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.
We had a wonderful time at the streetfest festival there was art, painting graffiti, music, skating fashion and off course KAYOBI this was our first big UK showcase and by the Grace of God it was a resounding success. Check out some of the pictures below and UK hiphop legend TY plugging Kayobi - the vent was filmed by my man Kwame from Blakkdon Films and would be uploaded soon.
All the new shirts from the event are now available online: www.kayobi.bigcartel.com
The election dust has now settled and Britain officially has a Conservative and Liberal Democrat coalition government for the first time since the Second World War. Despite disappointing election results the Lib Dems have manoeuvred their way into government with five cabinet seats and the prized role of Deputy Prime Minister going to Nick Clegg. Was this simply a case of excellent opportunism or did the televised debates and social media have a role in creating this new dawn of British politics?
The aftermath of the first televised debate made Nick Clegg the most popular man in Britain and pushed the Liberal Democrats ahead in the polls. Even social media platforms such as Facebook’s Democracy page and the Xbox survey put the Lib Dems 30 per cent ahead of the competition. All these digital votes failed to materialise into actual votes, however, with the Lib Dems losing five electoral seats, despite gaining five cabinet positions as a result of the coalition government.
One positive outcome of the debates and the influence of social media on the elections was the increase in voter turnout from 61 per cent to 65 per cent, particularly among the usually apathetic demographic of students. It is a shame that this surge in turnout was not a victory for democracy but instead exposed the flaws in the electoral system, causing long queues, shortage of materials and, most disturbingly, disenfranchised voters.
It will be interesting to see whether there will be a resurgence of Cleggmania as a result of his newly found importance and whether his party will be able to deliver on their promise of electoral reform, albeit in the less radical form of the alternative voting system. One thing is for sure however: televised debates are here to stay and social media will definitely play a major role in any future election. If Clegg’s story is anything to go by, all future candidates should start practising now how to look straight in the camera and say ‘I agree with Nick’
2010 KAYOBI UPDATES - Please click on Picture below
Whats good people - I just thought i would give you an update on what we have been up to:
Ivory Coast International and Arsenal footballer Emmanuel Eboué supports the KAYOBI Movement
Make EBA not WAR Shirt will be available(limited quantities) and posted out from the 20th of FEB - buy yours here:http://kayobi.bigcartel.com/product/make-eba-not-war-pre-order
New Canvas art online here:http://kayobi.bigcartel.com/
We are taking orders for Ghana and Africa please contact kwabena on: 0233244889225/kwabenab@hotmail.com (customization(choosing colours) available)
Check out the pictures of the updates and Eboue here:http://ghanahype.blogspot.com/
Thanks and holla if you need a discount :) Stay Blessed Kwabena Boateng
I am so proud of Kwame from GHANA who against all ODDS and no support from the GHANA Government or media has made it to the winter olympics in the unlikely sport of skiing - Yes say it loud -COOL RUNNINGS - Knick Named the SNOW LEOPARD - she sure deserves all the support he can get.
here and support him in any way - if the Govt. of Ghana can give each player on the Black stars 20 thousand dollars each for being the second best team in Africa I guess they can give Kwame something for being the first Ghanaian at the winter olympics.
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
This past weekend was one cool one and this was mainly because the ''OFF THE RAILS FASHION EVENT'' was literally off the hook. Wih sick artists and designers, free drinks , nice food and ridiculously talented people that were down to earth and humble. I left the event with one thing in mind - INSPIRATION - The FUTURE IS OF THE RAILS. This is a list of some of the Designers - who were all cool with their time and ideas - BIG UPS to -
Oddkingdom Alice Boutique Originique True Sterling
Check out their sites and support the movement - i coped a sick shirt from pins - classice poster from ODDKINGDOM and got some freebies from True Sterling whose attention to details and desigs are MAD
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
Adidas Please watch and learn - PUMA shoes you how its done even though their design is not as obvious they still had the decency of letting the world know who's intellectual property was the inspiration for their shoe. You guys simply copied and pasted and still decided to re write African culture and History.
Puma goes wild by way of Africa with this Pack of Clydes that takes you on venture through the Serengeti. Available in black or jungle green, each shoe features a woven geometric strip along the eyelets inspired by traditional Ghanaian Kente silk fabrics. The scuffed mid and outsole gives a rugged wild look.
PLEASE REFER TO MY LAST TWO POST ON ADIDAS - THANKS
