Afabla Ayine, the CEO of Up Records and manager of prolific Upper East Regional singer Kilimore, has reminded players within the entertainment industry in the region that the industry does not begin and end with those within the regional capital, Bolgatanga.
Mr. Ayine, speaking with A1 Radio’s ‘Mr. Lexis’ on the Entertainment Zone, said there needs to be a deliberate decision to include entertainers outside the regional capital.
“Those so-called gatekeepers, excuse my language, it is left unto you, to now take into consideration that when we talk about Upper East Music, it doesn’t only lie within Bolgatanga. We are looking to bring all those who matter in the entertainment industry when it comes to the Upper East Region.”
“You can’t tell me that when you look in the direction of Navrongo, you can’t find someone like Alapta Wan, Carl Blinks, and others. You can’t say you can’t find someone like Kilimore who can play the role you want him to play when it comes to a programme,” he said.
The identified gatekeepers, it is their role to seek out talents within all parts of the region and give them an equal platform for growth, particularly, when it comes to billing artistes for high profile shows.
“It is left to you, the one who is giving out the names, to say that when we are considering, I think that when you look at the Navrongo-Sandema-Paga side, there are these artistes that are doing so well. Let us add them. When you look at the Bawku area, we can talk about Fresh Fire and then some other guys that are doing so well. Then, when it comes to Bolga, we can talk of Nambawan, Rockcity, Soorebia and co.,” he said.
Mr. Ayine’s displeasure about fair and proper distribution of artistes in the region was tamed momentarily with the recent Guinness Bright House event. He said, “when I first saw the flyer and saw Larusso’s picture. I followed up saw Nambawan, Soorebia and I saw a DJ, Black Cedi from Navrongo. Then I said that okay, to a certain extent, this is a fair representation.”
The conversation on the Entertainment Zone, was hinged on the agenda: “Sabotage in the entertainment industry; myth or reality?”
Source: A1radioonline.com|101.1MHz|Mark Kwasi Ahumah Smith|Ghana
