What does Steve Jobs, P Square, Samsung and Azonto have in common ? - The art of copying well.

The Ghanaian genre/dance Azonto has taken the world by storm with millions of youtube hits and everyone and their mum making videos of themselves dancing Azonto.
However anything that gains followers will also gain copy cats and in this instance the copying comes from non other that Ghana's bigger neighbour Nigeria in the form of the song/dance Alingo. Alingo is an upbeat Afro - Zonto - Electro - Pop song by P Square with over two million youtube hits  a dance with an uncanny resemblance to the  Azonto dance. Aside from Alingo sounding like Azonto the dance steps are basically the fundamentals  of Azonto with some wing flapping for good measure.
Just watch for yourself below:



In my opinion P Square gave a master class in not just copying but copying well and improving on the original. In the two months since the video was released the majority of arguments on youtube have centred on whether alingo is a copy of azonto and the conversation has degenerated into insults between Nigerians and Ghanaians and who is better.
The usual suspects rear their head:

• Ghana must Go  - To that i say check your history ( Aliens compliance order 1969) Ghana must go was simply a retaliation to Nigeria must go.

• Currently there are more Nigerians in Ghana than vice versa, Ecowas enables it and it has its pluses and minuses - I am for regional travel and African unity.

• Nigerian superiority complex - In my opinion Nigerians think they are better than anyone especially Ghanaians. This is something i have experienced in Ghana and around the world. I still don't know where this complex/over confidence comes from as in my book Ghana and Ghanaians have done great in soo many areas in comparison to Nigeria since independence. 

• Some Ghanaians can have an inferiority complex  and are too keen to please foreigners from any country and this is exhibited at times with Nigerians (learn your history and be proud)

• The over confidence of Nigerians has its positives, they use their aggression to grind, they are fearless, they think big and even when wrong they they still stand by their country and flag.

I may not agree totally with the almost delusional belief in ones nation when all the markers show it at fault be it to do with corruption, copying music (Flavour) or even dances like Azonto but i think we all can learn something about patriotism from Nigerians. Now to the actual point of this post, P Square have created an excellent and very lucrative career of copying well and sometimes improving on the original. The great Steve Jobs once referenced a quote from Picasso and states, “Good artists copy, great artists steal. And we have always been shameless about stealing great ideas.”

If the brains behind the most profitable company in the world and the amazing device i am currently typing on thought it was smart to build on great ideas then i think P Squared are on to something.

They have crafted their songs, dance moves and dress sense on usher, Micheal Jackson, R Kelly. Just listen to earlier songs like Omoge Ni which according to a poster on this forum is essentially a remake of Celine Dione's unbreak my heart and you will get my point.
Comments on the same platform break down the Alingo  song as essentially an amalgamation of Wiz Kids Azonto and Timayas bum bum. None of the aforementioned have even half of the views of Alingo, guess why?

They added to the original songs and dance moves, sped them up, paid for an expensive well shot video and set it loose on the internet. Soo good is Alingo that these ladies in Estonia are doing their Zumba class to it.

Do you think they know who Sarkodie is, or the Azonto beat maker kill beats is or most importantly what Azonto is? A big fat no all they know is how to move to Alingo. So what can we learn from P Square and the Alingo saga.

• Nothing is new under the sun, as a creative i can attest to this

• I can also tell you the worst thing is to have your art/product ripped off

• Make sure you create something soo amazing that it will be no use copying and if it is copied the world should know who the originator is ( case in point apple vrs samsung and asus ) *Samsungs 'copies' are doing quite well

• Don't just create something great market it like crazy or else someone will do it better than you (case in point Xerox vrs Apple  )

• Be proud of who you are and your culture, music or art, refine it or else someone will do it better than you and take all the credit and money. 

Please comment, like and share 

How to Make it in Ghana

I just had a long fascinating conversation with an older business man, here are a few things that stuck in mind.


1) Get experience when you are young, this is when you make others rich
2) Make yourself rich/comfortable by doing something you enjoy (your own business)
3) Sometimes in business money may not be the most important pay ( shares may be smarter in the long term)
4) In business one needs to have a good reputation to succeed
5) One needs access to the people that matter
6) Ghana is a patronage economy and the wealth is concentrated
7) Whats important is to visualise when or what you want to be and go for it
8) You never know what knowledge others (especially older people) have - network and use them

I must say taking the unconventional route and working for yourself is not for the faint hearted but the rewards can be great. I hope more Ghanaians and Africans would be more entrepreneurial. I personally will be taking this advice on board and applying it to my businesses. 

Saga of the returnee part 2 - Ghana Decides

It’s Monday 30th April and I am sitting in a hot internet cafe in Accra surrounded by 419 boys (internet fraud) and the ac isn't really working but the windows are closed. My journey from London to Ghana via Lisbon was long as we were delayed for a day in Portugal as TAP Portugal could not find a co-pilot (worst excuse ever) but at least the hotel they put us in was nice.

It feels great to be back home and I loved the way the African humidity slapped my face when I left the plane at Kotoka International Airport.

As soon as I got of the plane I touched the ground with my hand to the bemusement of some of the airport attendants, but who cares there is something about African soil that brings out weird rituals in people and this just happens to be mine.

I am welcomed home in typical Ghana time as brother got my arrival time mixed up as Ghana is an hour behind hence I was left waiting at arrivals for 30 minutes before I got picked up.

As usual Accra is hot and buzzing even at 9 pm on a Sunday. I got home and the AC in my room was not fixed - no surprise here as my mum had warned me that there had been low voltage and frequent power cuts lately, hence there was no use in fixing it. It seems all was conspiring against me as I was attacked by a roach as I tried to unpack - and yes I screamed a bit as it fluttered about but in the end the bottom of my slippers prevailed. 

Then the power socket in my room decided to go on sabbatical - wow my first night back without an AC or fan. Luckily for me after harassing the switch for a while it decided to work and I was back to enjoy my first night back in the humid heat. I am not complaining at least the killer mosquitoes spared me last night; I am guessing it just a temporary reprise and tonight will be a different story.

So why have I moved back to Ghana despite all these hustles? Not only is Ghana home, the sun makes me happy, the people are alive and smiles are free, Ghana in also sailing on the back of the African renaissance. 

You might not be aware but Africa is on its way up especially in the field of technology and this is where my path collides with the Ghana Decides project. 

Tomorrow I begin work as a Social Media Coordinator for Ghana Decides a non-partisan project , which “aims to foster a better informed electorate for free, fair and safe 2012 Elections using online social media tools.” It’s an initiative under GhanaBlogging, which itself is a membership-based platform to connect bloggers both in and outside of Ghana who write about the country. I have been a member of the Ghana Blogging community since its inception and I am extremely excited and honoured to be utilising my digital media and design work experience on a project that will positively impact the future of Ghana and Africa social media terrain.

If you would like to follow my adventures in Ghana then follow this blog and my twitter account here: @sirboateng

Ghana Hype is Back - Enjoy this documentary

Excellent documentary by Atingo Asare-Nyako about her dads journey back to Ghana.

Synopsis: Changes is an emotional portrait of a journey that started more than 30 years ago.

After spending most of his adult life in Denmark, Kwabena wants to move back to Ghana, the country that he left more than 30 years ago. This film, shot and directed by his daughter, chronicles one of his journeys to Ghana in preparation for his return. It follows him as he reconnects with his old friends and his ancestral home. The questions, that subtly unfold within the film, touch upon the profound dilemma often felt by long-term immigrants, many of whom are no longer certain where 'home' is.

Changes explores the motives that drives immigrants back to their place of origin and the implications of such return.

Changes from Atingo Asare-Nyako on Vimeo.

Fresh from the Motherland - Jay Ghartey - My Lady video

This music is sooo fresh - peep the FELA inspired hook - and the Video captures the spirit of GHANA - POW


Check out more of his music here - you wont be disappointed

Kraft owns Cadburys now - So what's next for GHANA

You might have heard by now that Cadburys - probably the biggest purchaser and 'publicist' of Ghana and its Cocoa has been bought by American Company Kraft. As usual the Ghanaian government is still probably sleeping and has not thought about the implications this will have on one of Ghana's main foreign exchange earners( 6 percent of GDP and 30 percent of export revenue) and the relationship cocoa farmers have with the English ...errrr I mean American Company.

Cadburys as of 2009 had been trading with Ghana's cocoa farms for a 100 years (since 1908), as the main ingredient of their famous dairy milk is full of the goodness from Ghana with at least 20 percent cocoa powder per chocolate bar. Will Kraft reduce the content of cocoa powder to 10 percent which is acceptable under American rules for making chocolate?

To celebrate the hundred years of trade cadburys set up a Cocoa Partnership for Cocoa growing communities, mostly in the Eastern, Ashanti and Brong-Ahafo, have been lined up for Cadbury’s 10-year investment package designed to secure the economic, social and environmental sustainability of cocoa farmers and the communities in which they live and work.
How will the sale affect this partnership and the planned 30 million pound investment which is chicken feed when compared to the 30 BILLION Kraft paid for Cadbury.

"In Ghana, there is a phrase 'Coco obatanpa', which means 'Cocoa is a good parent. It looks after you'," said James Boateng, MD of Cadbury Ghana, in a statement. - What kind of parent will Kraft be to Ghana and its farmers?

I wonder if the government of Ghana even owns a single share in Cadburys - we all know Cadburys share holders will be smiling all the way to the banks today - but after a 100 years did any of our governments see it fit to invest in one of the limbs that feed it (i seriously doubt this) and once again our destiny is in the hands of someone else.

In 2009 Ghana and Ghanaian musician Tinny became the POSTER boy of Cadburys Fair trade dairy milk UK launch - as evident in the video below:


I commend cardury for promoting Ghana on an international scale (something our current government failed to do even with OBAMA forcing the world to literally watch Ghana) from music videos to itunes to prime time UK tv to massive billboards around the UK and of course the name Ghana features on all the wrapping of their fair trade bars.

The only thing I would have liked is if a few Ghanaians were involved in the the actual production of the videos and fair trade campaign. On closer inspection of the advertising and production credits of the campaign there are no Ghanaian names not even the main act Tinny is credited on the musical production - I guess they (Ghanaians) were all hired hands - contrary to the impression the cadurys site gives - click here
Once again there has been no transfer of knowledge and the foreign currency does not stay in AFRICA.

There is even a blog dedicated to Ghana - Click Here

I am not being ungrateful but music videos and blogs are lovely things but won't it have been better to take the opportunity to pass on some knowledge onto some creatives ie advertising student etc whilst the production team was in Ghana. After a 100 years cadburys does not have a chocolate production factory in Ghana. The cocoa is still shipped in its raw (unprocessed) and cheaper sate -

I am not blaming cadburys but there is even a lesser chance that Kraft will set up a plant in Ghana - In fact according to human rights activist craig murray (click here for full article) they might even do worse:

''What Cadbury’s use in the UK is from independent Ghanaian smallholders, and is the equivalent of wines from an ancient small chateau or boutique Californian estate. They pay extra for it, and their willingness to pay extra has been a key part of keeping the Ghanaian small farmer going.

Kraft on the other hand use the mass produced estate cocoa; the equivalent of soulless and tasteless wine from multiple fields and huge stainless steel tanks. They source mostly in Brazil – the World’s most tasteless cocoa – and Ivory Coast. The bad taste in the mouth from the cocoa is both real and metaphorical. The estates in both countries make massive use of child labour.

I have no doubt that in order to rack up the return on their vast investment, Kraft will switch to the cheap and nasty cocoa they normally use. This could be the worst thing to hit the Ghanaian rural economy since blackpod disease.''



I hope for the best outcome with this situation - by the time the Ghanaian government wake up and protect the famers and the interests of the nation it will be a done deal. I guess they are too busy thinking of the Black Gold (oil) Ghana will start producing this year - wow we mismanaged Gold Cocoa and probably oil - WAKE UP AFRICA


on a lighter note whilst trawling cadburys fair trade blog



I noticed they had a picture of one of my t -shirts on a chap in the midst of two Ghanaian STARS SWAY and TINNY - who ever can tell me which t shirt he is wearing I will send you the exact same shirt: email answers to info@kayobiclothing.com


Peace and STAY BLESSED

M3NSA ADJUMA (WORK!! HUSTLE!) VIDEO

This video is an ODE to the real movers of AFRICA - check it out

Adidas apologizes for misrepresenting KENTE, GHANA and AFRICA

This is a follow up from my previous posts about Adidas stealing from Africa :Click here to read how adidas stole fron Ghana
It pays to speak up - people of africa please patent, copy right and protect your heritage.

Dear Mr Kwabena,

Thank you for contacting adidas regarding the Jeremy Scott, Originals by Originals shoe Nizza 2 Hi; and for correcting us on the incorrectly referenced Kente cloth. We regrettably made an error in the copywriting process when describing this shoe. I can assure you that this was not meant to be disrespectful in any way, but a simple human error when creating copy which would be used to describe the shoe.

We have begun to correct this where we can - ie adidas.com/originals, Press Materials etc.

We have also contacted all of the communications and PR managers in our local markets to advise them of the change and act accordingly. Any future stories from adidas should correctly reference the Kente cloth which inspired the design.

We're very proud to work with external design partner Jeremy Scott and also to be able to reference and be inspired by materials, designs and styles from around the world and we're also reverential in crediting the origin of the design correctly.

In this instance, Jeremy Scott sent us the design with the correct name, but in our process of writing the description a typo was made. We have now tried to correct this mistake.

Thank you again for calling this to our attention.

Kind regards,

Tom Ramsden
Senior Communications Manager - adidas Originals

The Mystery of FUFU

This is an excellent mini audio documentary on FUFU from the perspective of a westernerhttp://savvytraveler.publicradio.org/show/features/2002/20020531/rafiles/20020531feature3.ram
Plese click here to listen
Enjoy

I am now taking Pre Orders for the Make FUFU not war ladies T- Shirt - please email me your size if you want one - boateng.kwabena@gmail.com

Shirts can be shipped to UK
EUROPE, AMERICA and CANADA

Thanks
Click here for a peak and or size guide

Click here

Ghana wins U20 World Cup in shootout

Ghana wins U20 World Cup in shootout
(AP) – 1 hour ago
CAIRO — Ghana became the first African team to win the Under-20 World Cup, defeating Brazil in a penalty-kick shootout.
Friday's game finished 0-0 after regulation and extra time. Ghana's Emmanuel Agyemang-Badu scored the winning penalty kick to make it 4-3 after Brazil's Maicon missed a chance to win it at 3-2.
Ghana's Daniel Addo was ejected in the 37th minute for a late tackle on Alex Teixeira. Brazil wasted several chances and struggled to crack Ghana's tenacious defense.
In the third-place game, Hungary beat Costa Rica in a shootout in which goalkeeper Peter Gulacsi saved straight three penalty kicks. The score was 1-1 entering the shootout.
THIS IS A BREAKING NEWS UPDATE. Check back soon for further information. AP's earlier story is below.
CAIRO (AP) — Hungary has won the third-place game at the Under-20 World Cup, beating Costa Rica in a shootout in which goalkeeper Peter Gulacsi saved straight three penalty kicks.
Friday's game ended 1-1, with Costa Rica's Marcos Urena scoring in the 81st minute and Hungary's Vladimir Koman in the 90th.
In the shootout, Hungary's goalie saved consecutive penalty kicks by Cristian Gamboa, Esteban Luna and Carlos Hernandez. Roland Varga made the winning kick for Hungary.
Gulacsi, a reserve goalie for Liverpool, also saved three penalty kicks in a shootout against the Czech Republic to help Hungary reach the quarterfinals.
Ghana plays Brazil in the final Friday.
Copyright © 2009 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.

Cadbury Dairy Milk and Ghanaian Hiplife artist TINNY release track - ZINGOLO

This pic was taken at the wapi even in Ghana when Tinny came to the kayobi clothing table to check out our stuff - checkout the video - PEACE

Cadbury Dairy Milk and Ghanaian Hiplife artist TINNY release track and video Zingolo to launch their fair trade chocolate from Ghana :)

Here is the 60 sec ad

Why Naija (Nigeria) must GO (forward)

Ghana protests bashing by Nigerian officials

Below is a letter from the Ghana High Commission in Nigeria to a Nigerian newspaper, appealing to Nigerian government officials to refrain from spreading falsehood about Ghana.

SIR: I am compelled to write to express serious concern about a couple of statements by some top Nigerian officials about Ghana in recent weeks. Last month, Defence Minister Godwin Abbe was quoted as saying, "the volume of water generated in Ghana is not enough to flush toilets in Lagos State, the number of teachers you have to pay salaries in the whole of Ghana is not more than Western Nigeria so that is that. And the whole of Ghanaian Armed Forces, if you choose to know, is not more than just two brigades of the Nigerian Armed Forces, period."

Only last weekend, Education Minister Sam Egwu was on national radio talking about the ongoing ASUU strike, and he made the most ridiculous assertion that all the university lecturers in Ghana will not be adequate for a single university in Nigeria! This is a blatant falsehood. Anyone who had been to the University of Ghana Legon (with a student population of more than 40,000), can testify to the fact that probably no university in Nigeria has more space and facilities than Legon. And there are at least five more public universities in Ghana. There are also a dozen privately-owned universities in Ghana, offering quality education to Ghanaians and foreigners alike, including a growing number of Nigerians.

And in the case of the defence minister, we do not know where he got his information from regarding the current strength of the Ghana armed forces. Needless to say that the Ghanaian military is one of the best trained on the continent and had performed exceptionally well in various international assignments. The entire first generation of Nigerian military officers, including Generals Olusegun Obasanjo, Hassan Katsina and Adebayo were all trained in Ghana. Ghanaian army generals have commanded UN troops in Lebanon, Liberia, Rwanda, Darfur, etc over the years.

Information Minister Dora Akunyili also told a local television network at the end of August that the whole of Ghana is not even up to the size of Lagos! Even a child in kindergarten knows that to be untrue. Government officials, unlike private citizens, traditionally tend to be circumspect about what they say about other countries. Ghana is smaller than Nigeria, and I reckon everyone knows that as a fact. And it is certainly not the only country in the world that is smaller than Nigeria. Or is it? Or have Nigerian government officials only suddenly realised how 'small' Ghana is?

Our concern really is that such reckless and unguarded comments could have grave implications for bilateral relations and derail efforts by leaders of the two countries to forge strong bilateral ties. We think President Umaru Yar'Adua should call his ministers to order. The Ghana bashing must stop! Ghana is a well-respected member of the international community, and deserves respect from Nigerians, particularly top government officials.

Nana Yaw Aboagye, Ghana High Commission, Abuja, FCT Tools


Source: GHP


MY RESPONSE


Regarding Ghana - the world cup, oil, good natured manner of Ghanaians, kofi annan - he list goes on has given Ghana a good enough name yes in the uk some ignorant people confuse it with guyana but when they realize it is Ghana - there is no negative stigma attached to it.

On the contrary it is Nigerian that has a behemoth task of cleaning up its name and image - yes its big country - yes it has many resources but what has it done with all of this. No electricity, poor universities, poor airline safety - oppressive military "dem mama dem papa - Timaya', Biafra , nija delta etc Dodgy elections - the list goes one.

As much as I would love a better PR for Nigeria it seems some people in government of Nigeria and some Nigerians at home and abroad need to wake up and actually start dealing with the mess of a country before they complain and belittle other countries such as Ghana.

In 2009 Nigerian ministers are more concerned with tarnishing the image of smaller better functioning nations when the biggest block buster of summer 2009 - District 9 - totally tarnishes and already battered image of Nigeria. This portrayal of Nigerians and infect black people or Africans is sad but it takes behavior like this form Nigeria's to purport and continue this negative image of Nigeria. Nigerians and their government have the biggest branding and PR job to do in the World and it starts with being honest with their problems.

Yes everything about Nigeria is big and yes Nigerians are the proudest people on earth, but what do they have to show for all this pride and opulence.

Constant references of Ghana must go and the meager size or populations of other countries will not solve the huge infrastructural and societal problems nigeria has.

Ghana has gone and is moving on Nigeria pleas wake up and do something with yourself.
p.s I have no beef against honest sensible nigerians in fact I have nigerian family but Nigerians need to stop putting down others to prop up an ego that has no foundation.

Kayobi Clothing @ Nottinghill Carnival 2009 pt2 - Ghana Float /Migraine skank

The Ghana Float at Carnival 2009 was Live

Coming Home to Ghana

The Saga of Slave Ancestors

I Miss you Ghana

Ghanaian international fugitive gets caught video

The fugitive frank bempong was the accountant of my alma mater GIS - Ghana International School and stole - more than 300 thousand dollars from the school and fled. The school has never recovered and school fees also increased - my dad was not pleased - finally they caught the goat.

Who is Kayobi Clothing

Who is Kayobi?
Kayobi - pronounced (K – OW – B) is an apparel and accessories company created to ¬ tell the African story and that of the Diaspora through positive, vibrant and thought provoking imagery.
What’s in a name?
The word ‘Kayobi’ translates from Japanese as ‘Tuesday’, this is in reference to my name Kwabena Oppong Boateng. Kwabena is the Twi name given to a child born on a Tuesday in the Akan Tribes of Ghana, coincidentally ‘Kayobi’ sounded phonetically similar to my initials ‘KOB’. Why a Japanese word? I have always had a love for the Japanese design and art aesthetic ‘kayobi’ therefore was the perfect play on words.

Our Story.
Founded in Accra Ghana on 08/08/08 the collection has evolved from a T- Shirt line to include bags and ipod cases. Now designed and produced in London we are happy to present our first collection entitled ‘its always summer in Africa’. The collection was created during my year and a half stay in Ghana and aims to capture the true essence of AFRICA.
The theme refers to the gift of eternal sunshine the continent is blessed with. Contrary to the imposed label of ‘dark continent’ stamped on Africa, the continent is actually bursting with light, life, beauty and most importantly HOPE.
With an abundance of colour we have created a visual journey through daily African life ranging from childhood nostalgia, socio – political issues, music, culture, traditional art and food.
Kayobi was created in Africa with 100% Sunshine, Love and Blessings and we hope our collection gives you this in abundance.
Thanks for being a part of the Revolution. Stay Blessed and Seek Eternity.
Kwabena Oppong Boateng

View the collection here:
http://issuu.com/kayobi/docs/kayobi_clothing_look_book_final

Buy Kayobi Online:
http://www.kayobi.bigcartel.com/

This song make me happy - Look ma shoe by AYISOBA et al

Enjoy


Wanlov dancing with ngozi

Ghana at the Movies

Its always nice when u see an African in a major blockbuster or something African - I was watching a movie the other day which stared Wesley Snipes 'THE ART OF WAR 2: BETRAYAL' and came across these remixed ADINKRA symbols.How come we as Ghanaians hardly incorporate such images into our movies.

here is the synopsis of the movie. http://www.kungfucinema.com/wesley-snipes-art-of-war-2-on-dvd-2686

Mutombo the POET - rocking the FAMOUS make FUFU not WAR T- SHIRT

Mutombo is a multi-talented artiste who is specialized in Spoken Word(Poetry).He has blessed several stages since he started this beautiful art form in Ghana,West Africa