By Godwill Arthur-Mensah, GNA
Accra, Dec. 12, GNA - Two Ghanaian musical bands would be fortunate to win the hearts 46 million Spanish and some eight million tourists who visit Spain annually, with the Ghanaian brand of music.
The two musical groups, with six musicians in each group, would be selected out of 12 groups in a music contest in March, next year.
The contestants are supposed to produce their own music in a live music concert at the National Theatre, with panel of music experts drawn from the Musicians Union of Ghana and the Creative Arts Council who would select the best two musical groups.
The winners would embark on a month tour in Spain, next year, to showcase their creativity and Ghanaian music to the international community.
The music competition will be organised by Casa Africa, under the auspices of the Spanish Embassy, with the Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Creative Arts facilitating the process,
This aims at showcasing Ghanaian music on the international stage.
Registration for the event, which is free, opens from January 9 to 10, next year for all Ghanaian musicians with different music genre.
Addressing journalists, musicians and some music lovers at a media briefing in Accra on Wednesday to officially announce the project, Madam Catherine Abelema Afeku, the Minister of Tourism, Arts and Creative Arts, said for the nation to put her creative artistes on the international stage, there was the need for collaboration, hence the involvement of Casa Africa in that enterprise.
She entreated the panel of judges to be transparent with the selection process so that the best musical bands would emerge winners.
Additionally, the Ghana Embassy in Spain would organise a Ghana Film Festival Week from March 7 to 14, next year, to showcase both old and contemporary Ghanaian movies, while Mr James Barnor, a legendary Ghanaian photographer, would organise a photo exhibition of his works in Spain, in June.
Madam Alicia Rico, the Spanish Ambassador to Ghana, said the project would strengthen the bilateral relations between the two countries and, to a large extent, between Spain and countries in Sub-Saharan Africa.
The Spanish Ambassador said her country adored the creative arts sector and represented one of her biggest assets and expressed the belief that the project would empower Ghanaian musicians on the international stage.
Casa Africa is an initiative of the people of Spain and formed part of the Spanish Government’s Foreign Policy as a public and economic diplomacy tool, aimed at promoting good understanding and trust between Spain and Africa.
It also aims at strengthening Hispano-African relations through dissemination of educational and cultural activities.
Mr Luis Padron, the Director-General at Casa Africa and Mr Juan Jaime Martinez, the Officer in-charge of Education and Culture at Casa Africa, took turns to explain the modalities of the project and what is expected from the contestants.
Mr Bice Osei Kuffour, the President of the Musicians Union of Ghana, popularly known as “Obour,” said the project was a God-given one, and expressed optimism that it would sell Ghanaian musicians on the international stage.
He said the winners would play 12 gigs and expected to receive not less than 1,000 euros for each gig, and would open an avenue for Ghanaian musicians to earn income.
Mr Mark Okraku Mantey, the President of the Creative Arts Council, said the project would boost the country’s tourism industry and propel it to another level.
Some African countries that have had the opportunity to market their creative music in Spain include Angola, South Africa, Zanzibar, Ethiopia, Senegal and Cape Verde.
GNA
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