Nicknamed ‘Singing bird,’Gyakie has revealed what goes into her creative process, mentioning that working in the dark and crafting narratives inspired by personal experiences or imaginative scenarios is her kick.
“I like recording in the dark,” Gyakie confessed, emphasizing her preference for an ambiance that fosters introspection and creative flow. “When I’m working with my favorite producers, it’s always a plus for me. I listen to the beats and try to imagine what story line would work with them,” she said during an interview with Helen Appiah-Ampofo on 3FM Sunrise Morning Show on April 12.
She explained that she draws inspiration from her own life experiences when crafting songs. “If I’m in a particular situation at the moment of recording, it makes it easier because I’m able to actually talk about what I’m experiencing,” she said. “But if I’m not, sometimes I create a story in my mind and then I write that story into the song.”
Gyakie expressed appreciation for the collaborative aspect of music production, highlighting the importance of a strong working relationship with her producers. “All my producers that I’m comfortable working with are people that I’m able to have a working relationship with,” she explained. “I like producers that are able to explore, bring crazy ideas and sounds.”
Looking ahead, Gyakie teased her fans about exciting projects in the pipeline. “This year everything is going to come back,” she declared. “The album is coming, a couple more singles will even come before the album, vibe with me with Gyakie will also come on this year, so this year be ready to be sick of me,” she asserted.
Reflecting on the Ghanaian music industry’s recent successes, Gyakie expressed optimism for its future. “2023 and 2024 have been very good years for the Ghanaian industry,” she stated. “There’s already been like, I can count maybe 5 or 6 songs that are really buzzing. So, I think this year is looking really, really, really good and I’m so proud of where we are headed,” she said.
With her unique creative approach and promising projects on the horizon, Gyakie continues to solidify her position as one of Ghana’s most exciting musical talents. Fans eagerly await the release of her upcoming album and singles, anticipating more of the captivating melodies and heartfelt lyrics that have become her signature.
Afghan men sit on top of military vehicles as they cross through a flooded area
At least 33 people have been killed over three days of heavy rains and flash flooding in Afghanistan, according to the government’s disaster management department.
“From Friday onwards, because of the rains there were flash floods which caused high human and financial losses,” department spokesman Janan Sayeq said on Sunday.
“The primary information shows that, unfortunately, in the floods, 33 people were martyred and 27 people got injured.”
Most casualties were from roof collapses, as some 600 houses were damaged or destroyed. In addition, 200 livestock have perished, nearly 600km (370 miles) of road have been destroyed, and about 800 hectares (1,975 acres) of agricultural land have “flooded away”, the spokesman added.
Twenty of the nation’s 34 provinces were lashed by the heavy rains, which followed an unusually dry winter season that has parched terrain and forced farmers to delay planting.
Western Farah, Herat, southern Zabul and Kandahar are among the provinces that suffered the most damage, Sayeq said.
Highlife Artiste, Fameye collaborates with legendary musician Nana Acheampong on an upcoming single set to enthrall listeners nationwide.
The ‘Nothing I get’ hitmaker unveiled plans to drop the new tune this Friday, April 19, 2024 on his social media pages.
He wrote on Instagram, “a very special day in my career to meet the legendary Nana Acheampong ahead of our yet-to-be-released hit single featuring yours truly!! Dropping on the 19th of April 2024.”
The collaboration has been met with excitement as fans caught glimpses of Fameye and Nana Acheampong during the video shoot for the upcoming single.
Pictures and behind-the-scenes videos went viral on social media, stoking curiosity about the project’s possible consequences.
Nana Acheampong, a renowned Ghanaian musician brings decades of experience and a rich musical legacy to the collaboration.
On the other hand, Fameye is pleased for this great opportunity bestowed upon him as it signifies a milestone in his career.
The news of their collaboration created immense excitement amongst fans who are eagerly anticipating the release of their joint effort on April 19, 2024.
Floods have killed 58 people in Tanzania over the last two weeks, spurring the East African country to seek an answer in major infrastructure projects.
The government announced the death toll late on Sunday as heavy rains continued to lash the country. April marks the peak of Tanzania’s rainy season, and it has been exacerbated this year by the El Nino phenomenon, which has caused droughts and floods across the globe.
“From April 1 to April 14, 2024, there were 58 deaths caused by the heavy rains, which led to flooding,” government spokesman Mobhare Matinyi told a press briefing, stressing that the country’s coastal region was one of the worst affected.
“Serious flood effects are experienced in the coast region where 11 people have so far died,” he added.
Tanzania has plans to construct 14 dams to prevent flooding in future, the spokesman said.
Just four months ago, at least 63 people were killed during floods in northern Tanzania that also triggered devastating landslides.
The involvement of Croatia’s sharp-tongued president in the country’s parliamentary election on Wednesday may not be constitutional. But it is certainly livening up what had threatened to be a predictable affair.
The country’s parliamentary polls tend to follow a pattern. A centre-left coalition led by the Social Democrats (SDP) runs against the Croatian Democratic Union (HDZ), whose support runs from centre-right to right-wing nationalist.
Most of the time, the HDZ wins. It consistently reaps the rewards of a large membership base and strong organisation – though opposition parties claim that patronage and corruption are just as influential.
But this election looks like it might be different. And that is all down to the presence of Zoran Milanovic.
He has consistently been rated as the country’s most popular politician since he became president four years ago, even though as head of state he has little actual power in running the country. People in neighbouring Bosnia, illegal immigration, and military aid to Ukraine have all been lashed by Mr Milanovic’s sharp tongue. Meanwhile, he has spoken admiringly about Russia’s military prowess.
French President Emmanuel Macron says the Paris Olympics opening ceremony could move from the River Seine if the security risk is too high. Mr Macron said it could be “limited to the Trocadéro”, across the Seine from the Eiffel Tower, instead of covering the planned stretch of the river.
He added that it could even be moved to the Stade de France, reverting to a traditional ceremony.
The opening ceremony is set to be the first to be held outside a stadium.
More than 10,000 athletes are expected to sail along a 6km stretch of the Seine on some 160 barges.
The organisers had originally planned to accommodate some 600,000 people to watch the ceremony from riverbanks, but that has now been scaled down to 300,000 people.
It has already been revealed that tourists will not be given free access to watch the ceremony, as was originally planned. Instead, tickets will be by invitation only, not via open registration.
Oil prices fell on Monday after Iran’s reprisal attack on Israel over the weekend.
Brent crude – a key benchmark for oil prices internationally – was lower but still trading close to $90 a barrel on Monday morning.
Prices had already risen in expectation of action by Iran, with Brent crude nearing a six-month high last week.
Analysts said the markets would be looking to see how the conflict could affect global supply chains.
Oil price fluctuations can cause ripple effects across the world due to countries being heavily reliant on the commodity, which is used to produce fuels such as petrol and diesel. Fuel and energy prices have been a major driver behind the higher cost of living worldwide in the past couple of years.
Analysts said Israel’s reaction to the attack would be key for global markets in the days and weeks ahead.
Israeli Defence Minister Yoav Gallant has said the confrontation with Iran is “not over yet”.At the end of last week, the price of Brent crude touched $92.18 a barrel, the highest since October, but early on Monday it had fallen back to around $89.70.
A bishop and several other people have been stabbed during a sermon in Sydney that was being streamed online.
The incident happened on Monday evening at the Christ The Good Shepherd Church in the suburb of Wakeley.
Police responded to reports that a number of people had been stabbed but said none of their injuries were life-threatening.
A man has been arrested and taken to an undisclosed location, police said.
Following the attack large crowds gathered outside the church, with unverified footage posted online appearing to show some attacking the building and emergency service vehicles.
Police said “a large police response is under way and the public is urged to avoid the area.”
The bishop who was attacked was named by local media as Mar Mari Emmanuel. His identity was later confirmed by the church, which is Eastern Orthodox. The church said in a statement that a priest, Father Isaac, was also injured. Both were taken to hospital.
According to AFP news agency, the neighbourhood is a hub for Sydney’s small Christian Assyrian community, many of whom have fled persecution and war in Iraq and Syria.
Alhaji Abdul Ali Barry, Asanteman Zongo Nkosuohene
The youth in the Zongo communities in the country have been admonished not to allow themselves to be used as stooges by politicians.
Alhaji Abdul Ali Barry, the Asanteman Zongo Nkosuohene in Kumasi, advised the youth to eschew the penchant for money by refusing to be stooges of politicians to perpetuate violence, particularly during election period.
He advised them to opt for a better option of pursuing higher education to better their lives and secure their future.
The Asanteman Zongo Nkosuohene gave the advice at his residence at Dichemso, on Thursday, April 11, 2024 to mark the end of one month of the fast of Ramadan, the Eid ul-Fitr.
He cautioned that monetising one’s youthful life could be disastrous as education cannot be compared to education with money.
Alhaji Barry, however, expressed satisfaction with the prevailing peaceful atmosphere in the country and cautioned politicians to desist from acts that could trigger violence or crisis during the election.
“We are one people and I urge the electorate to exercise their franchise by voting peacefully and whoever emerges as winner should be accepted by Ghanaians,” he said.
The Ghana Environmental Advocacy Group (GEAG), Nzema Youth Association, Aowin Youth Association and three other Youth Groups, all in the western region, have joined hands to roundly reject illegal mining on water bodies, lands and forest reserves.
The group at a news conference and a sensitisation workshop at Bakanta in the Ellembelle District of the region rejected any form of small scale mining, including community mining.
Elizabeth AlluaVaah, who read a statement on behalf of GEAG, mentioned that irresponsible mining had destroyed their forest, land and rivers and continues to pose as an existential threat to the people.
“Why can’t we stand together with one voice and destroy this evil of mining. What will it take for Nzemas, Wassas, Sefwis, Ashantis and others who are suffering from the evil canker to say enough is enough”, she asked.
Turning her attention to traditional leaders, Elizabeth Allua Vaah said given that Nananom are the custodians of the land, forest and rivers, they should not allow it to continue.
‘Today’, the GEAG spokesperson told the conference, “many of us are drinking mercury and lead laden water, eating tubers, fishes and fruits that have been contaminated with poisonous heavy metal”.
Patric Danso reading his statement
The resulting increase in diseases associated with mercury, lead and cyanide poisoning today, she indicated, was just a herald to what would befall our unborn generations.
Given the dangers associated with illegal mining and many lives that have been lost through it, the spokesperson asked, “Do their death mean anything to you,Nananom.
Cocoa production has reduced and whatever little we have left will soon be tagged as contaminated with heavy metals. Isn’t that concerning enough?”
To that end, she said “we demand action, we need action”.
GEAG, however, indicated that it was aware of the excellent works some gallant traditional leaders and others have done to keep galamsey destruction away from their lands.
Nevertheless, “We are also aware of the complicit role the state and some of Nananom have played in the poisoning of our lands and rivers. Rest assured, there will be time for reckoning for all.
“If the state would not keep us safe and some of our traditional leaders were also going to betray us, then it will be up to us regular citizens to stand up and protect our communities”.
According to her, their lands in towns and villages such as Aiyinase Sendu, Obeng Krom, Anwia, EgilaEshiem, Banso and Dadieso, all in Nzema, are being destroyed by foreigners and Ghanaians fronting for them.
The group showed results of the analysis of five different water sources like rivers Ankobra, Birim, Butre, Offin, Pra, Subie, Tano and others, that have been contaminated as a result of mining.
She expressed the hope that, “you will join us in our resolve to say never again to destructive community mining”.
The Youth of Asemkrom in a solidarity statement also highlighted how illegal mining has destroyed lands, water bodies and forest, despite the fact that the area has anti-galamsey youth who have resolved to fight the canker.
Patrick Danso, who read the statement on behalf of AsemkromYouth, indicated that the fight against illegal mining in Asemkrom, spearheaded by some youth in the area, had explicitly unveiled three of the players in the galamsey saga.
He mentioned names that are deeply involved in galamsey in the area.
According to him, though those behind the mining claim it was providing jobs for the youth in the area, the youth on the other hand rejected the claim.
Given the difficulties the anti-galamsey team are facing in their work, he recounted an incident where on December 28, 2022 two Chinese and six Ghanaians were caught in the act of illegal mining at Asemkrom.
They were arrested by the anti-galamsey group, but to date, there has been no prosecution. Funny enough, Patrick Danso told the press conference that eleven anti-galamsey activists were rather charged for assault.
The charge, he said, were pressed by the very kingpins who were arrested in the act of illegal mining by the anti-galamsey group.
That aside, they were also arrested on false accusation of having sold land for galamsey. All these, he indicated, were collaboration between the kingpins and the Police, including some elders of the community.
“We want to make it clear to all and sundry that the current situation at Asemkrom, relating to the fight against galamsey cannot continue. The rule of law must be upheld and security of all citizens assured.
“We stand ready to support the government and the local communities in finding lasting solution to the crisis and we call upon all parties involved to come together in the spirit of cooperation and dialogue”.
Dr. Robert Nyameke and Wendy Climate both sensitised the workshop on health implications of galamsey.
