent waters of recession-plagued 2009 successfully with positive results in attendance, artist growth and sponsor satisfaction in its annual productions. With a series of events including the launching of a Tuition Scholarship Program in Ghana, a supplemental feeding program for rural village schools and a bright future for its roster of artists, BDN is positioning itself for even greater results in 2010.

In spite of what many believed to be a "down" year due to the economy; the majority of BDN events did exceedingly well. Boogie Down Nima Productions focused on promoting international understanding through music and confronting some of the devastating effects of endemic poverty and inequality. BDN programs focus on education, community health, food nutrition, and community arts.

CEO, Hashim Haruna; Fruit of Inspiration Artists (F.O.I.), Double Eye and Lil Kryz; and BDN Artist D Flex, made a visit to the Youth Institute of Science & Technology, in rural Agogo-Ghana during October 2009. Haruna presented a laptop computer to the Parent Teacher Association of the school, pledged a scholarship fund for students and promised to help fund the feeding program. By providing a free lunch program at the school, all students will be able to eat a nutritious meal.

The scholarship will provide full financial support for 10 students entering the Youth Institute of Science & Technology School at grade seven until they graduate. Boogie Down Nima Productions adopted the Girls Institute of Science & technology School in 2006. It has since changed its name to the Youth Institute of Science & Technology and often referred to as “Y.I.S.T.”

As part of its community arts focus, Boogie Down Nima Productions in partnership with Clenched Fist Productions is scheduled to tour a screening of the documentary called, “HomeGrown: HipLife in Ghana”. Eli Jacobs-Fantauzzi’s new film, HomeGrown: HipLife in Ghana, is a feature-length documentary about V.I.P. (Vision in Progress); a group signed by Boogie Down Nima Records. The film depicts the lives of three Ghanaian musicians and documents their journey to international stardom. The film is currently scheduled to premier at a local high in school in Philadelphia, and other east coast locations during African American History Month.

In effort to further promote international understanding through music, Boogie Down Nima Productions is also scheduled to launch a new film project in partnership with Ghanaian based Music Video Producer, Gerald “Ogee” Gyimah. The project will focus on the impact of African Culture on American Society. Specifically, the project will focus on the areas of: film, media, African images, various African art forms and music. Currently, the BDN roster of musicians includes VIP, FOI, DFlex and Nana NYC.

Boogie Down Nima Productions closes the cultural gap between Africa and the Diaspora by making sound investments for the future of Africa. In doing so, concert goers should be rest assured that proceeds from the annual Ghana Independence Celebrations in New York City, U.S.A. and other BDN events help to foster growth in education for African children sponsor rural village schools, feeding programs for African children, cultural programs that promote indigenous music and African culture as well as positive imagery of the African Continent.

The story doesn’t end here. Boogie Down Nima Productions continues to write its history as each year passes, breaking boundaries on the international music scene and consistently presenting the most ground breaking Ghanaian musicians in America.

As Boogie Down Nima Productions gears up for 2010, expect to attend some of the hottest events coming to a city near you. For more information on Boogie Down Nima Productions contact www.hiplifemovie.com or www.bdnvision.org.