TIPTOPSTARS

Within the past decade, there have been endless efforts to reverse a running, yet vexing impression that Africa is nothing positive but everything one would hate to love. If it is not war, it is starvation from accrued hunger. If it is disease, it is the lack of portable water. If it is not battered democracy, it is poor infrastructure. The list continues. These images, promoted by western TV have along the years stuck on the minds of people who have never had the chance to visit the Africa and in the process scores of them have reversed plans of ever doing so.

Yet, Africa is synonymous to beauty, communal spirit, captivating natural scenery, variety of fauna and flora, 5 Star hotels, fresh wind at soft sandy beaches, gorgeous traditional outfit, irresistible cuisine, soul-searching music, academic prowess, intellectual capacity. The list is endless. It is other part of the continent western media, observers say, have deliberately ignored.

Continuously making the world know Africa is these things and more is what several entities have embarked on, including African Money, an ongoing- afro-party concept that has covered much ground as far as this course is concerned. Through parties, African Money celebrates the continents varied achievements in a bid to encourage sons and daughters of Africa to work even harder and make it a place to be. When they come together, Africans of the hosting city share experiences and plans for further development of the continent in a relaxed setting.

This year, they will converge on the German city of Frankfurt for the same purpose - AFRICAN MONEY – EDITION GERMANY. Organizers have told TIPTOPSTARS that the 2014 edition will be powered by EBONY-EVENT (a rising Germany-based event agency founded by young Cameroonians) and AMPlus Events (founder of the concept African Money). Entry at the Friday May 2 event will cost visitors just a 15 Euro fee.

For its four years of existence, African Money has moved to different cities including Montreal (Canada), Bordeaux, Lille and Lyon (France) Abidjan (Ivory Coast), Brazzaville (Congo), Douala and Yaounde (Cameroon), Dakar (Senegal) and Libreville (Gabon).

INFOLINE & RESERVATION : +49 (0) 17624737840

VENUE : SkyClub Frankfurt

ADRESS : Düsseldorfer Straße 1-7, 60329 Frankfurt am Main, Germany

Witty music observers have always refrained from being so generous to debut singers whose maiden release catapults them to amazing fame. They argue, backed with experience that many of such musicians have failed to prove their might from their second and subsequent albums or singles. Assessments based on ‘number ones’ may not only be premature, but could be sufficiently deceitful. “Show us ‘number two’ and shall tell you what singer you are,” they would claim.

In as much as this standpoint may habour some meaning, there are also scores of such famous debut artists whose ‘number twos’ and subsequently albums or singles have amazingly turned out to be best-sellers, at times better packaged, loved and applauded than the previous ones. Such singers have succeeded in capturing a permanently growing audience.

Rap hero, Stanley Enow fits squarely into this description. No sooner had his entry track, Hein Pere which created an indelible mark observers continue to say held Cameroon and African in a fit never experienced before, than another hit checked in. From every indication, TumbuBoss (Deluxe) is fast bearing the same weight. “I now confirm Stanley’s talent in rap, he has convinced me,” Margie, an Ohio Hein Pere fan told TIPTOPSTARS after watching the TumbuBoss (Deluxe) video more than once. Margie told us she did not watch the video once because she wanted to avoid hasty conclusions. To her, the young rap artist must no longer be taken with a pinch of salt. “He deserves all the applause he has had so far, Stanley is good,” the fan insisted.

It would definitely be no surprise to learn that many other observers or music lovers hold the same opinion. TumbuBoss (Deluxe) is self-revealing. Its 3.46-minute-long video is one of such pieces that meet international standards and is readily accepted and screened on renowned entertainment channels including  TRACE and  MTV BASE.

As an innovation, the Samsung Cameroon ambassador is rather clad in the Heart Angel Clothing, promoted by UK-based Cameroonian Steve Franklin, other than his usual Motherland brand outfit. That’s him – Stanley Enow – the versatile artist!

Shot by Shamack Allharamadji, the video with catchy visuals reveals a gritty, yet fast-paced lifestyle dominated by porsches, airplanes, bling bling jewelleries, etc.

Perhaps, the image of “Tumbu boss calabar…” a typical indigenous interactive game among English-speaking Cameroonian kids in the days of yore, which swiftly rekindles sweet childhood memories, is the single’s joker. In short, Stanley has won scores of hearts in this one.

Hailing from South West region of Cameroon, Stanley Enow shot his way into fame via his maiden single, Hein Pere. This fame broke boundaries and in recent weeks, the Douala-based rap maestro has been thrilling other audiences around the globe. He is expected in the United States in the coming months and TIPTOPSTARS is told anxiety is growing hugely.

TumbuBoss (Deluxe) is the second official single to be released from his yet-to-be released debut album Soldier Like My Papa.

Afrikka Radio Congratulatory messages have continued to stream into the Afrikka Radio newsroom since the station emerged victorious in the best online radio category of the Universal Achievement Awards, UAA, that held in Columbus Ohio recently.

“You are indeed the best and I’d stay clued to the station.” “Congrats Afrikka Radio, keep the flame burning.” “You deserve this prize Afrikka Radio, you have been so present in the community.” “Your shows speak volumes and I love listening to the station. Enjoy your reward.” “For representing Africa reasonable, Afrikka Radio stands tall and deserve this prize.”

These and more are the kind of positive comments the Columbus-based radio station is being furnished with for the past couple of weeks. To its fervent listeners, friends and well-wishers, Afrikka Radio has displayed enormous commitment in telling the African story in the diaspora as well as mirroring the continent’s diaspora to governments and the people back home. “It’s a herculean task but through your content-rich slots, you have achieved this goal within the short period of the station’s existence,” a resource person for Afrikka Radio told a show, reacting to the recent recognition.

Accepting the Universal Achievement Awards UAA best online radio award, the CEO of Afrikka Radio, Nana Ampem praised listeners for their commitment in providing the audience which the station needs in order to keep going. “We appreciate that love and concern and hope it will stay on,” he said. “And if we are able to achieve this so far, it is largely thanks to a collective effort of the committed staff we have,” Ampem went further. The CEO however promised Afrikka Radio was not going to lie on its laurels. He said: “We shall continue to work hard and serve you with sumptuous shows. Of course, we are eyeing the sky.”

With staff drawn from various countries of Africa, the award-winning Afrikka Radio went operational in 2011 and airs programs that meet the information, education and entertainment needs of its listeners. Some of its prime time shows include iTunes (Sunday 3pm to 5pm EST), Restoration Hour (Sunday 10pm to 11pm EST), Boyz Boyz & Girls Girls Show (Monday-Friday 10pm to midnight EST), Drive Time (Monday-Friday 5pm to 8pm EST), African Cocktail (Wednesday 10:30am to 1pm EST), Global Views (Saturday 9:30am to 11am EST).

Afrikka Radio, also known to have partnered in several community events, has been previously recognized. It could be listened to by clicking on www.afrikkaradio.com or by simply dialing 832-280-0016832-280-0016 or downloading the tunein Afrikka Radio app.

That Shiri Achu is gifted in translating daily life into meaningful painting is no doubt is a perfect reality! Her paintings may not be like the sound-producing guitars, pianos, saxophones, trumpets, etc, but in their silence, they sound louder than these musical instruments. It suffices to be exposed to them and this conclusion is drawn. “I had never fallen for work of art the way I did when I first came across Shiri Achu’s paintings,” a London resident of Cameroonian origin told TIPTOPSTARS at press time. “I only recovered from the fit caused by the beauty of Shiri’s art after I had left the exhibition ground,” she explained further.

That is the impact Shiri Achu Art is known to have on its audience/consumers. It is the same effect 35 In Print, the latest collection is expected to have when it is exhibited from April 19 to April 25 this year at The Strand Gallery in London. “I’m not only anxious, but so excited because I know exactly what we are going to get as a treat at the weeklong exhibition,” the London fan said.

Meanwhile preparations are heating up ahead of the art exhibition organizers say would not only consist of sight-seeing, but would offer the opportunity for visitors to purchase and even win signed limited edition framed prints worth 250 Euros. The weeklong exhibition will also be spiced by music, organizers have announced.

It should be noted that Shiri is a sibling to Naomi Achu, renowned USA-based Cameroonian Rap artist. Just like her musician sister whom Afrikka Radio’s African Cocktail received some time ago, Shiri Achu will be main speaker on the show any time in May, 2014. Then, she will be expected to tell her story in-depth.

Read details of the 35 In Print art exhibition is the following press release delivered to TIPTOPSTARS from the Shiri Achu Art Communication Department.

Shiri Achu Art Exhibition; 35InPrint: London

19^{th -} 25th April 2014

The Strand Gallery; 32 John Adam Street, London, WC2N 6BP.

Private view/Opening party; ON; Saturday 19th April 2014; FROM; 6pm-10pm

Shiri Achu’s art comes from everyday, unsurprising yet unexpectedly vivid moments, times, places and objects. She seeks to capture the spirit of her subjects and make them come alive through form, colour, texture and tone. She draws insight from her travels but in general her inspiration is very broad; from natural moments captured in Africa to still objects, from the human form to the human in action; etc

Ever increasingly so, one of the aims of Shiri Achu’s Art is to showcase the African cultures worldwide. She finds beauty in the woman carrying her child on her back and going her way, She finds beauty in the old lady who makes here ‘achu’ in her dark outdoor kitchen for her grandchildren, She finds beauty in the African fabrics, she finds beauty, envy even, in the young girl climbing the tree!! So she paints these images. For her, they are beautiful moments and for that moment, whilst she works on that piece she buries herself in the story and in the culture.

It’s been 5 years since Shiri Achu’s first solo exhibition held at St Augustine's tower in Hackney. Since then she has been given the award of 'The best Artist in Brent' by the Brent Council, London and has been fortunate to have exhibited in various exciting places/events/ cities. These include; The Commonwealth Secretariat, The houses of Parliament and The Olympic African Village. Cities include; Adelaide, Lisbon, Barcelona, Amsterdam, Las Vegas and Chiang Mai to name a few.
As well as exhibiting, Signed Limited Shiri Achu Art Prints can be bought at The Smithsonian Institution & The National museum of African Art in Washington DC USA and can also be purchased from Naprstek Museum of Asian, African and American Cultures in Prague.

Shiri Achu Art has also been featured in the book ‘'International Contemporary Masters VII' (Published by World Wide Art Books) as well as in numerous magazines, blogs, TV shows such as BBC TV Show ‘Show me the Monet’ Series 2.

Today, Shiri Achu is excited to present to London, for one week only ‘35 In Print: London’.

The exhibition will largely consist of 35 Framed Signed Limited Edition Shiri Achu Art Prints. You will be able to purchase these limited edition signed prints at very affordable prices!!

There will also be a raffle on the night. Three lucky people will win signed limited edition framed prints worth £250 each.

£35 of every print sold and proceeds from the raffle will be used to fund an exciting project in Cameroon. Details will be revealed at the exhibition.

Live music from the fabulous singer Amaka. She will be travelling all the way from Germany to perform at the opening party.

Shiri Achu Art looks forward to welcoming you at 35InPrint: London.



For more information;

Email: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it Twitter: @shiriachuart FB: SHIRI ACHU ART - www.shiriachuart.com