Music of Monday, 15 August 2005

Source: ghanamusic.com

Goodies Launch New Albums

Goodies Music Productions has officially launched the latest albums of three international award-winning musicians - Afro Moses, Juli Endee and VIP.

The event which took place at the Conference hall of Busy Internet last Friday attracted a large number of hiplife artistes such as Mzbel, Abrewa Nana, Nkasei, 4x4 and many others.

Made up of Lazzy, Promzy and Prodigal, VIP has for the fourth time released yet another album of hiplife songs - Pussy Cat.

It has heart breaking songs such as My Love, Mene me Joli, Obaa Sweetie, Mbaa and Odo Electric. During the Kora Awards 2004 in South Africa, VIP was adjudged the best group in Africa.

They have also taken part in two international concerts that were organised by the United Nations thus Peace and Reconciliation concert in Liberia and a “Thank You” concert in Sierra Leone.

Though Afro Moses and Juli Endee, were not present at the launch, themselves the lyrics of some of their songs were explained by their representatives.

Known for his unique Afro-reggae fusion music, Afro Moses’ latest album, I Do, is a blend of highlife, reggae, kwassa-kwassa, jive and western rock beats. It comprises of songs that preach unity and love.

His eleven piece Ngogo hilife and his six piece Moses O’ Jah groups have topped world music charts in the Scandinavia. One of Afro Moses’song, Afrika Market and the Moses O’ Jah group won the Best Song and the Best World Music group respectively at the Danish Music Awards, 1998.

Juli Endee, a Liberian and the only female among the three is UNICEF’s Goodwill Ambassador, the Culture Ambassador of the Republic of Liberia and also the ECOWAS peace Ambassador. Wakki, Fight no more, her new album, is made up of inspirational tracks that feature VIP.

It has nine songs that are backed by strong beats which immediately suggest the use of traditional instruments. In 2003, one of Juli’s songs won the Liberian HIV/AIDS Song of the Year.

She also received the Woman of the Year Award, Musician of the year Award and the Chief T. Taylor Peace Award in 1996, all in Liberia. Juli also received the African Countries Cultural Award in 1999 in Tripoli, Libya and the Emeritus of Peace Award 2004 in Sierra Leone.

In his welcome address, the CEO of Goodies music Production Mr. Isaac Abeidu-Aidoo said the occasion was only the official launching of the albums. “In November this year, Goodies will hold a grand musical concert in Kumasi and Accra to climax the launch”, he said.

The president of MUSIGA, Alhaji Sidiku Buari, who was also present at the launch, advised the artistes to stay away from drugs. He also urged them to join in the fight against piracy which he described as the greatest enemy of Ghanaian musicians in the country.

The event also saw the launch of a Vision Scholarship and Development fund which is aimed at helping needy children in Nima and its surrounding areas to go to school.

The fund is jointly administered by Goodies, the Chief of Nima, Nii Futa II, Umar Sanda, and the Chief Imam of the Ghana Armed Forces, Dr Raymond Atubuga and Alhaji Sidiku Buari.