Contents Cover story
Interview
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24
The life story and the musical journey of the new wave to hit Ghana - Pappy Kojo.
Selassie Senatrah talks to Vanessa Marbell about Untold Stories
INSIDE Goodwill
4 The Lovebridge Foundation Spotlight 6 Carine Dossou Sports 10 The Season that may be... FASHION 23 Signature Smells 26 Hangout The Yard Bird
thoughts The Art of Make-up
5 Music 8 Lyrical Wars Cover story 14 Il Salvatore Interview 24 Untold Stories Relationships 27 The day after the night before
Editor's Notes F
inally, to God be the Glory, Issue 3 is here. I will not say much here in this editor’s note, not because I do not have anything to say. As a matter of fact, I have a lot to say but I have a better way to tell you about it; I will show you.
The year 2014 was our pilot year where you saw us release two issues back to back. That was a milestone for all of us including you reading this. Well guess what, this issue marks the beginning of a new Seasoned Magazine. We are launching our all new website together with this magazine and we are inviting you to share your stories with us. Write a piece to us at editorial@seasonedmagazine.org and we would be glad to publish it. Also, in 2016 expect much more overwhelming quality of content coming your way in many Seasoned magazine issues.
Read on in this issue as we bring you stories from our very own minds and lives. Don’t forget to visit our pages on social media and our website to share your thoughts. Best wishes and thank you so much for reading Seasoned.
Yaw Biney Editor
The Team F
aisal is a young man who is rollicking, determined and committed. You can tell since he’s supported Arsenal FC through all the heartbreak. A master with the pen, and keyboard, Faisal comes up with intriguing pieces that are always spellbinding. He heads the P.R Machinery of Seasoned Magazine and is also Head of Entertainment and Sports.
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he first lady of Seasoned Magazine, Vanessa was runner-up at the recently concluded Face of CUC beauty pageant. Exuding a mixture of brain, beauty, class and intellect, she brings these qualities on board in her roles as Co-Editor and Head of Fashion. She boasts boffo writing skills, almost unparalleled. www.seasonedmagazine.org Facebook.com/SeasonedMagazine Twitter.com/seasonedmaggh
I
By Vanessa Marbell
n a short interview with the brain behind this seemingly growing N.G.O, Mr. Eric Okwabeng, I was pleased to know that people with such big hearts and good intentions still exist. His dream soon became a reality when after a previous visit to an orphanage in Huhunya by his church in Koforidua in the Eastern Region sparked his desire to celebrate his birthday with the children of the orphanage .It was purely voluntary work from the beginning and still is. So according to the affable and funny young gentleman, after the church visited the home (Marcoff Home) in Huhunya, he thought a second visit wouldn’t be a bad Idea. So in August, the month of his birth he kick started it with a party for the children with lots of drinks and food solely funded by himself with no external help. “Reach Out” became its unofficial name as the founder himself hadn’t
THE LOVE BRIDGE FOUNDATION
put a name to it. He did it all out of selflessness. Year after year, they progressed in how they made the kids smile in their own little way. They moved the party to another orphanage called Hour of Grace. Later they decided to merge both homes after an advice from a sponsor who suggested that they do more than just food and drinks since what the kids need go beyond that. So Mr. Eric Okwabeng decided to step it up a little. Prior to the main event he would go over with
his fellow volunteers, groom and teach the kids things they needed to get ready for the upcoming two day mega reach out. They take the kids through poetry, music and dance and other fun filled activities all in a bid to build them up both mentally and psychologically. In 2014 I personally joined them as a volunteer and saw it for myself what it meant to really show love and care to people who really need it the most; Children. In August 2015, prior to preparation for this year’s event, the idea popped up. “’we needed a name” says one volunteer. “‘Yeah, reach out sounds common’” says another. “Let’s call it real touch” “No, that sounds like a name is a salon” one burst out. **laughter** So they think really hard and finally end up with the name Love Bridge. Let me break the meaning down to you. To really touch someone positively you need love. And we are all about love. That is our drive, the reason we decided to dedicate two days of our lives in the month August to spend with these kids and we consider ourselves a means for them to experience that kind of love because we relate to them, young adults as we are, hence “Bridge”. We dedicate our time and effort to training the children in our own diverse ways according to our inner potential, help the children by harnessing their potential as our contribution to society and yes it’s a Foundation! Therefore it was settled. Love Bridge Foundation was registered and now operates as an NGO out to be the change we want to see in society, showing love, own kind of way.
Theof Art Make-up By Vanessa Marbell
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hen I was growing up, I remember seeing my mum apply stuff on her face - some colored, some shiny. It was almost sinful to shape your brows or apply lip gloss in the school I attended. When I got to high school, juniors weren’t allowed to apply anything on their face but the seniors did. I wasn’t the least enthused about it. It looked stressful to me seeing them make up for just normal classes and to please boys their age. All that in the past, I woke one morning and make-up suddenly became hot cake. Make-up artists were high on demand. At weddings, engagements, baby showers, bridal showers, parties and now funerals. Yes funerals! Some like to call themselves beauty consultants. What I find fascinating are the varied outcomes of their amazing works. It’s interesting how they can make your grandma go from 60-year old wrinkle-mina to 20-year old hot mama. People cover huge scars and flaws under layers of foundation, concealers
and press powders. For some it’s like a daily routine of temporal plastic surgery. Many people spend hours trying to get that picture perfect look; arching those brows, getting the contouring right, finding the right skin shade, applying the blush right, concealing acne and making sure they don’t walk out of their houses looking like the eclipse occurred on their faces. Many people have expressed their opinions on the application of make-up. Some believe that no matter how much makeup you apply, it still doesn’t change your look. In the West, fresh out of the oven marriages have hit the rocks days after, simply because the men realized the women were not what they married. But on the whole it has been largely accepted. I cannot give advice on this issue because I am still learning hard, but the little I can say is to just “keep it simple”.
CARINE DOSSOU If you are a fan of Seasoned, you would most likely remember Carine Dossou. She was the model that graced the cover of the very first issue of this magazine. A year after, I spoke with Carine via email and she was excited to share her story and the progress she had made in life in a short interview. Carine is a triple M, as she likes to call herself. That means she is a Mother, teacher which is Maitresse in French and a veteran Model who has been in the industry for many years and I am overly convinced you will enjoy the passion and drive she has for her work. YB – Yaw Biney CD – Carine Dossou YB: What brought you into modelling and what type of modelling do you do exactly? CD: I was quite young and contacted very often and at this age it was flattering. I was specialized in portraits, face and make up photoshoots. YB: How long have you been doing it for? CD: I haven’t modelled for several years but I did model for 15 years. YB: Were you married or did you have any kids at that time and how did you cope? CD: I was married with kids and it was very difficult to cope... not due to the kids but to their father. When you have
contracts and your husbands ask you to choose between this and him!!! I can imagine that it can be difficult to see his wife exposed...but I was and I am too independent to agree. YB: So what did you choose? CD: When my ex-husband gave me those choices to make I decided to follow my instinct and my talent even if it caused fights. And do you know why? Because I loved him but I love myself much more! YB: Tell us about yourself then Carine. CD: I am a teacher, mother of three wonderful big boys making my happiness and pride every single day. I am fond of education and not only school education, but using my image to help make African people like me love themselves. Education by image, for example, keeping my hair natural with dignity. I am happy to represent the beauty of African women. YB: Who inspires you in the modelling industry? CD: Maybe Beyoncé because she is a model after all she is able to do (sing, dance, comedy...). I think being only a model is a pity...a great model must have more than her beauty. YB: How do you see yourself in the future? CD: I’m working on my TV show about education. I used to work with politicians on education and I’d like to influence this area (politics in education) later. YB: Does the model industry pay? CD: Firstly, it pays a very small minority...only crumbs for the others. You can earn money but not a lot. Secondly, it depends on where you re working; in the US I was more paid than in France, and in France more than in Africa. YB: When you are not modelling, what other things do you do? CD: I enjoy my life as a mother, I work as a teacher 5 days out of 7 and I travel a lot...I like parties too. I’m a clubber too. LOL YB: Finally, what would be your advice to other up and coming models out there? CD: I would advice them to be more than a model, to have great convictions and not to accept everything. We have to be conscientious of our own value.
Rap thirsty fans in Ghana are finally being blessed with a serious, entertaining battle rap contest dubbed Lyrical Wars.
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e’ve got to be honest, Ghanaian music is headed towards a period where Hip-hop will take precedence, slowly but surely and it’s about time too. Despite the amount of talents in this country, we have been shaded by countries such as South Africa, Nigeria and even Kenya. Hip-hop is a culture and one main component of this culture is rap. Speaking of which, we can all agree that an integral part of the rap culture is Battle Rap. Battle Rap mainly consists of two persons who compete against each other whilst spitting mad rhythmic couplets. It’s a fun concept where rappers study their opponent’s weaknesses and use it against them in their rhymes and delivery. Rap thirsty fans in Ghana are finally being blessed with a serious, entertaining battle rap contest dubbed Lyrical Wars. Lyrical Wars is a full scale battle rap league, which is a unique representation of what raw, uncut and authentic hip-hop should be. It embraces the rap culture in its entirety, in a head to head competition where rappers showcase their rap skills against a pre-determined opponent. The league tests a rappers competence in a quest for respect and supremacy. Lyrical wars has gained tremendous following and patronage, since its maiden event in September 2014. The audience over the maiden season has grown at a very exponential rate. Five events have been
By: Faisal Mohammed held since its inception and it has amassed an impressive number of fans. Lyrical Wars battle footages, available on its YouTube channel, Lyrical Wars TV, also generates a lot of internet traffic and trends for days on social media platforms. The YouTube videos have amassed a sum of over 10,000 views. Lyrical Wars is undoubtedly the fastest growing movement in the Ghanaian Hip-hop industry at the moment. The live events are attended by mainstream acts, in support of the culture and the video footages are closely anticipated by several battle-rap starved fans. The Ghanaian hip-hop industry is young and seems almost ephemeral to the naysayers. To ensure that this does not become the case, we should all in our own small way, help push events such as Lyrical Wars which is promoting the culture, so our hip-hop scene blossoms into something like that of S.A’s or more. It is only right that the immense talent on display in these battles are urged on to greater heights.
THE SEASON THAT MAY BE.... T
he summer. A period when students are out of school and many go gay. Many people hit the beacehes, some go on long fun-filled trips, trying to put away months of stress collected in the workplace or lecture halls. But for the football addict, this is a very sad period. Many of the top leagues in the world would have concluded by then leaving them...sorry, us, craving for our fix of the game of eleven men. Highlight shows, seasonal reviews are telecast across our television screens, but this is not enough. We crave live football; seeing bone crunching tackles from the likes of Sergio Ramos and Giorgio Chiellini, amazing cross field passes that stun one’s imagination from the likes of Mesut Özil and Andres Iniesta and the banging of the ball into the back of the net by the only extraterrestrials on Earth, Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo. Alas, the European football season is upon us and we rejoice as it will take much more from the GFA to draw the attention of this football mad nation to this scandalous league of ours. This is my preview for the already begun season, in the top 2 European Leagues.
THE ENGLISH PREMIER LEAGUE
1. MANCHESTER UNITED
As a lifelong Gunner, it hurts me so much to suggest United will come up tops at the end of the season, but that is how the cookie looks to crumble. Upon review, it will be noticed Louis Van Gaal made some astute purchases, including the likes of Bayern Munich and Germany living legend, Bastian Schweinsteiger, Morgan Schneiderlin and Matteo Darmian, the pick of the lot. The purchase of Anthony Martial, the 19 year old prodigy is beginning to look savvy, despite the huge amount involved. They look a good bet to win it all come May 2016, but still look way short of European success.
2. ARSENAL
My beloved Arsenal Football Club. After ending the past season on the best of form, with our annual, second half of the season surge, Arsenal had the best chance to capitalize on weaknesses in the teams of our rivals but woefully failed to do so, with no small thanks going the way of Arsene Wenger, and the board of this club. Only Petr Cech was brought in. He plugs a gaping hole in this team and brings a vast amount of
experience on board. But still, problems that have been evident by anyone who cared for over five years still linger. A soft spine threatens to derail any hope of success in Europe or domestically, and I do not mean CB, DM and ST when I say spine, but many of the players actually lack a spine to go out there to fight for these fans who throw thousands of pounds into the Emirates coffers.
3. MANCHESTER CITY
The Noisy Neighbors. The Citizens. The football club being run with petrol millions piped from the Middle East to the North West of England. They splurged on the best of the youthful picks Europe had to offer, in a manner of debauchery known only to royal, such as the owners of this club. Raheem Sterling and Kevin de Bruyne were brought in for close to a hundred million pounds but City has found a way to stumble through the season, so far. I see this continuing as Manuel Pellegrini is finally kicked out the stylish hallways of the Etihad Campus, and Sergio Aguero finally gets a ticket to fly to either Madrid or Cataluña, on an Etihad Airline flight.
4. CHELSEA
The gang led by Jose Mourinho. The coach whose parents must turn their noses up in disgust whenever he serves up something unpalatable, which is always. From abusing his medical staff on live television, to praising the disgraceful antics of Diego Costa which caused his dismissal from the Spain National team to verbally accosting Arsene Wenger every time a mic is placed at his mouth. His team has set a new record. The worst title defence in Premier League history and it does not look likely to abate anytime soon.
LIGA BBVA 1. REAL MADRID
Los Blancos. Home of the highest goal scorer in modern football history, Cristiano Ronaldo. Ronaldo with his unending goal scoring exploits alongside the unbelievable talents of Bale, Rodriguez and Benzema seek to carry Madrid to Spanish league dominance. Every keen football fan knows it will ultimately come down to the two El-Classico games against despised rivals, Barcelona, but with Rafael Benitez having galvanized this lot, it seems they will have enough to cross the finish line on top.
2. BARCELONA
They boast one of the most lethal frontlines ever known to football. MSN. The combination of Messi, Suarez and Neymar will scare any defence and will run the best of defences rugged. A Lionel Messi injury though looks to throw a spanner in the works, as I expect them to come short against Los Blancos in the El- Classicos. But expect nothing short of brilliant mind boggling football, as always from these football purists.
3. ATLETICO MADRID
Dark Horses, The men who will fight and die for Diego Simeone and the fans of this illustrious team. Atletico Madrid has mastered playing on the edge. They come out kicking, snarling with the aim of not ending up second to their hated city rivals, Real Madrid. Antoine Griezmann
and Jackson Martinez lead this frontline which seeks to put a dent in the hopes of the established duo of Spanish football, but they will ultimately come up short.
4. CELTA VIGO
Eduardo Berizzo has put together an almost excellent team that loves to play football the right way. Iago Aspas, John Guiddetti and the most wanted man, Nolito lead the strike force of this team that has already embarrassed Barcelona this season. They will continue to claim the scalps of the biggest teams in Spain especially in the fortress known as the Estadio de Balaidos Radoja, Fontas and Pablo Hernandez also make up this team which will excite beyond measure but eventually will fall short.
We are a Product/Lifestyle Organization As a product organization, we believe whatever we work on or are involved with is a Product, which are various events. We see anything we handle as a product and therefore, make sure its content is as the advertisement and packaging describes it to be. One thing we do is to make, create or modify products, in a form of events. As a Lifestyle Organization, we appreciate all forms and styles of living. And we intend to contribute to that style of living by creating or modifying ‘product’ that people want, have always wanted or would like to have and in the end influence the culture. We are artists, we believe in expression and want to share our art but also help you create yours. We have brushes, Paint and blank Canvas, to do what we really want to do not what we are forced to do and with no restrictions. We create Art. We view each and every form of event or product we work with as a form of art. We therefore observe and look at it as we observe and analyse art pieces. There is always something more to it. You will start realizing that if you look again. Colony Clutch; Lifestyle As Art
PAPPY KOJO “A city long neglected for the talent it produces finally has a superhero, one to drag Fante rap from the doldrums of Ghanaian music mediocrity to the top.”
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BY FAISAL MOHAMMED ifteen years ago, the Ghanaian music industry, at least the hip life side of it, had lost its way. The influence of American rap, thanks to stalwarts such as Jay Z, DMX, Lauryn Hill and Snoop Dogg, was always prevalent in Ghanaian lifestyle, but during that period, it had clearly overshadowed our own form of rap music. A hero was needed. And did we get one. He did not have a cape, no S on his chest or live in a bat cave but he might as well have. Oh! He had a head full of dreadlocks though, Obrafuor. The Twi rapping maverick brought a style unheralded and untapped and with this, affected a generation full of young fans.
have been dropped here.)
Jason Gaisie to all the naysayers out there, is Fante through and through. Born on the 13th of February (No one alive knows his age), the dreadlocked ‘Fante Twi Hip-hop’ saviour from the beaches of Takoradi moved to Italy when he was two years old but returned to Ghana when he was about five years old to live with his grandmother in Takoradi. “My grandmother was very strict. Very, very strict, “My grandheh. When we mother was were little and some of the very strict. kids were doing Takoradi has always been known for its Very, very something port, fun-loving people and recently, the discovery of about three billion barrels strict, heh....” naughty, when they saw her of light oil. Well, one other ‘Wave’ has hit this illustrious city. Pappy Kojo was about they’d start eleven years old when Obrafuor released shouting, ‘Pappy ne Nana reba, Pappy ne his classic ‘Pae Mu Ka’ album. He can rap Nana reba and they’d run away.’ (Laughs). word for word every song on that album. She was f*****g strict.” (I’m a witness to that fact. Damn my grasp of the Twi Language though, a few lines would Pappy sounds like a name out of a Tony
Montana flick or a Godfather flick, almost mafia like. Despite his Italian links, the origins of the name Pappy Kojo are more local than you would think. “Everyone called me Pappy when I was younger. I think I got it from when I was young and in Takoradi. I had this puppy that I really loved, so when they saw me they used to say puppy, puppy. You know, one of those stupid stuff kids do. (Laughs). But wait, let me call my mom and ask her. (Imagine this conversation taking place in Fante.) ‘Ma, I’m having an interview, and the name Pappy, they want to find out where I got that name from….’ Okay, so it was Papa, but when my mom came back she started calling me Pappy, Pappy and it stuck. (Ends call) So, it was Papa, and my mom ‘swagged’ it up. (Laughs). But my brother, my sister everyone calls me Pappy. I was only called Jason in school.” Pappy Kojo is of a new breed of Ghanaian musicians. The generation created by the Internet. Where the creative license belongs to the artiste in most scenarios and not any record label. And with the license to be himself, Pappy does not disappoint. He is eccentric in his music and says explicit things grandma will definitely not agree to. But hey, if your favorite musician of all time is Michael Jackson would you not be crazy. “When I went to Italy, my mom said whenever she was going out she’d put on Thriller or Bad, so I grew up on Michael Jackson. I’m the biggest Michael Jackson fan. I loved Michael Jackson, I loved his music. My favorite song of all time is Michael Jackson’s, ‘The Way You Make Me Feel.’ I go crazy when I hear that song.”
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hanaian music has always had imports from countries like Germany, Belgium and even the USA, but a talent from Italy making waves? That was a new one. “My time in Italy was awkward. Imagine growing up with people, all your friends in Ghana, then all of a sudden you move to a different country. I was crazy about music then, always had my headphones on, listening to music every day. In school, at work, in class, teachers were calling my mom every time complaining. But I missed Ghana so much. It was really tough. There was racism even in
Pappy has inked a number of tattoos on his skin including one of his childhood mentor Michael Jackson, which he wouldn’t allow us to photograph
my own class. Some of them wouldn’t want to get close to you, but because we grew up together I ended up getting close to them. You’d get the vibe though that some didn’t like you. Some would say, ‘I actually don’t like black people, but Jason is cool. I like him.’ They were changing their mindsets about black people. When they came to my house they were expecting to see, like the African stereotype, (a disorganized house), but my house was very clean probably cleaner than theirs. You know my stepdad is Italian and my mom hates dirty stuff so my house was always neat. Right now if my mom comes here and it’s dirty she’ll just leave. I also like to stay clean, I like clean stuff. I left for Italy in 2004 and because I was a music freak, I disturbed my friends here, like, ‘yo chale send me all the songs on an mp3 or a cd’ so I was very well informed. I had all the songs and albums.”
one wants pictures or autographs?!’ But sometimes I think you guys in Accra, you are ‘Dada Bee’ too much, you always see them so you don’t appreciate, but I’m from Takoradi we don’t get to see these people always, we see them only on T.V. “I know every song on ‘Pae Mu Ka,’ I know all the lyrics, if you want to you can challenge me right now. (Laughs.) Tic Tac’s ‘Masom’, Execution Diary 1, Reggie’s ‘Meka Menamekae,’ I have all those cassettes. I still am not a fan of the new Ghanaian Rap, I’m more influenced by the old school rap. My favorite group outside Ghana is D-12. I like comedy. I like when you tease and you’re teased back, that’s what D-12 does. I love G-Unit, V.I.P, I love TH4 Kwagees, of course. I love Buk Bak, I also love Saskwad. But I like a few of the new rappers. I like Drake too. I know he’s not old school but he’s the
“Another time I was at Papaye getting some food, and David Dontoh just entered and everyone was still eating and I was like ‘what the hell, that is David Dontoh...” exception. There’s just something about When you spend some time picking Pappy Drake’s music that makes me like him. I Kojo’s brains like I did, you realize from his don’t like Kendrick, I don’t even understand words, this guy is a throwback dude. He the things he says. (Laughs). doesn’t follow trends and does not agree with the norm. This guy doesn’t even think The Internet is a double edged sword really. Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo are It can be your best friend and can also some of the greatest footballers ever. He lead to your downfall before you can blink. will go with Ronaldo (THE Brazilian Ronaldo), Pappy Kojo has the Internet to thank for his Romario, Ruud Van Nistelrooy, Zinedine come up in the music game. For those who Zidane. There is also one attribute he’s think Wave was his first attempt to reach picked up from the past that stands him in the masses in this sometimes treacherous good stead to fans who have met him and Ghanaian music industry, you’re THE new his peers in the industry. RESPECT. He has fans. Pappy has been in this game for years huge respect for the people who paved the now. He released Chin Chin and Mamma way for current entertainers and is appalled Mia a few years back but they did not garner some Ghanaians do not really appreciate enough attention for this music soul child our own. “I was once travelling out and I who was enduring hard times in Italy. ‘’I was saw Kojo Antwi at Kotoka Airport, and I was on Twitter most of the time and I was just like, s**t this is Kojo Antwi why isn’t anyone messing around, joking all the time. Those reacting. Like damn. Another time I was who have been long on Twitter might know at Papaye getting some food, and David me. I was just messing around with some Dontoh just entered and everyone was still celebrities because I wasn’t known then. eating and I was like ‘what the hell, that is Recently, I met Raquel and she showed me David Dontoh, and everyone is sitting, no her phone, she had blocked me on Twitter.
“
...Joey convinced me to come down so we do something together. He said I was too good to give up.
”
(Laughs). She said I’d been making fun of her sometime back and she decided to block me. (Laughs). Sometime last year I was goofing around on Twitter, as usual, and I was talking with Joey B. We were just fooling, and we didn’t really know each other. I had given up on music then because it wasn’t working out for me. But Joey convinced me to come down so we do something together. He said I was too good to give up. So I came and you know....when I’m in the booth with Joey, it doesn’t seem like work, we have this chemistry so we just have fun with it. It’s just like we’re playing. I remember we went to Slimbo and he played the Wave beat and I was like ‘ yo I have to do something on this.’
Shoutout to Slimbo. With the chorus, Joey wanted something else and I said naah we should go with, ‘Oh na na naa na, oh na na naa na see the way the beat dey pop!’ (Laughs). It was crazy man. Joey is my brother I really love that guy. Shoutout to Joey.” Joey B was instrumental in revamping Pappy’s music career
‘’I remember during the performance at the Big Brother House…,” referring to his new found fame, “…I was like, ‘damn, s**t I am in the Big Brother House, f**k I’m performing on Big Brother, damn.’ (Laughs). I just couldn’t believe it. I was like I’d finally made it. I called my manager after the show, and I asked how he saw the show, he was shouting, screaming, saying it was crazy. I was happy and I asked if that meant I’d get girls with that performance. (Laughs). He said yes, I should just hurry back to Ghana. I was f*****g happy. (Laughs). One time I met Sarkodie, shoutout to that guy, he’s my older brother, and we were going out, I was going to the backseat and he said, ‘Pappy go sit front.’ I was like Oh my God, this is Sarkodie, this is f*****g Sarkodie I’m sitting with Sarkodie. He was in the backseat and we were talking, I didn’t hear anything he said. I was just looking at his face and thinking damn this is Sarkodie, s**t this is Sarkodie, (Laughs), I can’t even remember what he said. But he advices Joey and I always, he talks to us, I even have a song with him coming out at the beginning of February’ (He was talking about Ay3 late, the song we set our alarms for which never
came till later), and I have another with Joey coming out after that. I’m also coming out with this clothing line hopefully in March, I haven’t come up with a name for it yet.”
“
I’m Fante. You even see my tattoo, it says ‘Wongye’ a Fante term. I always shout out Takoradi, I even mentioned it in Wave and Realer No.
”
P
opular musician Mzbel, who divides opinions says she doesn’t believe in the existence of Jesus Christ. That is her opinion which she is entitled to. What is Pappy’s view on religion though? “I grew up with my grandma so we always attended the Anglican Church, every Sunday. Then I moved to Italy, you know the whole Catholic thing, but I wasn’t regular in attending church. But in Takoradi, every Sunday I attended church with my grandma, and they used to show Journey to the West, Chi Foo (Laughs). You remember, it was at ten o’clock so I usually run away from church at 9:45 to go watch. (Laughs). But I don’t know, I don’t like to brand myself at all. I would say I’m a Christian and I know for sure I believe in God. I believe in Christ, I believe He’s important, but I believe in Mohammed, Gandhi too. I think they had strong messages, they all preached about love. But I’m a strong believer in God, I believe He makes everything happen for a reason, I do believe in God.”
that signature slurring, Hammer’s crazy beat, Tic Tac with Philomena, TH4 Kwagees, Akyeami that’s what made me realize, this is what I want to do. I really want to learn how to play the guitar, what’s the name of that one…, the acoustic guitar and I need to learn how to play the piano. I came from Italy in 2011 to make music because things weren’t going on well for me and it didn’t work out, I almost gave up but it later worked out. I don’t know the advice to give others because our situations might be different but you should never give up and always trust in God.” Celebrities these days come across as snobbish, rich and spoilt individuals. This is the leader of the new breed of celebrities. The celebrity born of the Internet who knows he owes it all to the masses who visit the cyberspace to listen to his music. The New Lord some call him, the New Pharaoh to some also, but really, all he is, is a hero. The redeemer of indigenous rap music from Takoradi is what he really is. A city long neglected for the talent it produces finally One of the terse points in this interview has a superhero, one to drag Fante rap from occurred when I made mention of Pappy’s the doldrums of Ghanaian music mediocrity Takoradi connection. “Those who say I’m not to the top. Like any superhero he has been from Takoradi, they don’t really know me. through the worst of it, battered by enemies They belong to your age group. So when I both mental and physical, but he survived was fifteen they were around nine, ten years. and he is here now, The Saviour! These people don’t know me, but my age group, they know I’m from T’adi. I attended Ridge International in Takoradi. I only really understand Fante and Italian because I stayed there, (In Takoradi and Italy), for a long time. The English I’m speaking now, it’s from Ridge International and MTV, the 50 Cent, ‘Yo, Yo you know what it is’ English.’ (Laughs). When I called my mother you heard us speaking Fante. I’m Fante. You even see my tattoo, it says ‘Wongye’ a Fante term. I always shout out Takoradi, I even mentioned it in Wave and Realer No. I mentioned Olasty Bingo in Realer No, may he rest in peace. I mean, I rep Takoradi everywhere. When people like Obrafuor, Lord Kenya, Castro, Slim Buster came to Takoradi to perform my grandma was strict but I’d say anything to go for the show. Heh, I’d say anything. Those saying that I’m not from Takoradi don’t know me. “I have been the biggest Michael Jackson fan but Obrafuor really sparked that music fire in me. When ‘Pae Mu Ka’ came out with
Signature Smells
By:Vanessa Marbell
love hugs and I love to reach for the neck and I love it even more when it’s a Ralph Lauren but what I don’t like is a hug, a headache and puke, all in one day. That’s too much!!! Guys, if a girl can make you out from afar then it is for obvious reasons. Reason one, its either you are that guy they’ve known to have the signature smell of expensive designer perfume with your notes trailing meters away, or that guy with the swag and stench that everybody recognizes, and it just repels as much as the incense burnt in a catholic church to keep evil spirits away. The truth of the matter is your smell is indispensable, especially in the first impression criteria. On the contrary, nobody likes it when your wear too much perfume, that just makes everybody want to gag. Unlike eau de parfum, eau de toilette, cologne and body splash, perfumes are designed to be long lasting, so you don’t need to apply much to have a large effect. Here’s how to wear perfume for maximum effect For the Ladies, go for a spritz or two behind your knees, ears, elbows, wrist and every pulse point of your body. The points are locations on the body where the blood vessels are closest to the skin. These points on your body emanate heat, which can help the fragrance emanate into the air. Also, give yourself the advantage by buying good perfumes, so the compliments can be a bonus. For the guys, go for perfumes that you feel best describe your personality will simply no words! Because like it or not your smell comes as an accessory to your dressing which could be a plus or minus for you. Avoid spraying perfumes in your armpits and your shirts. Some perfumes do stain your clothes and such stains take time to show and I’m sure you would not want to ruin your shirts simply because you want to smell good. Finally, my last words are as simple as the first “people will stay, as long as your smell gives them reason to.”
I
UNTOLD STORIES by
sELASsIE SENATRAH
Selassie Senatrah IS AN UP AND COMING BEAD MAKER IN GHANA
B
ead making has become a handy skill and a very lucrative business these days. It’s no longer for the select few who used to make them some years ago. Now, the bead making industry has opened up to a whole new dimension with every bead maker looking for something special to make their beads unique. I had the chance to interview one of Ghana’s youngest entrepreneurs in bead making and the founder of Untold Stories whose venture has seen him design and create exquisite beads that appeal to a larger section of Ghanaians who love to patronize their own.
SS: This started a year ago in 2014, I won’t say it was a passion growing up, I was more into being a doctor or a mechanical engineer.
VM: What are your beads made of? Is it tailor made for a particular class of people, say the regular Ghanaian or it’s for a particular target group? SS: My beads are glass beads and I also got beads made of stone made right here in Ghana, with a triangular brass center piece. Naa, Untold Stories has the motivational bracelets out on the market now and it is made for everyone else under the sun, you know every one of us has a goal or a dream we working towards, our VM: Do you consider yourself a successful motivational brand serves as that constant entrepreneur in the area of bead making? reminder on your wrist making you aware you SS: I do consider myself a successful have to achieve that goal you set for yourself. entrepreneur in the area of bead making. VM: How did you choose the name Untold VM: How did this start? Was it a passion Stories? What is there to be told? growing up? SS: Naa, Untold Stories because each individual
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...Untold Stories because each individual has a story....
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has a story. Basically you don’t know a person’s background until you read a biography of them or he or she personally tells you about it. All you see is what he has achieved, and we want to carry such inspiring stories out there to impact the lives of everyone who has a goal they want to reach but feels they are too old to or it’s too late to. VM: Do you do this full time, and what about your life has changed? SS: Running this has changed my life you know, now when I see people passionate about something they working towards I feel inspired and I know no matter what it is or how big or small, it can be achieved. VM: Is there anyone notable in particular who has worn your beads? SS: Sarkodie, Nana Kofi Asihene, Stonebwoy, Skep, Phyno. VM: What has your reaction been from women? SS: reaction from women, lol, from those around me some were surprised “hard guy getting in touch with the soft side” lol VM: Who or what would you consider as your motivation or muse in all of this? SS: My mum has been my motivation. This won’t sound right but honestly rejection and being told I am not good enough has been my greatest motivation, to take that negativity, make it a stepping stone to a next level and an
opportunity to learn. It has been my greatest challenge but like my dad says “We live and learn” and Gods got me. VM: Finally, what are your future plans for Untold Stories? SS: I see Untold Stories in a couple of years having a strong foundation to support needy kids and orphans as well as organizing motivational seminars for college students.
THE GH HIPHOP C O N N E C T Hip-hop in Ghana is a budding Genre. It has been fused with the Afro flavor by several musicians to make it appeal to Ghanaians and Africans more. But Hip-hop, in its purest form with the battle raps, braggadocio, style of dressing and the culture as a whole, is mainly being pushed forth by a few. In the underground scene, which is where most of these budding Hip-hop musicians are found, two names are regularly bandied about on the Internet, especially on Twitter, when GH Hip-hop is mentioned; Big Burn and Kay-T. These young guys are whom the hopes of a genre which finds its roots in Africa, but cannot really get a foothold, is relying on, spread it to each corner of the nation, and to make the world aware of their talents. We talk to them in our next issue, so look forward to it. This a feature where we give upcoming musicians yet to fully burst on the scene a platform where we get to dissect their lives and career paths, thus far. To have your favorite underground musician featured, send his or her twitter handle with the hash tag, #SEASONEDUNDERGROUND to @seasonedmaggh.
D R Good food YA Great place D R I B L By: Faisal Mohammed
ocated on 21 Spintex Road near the Coca Cola Roundabout, this is the place to be if you are a fellow lover of chicken, grilled or fried. Just like all those diners in American movies where you can sit and have a meal with your family and Ioved ones, Yardbird brings you that and more. With an amazing interior, which engages the clientele, this restaurant is the absolute place of choice for any type of engagement. Yardbird, which is a brainchild of the creators of the Santoku Japanese restaurant have every meal made or supervised by the able hands of renowned chef Andrew DiCataldo. The BrazilianItalian ensures the house specialty of fried chicken with a specially made spice shake is top notch. The restaurant also offers sides to go with their chicken, which is obtained from the finest sources with sides such as vegan fried rice,
creole black eyed peas, cornbread and fried okra. Also on the menu is the special Moonshine Hardshakes alcoholic milkshakes which is another closely guarded recipe from the kitchen of Yardbird. Meals are served in working lunches, family dishes and in meal deals that customers can either eat in or take away. For those purchasing take away meals, there is a lounge available where you can enjoy a game of table football or make use of the Yardbird photo
booth and have your picture end up on the ‘Wall of Memories.’ Another service which you’ll find in no other eatery or restaurant across the length and breadth of Ghana is the provision of the ‘Secret DJ’ app where you can text a hidden DJ the song you want to listen to and have it played on the Yardbird Jukebox. There is no other place where you’ll enjoy a better chicken Meal in Ghana based on what my taste pallets told me upon a visit to this restaurant. Also, despite a little tardiness on the part of the waiter serving me, which was understandable due to the large numbers in the restaurant, I really enjoyed seeing the chef leave the kitchen and come make ‘small talk’ with some patrons of this restaurant.
The choices are many but try to make it a point to enjoy a tasty but affordable meal at Yardbird on the Spintex Road.
The day after night the before By Vanessa Marbell
It is said that if you set a bird free at night and it comes back in the morning then its yours forever. Well, that’s just in movies. In real life the morning after the night before could be terrible. It’s this huge open space left inside you, the part the other person walked away with. If you still haven’t caught my drift yet, I’m talking about a break up. You know, when you call it quits with that ‘person’ or vice versa. My experience was terrible, it felt like the entire galaxy was dancing around my head and all the way till 100m ahead of me. I wanted to drink alcohol for the first time. My body just couldn’t take the shock that came with it. Trust me, you will choose a hangover over this any day! But this feeling is nothing like it. Because suddenly your life is drastically altered in every sense of the word. Especially if you used to live with the person. It’s like a divorce, in the milder sense though. Lol. It could be devastating. You could be wishing for a thousand things all at a go. Then you probably
do either of these two; Live in denial and go about your routine for the day like any other normal person or sulk all day, drenching your life in tissue paper and watching the same movies you both once liked all in a bid to keep the memory alive. By the way, both of them never help. Because deep inside you, you know your soul is literally tearing apart from your body. Yes! Tearing apart. But for whatever reason you called it quits its important you embrace yourself for the future outcome. Don’t lose your mind or try to do the unimaginable, like running into the street or cutting yourself up to see if you will bleed or not. Well, you will! Pints of it, but come on, there are seven billion people in this world for crying out loud. You loved that person once. Yes! I agree but you’ve got to move on and do all the things you love for yourself. Sooner you will realize, there is always a good side to every wrong happening, you’ve just gotta find the silver lining.
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