Akon Returns To Accra

When Akon made his maiden trip to Accra last December, it was under very tiring conditions. The Senegalese born American-based R&B star virtually had to rush from the airport directly to the stage of the Accra International Conference Centre.

Still Akon's performance was so electrifying that the large audience literally stayed on their feet throughout the show.

On Tuesday, Akon returns to Accra in a more relaxing atmosphere to do something bigger and even more electrifying - to shoot the music video of his latest work, 'Mama Africa' and also be part of a workshop on music videos.

Ten of Ghana's finest video directors are currently being given the creative opportunity of a lifetime by getting to work and study with some of the world's top music video practitioners in the MTV based video Master Class.

This fantastic new project is a joint Ministry of Tourism and Diasporan Relations, music TV channel MTV base, New York University (NYU) Ghana campus and the team of directors and cinematographers working on Akon's new video.

The video directors who have been hand-picked to participate in the MTV base Video Master Class between, August 23-29, include Gerald OG, Felix Dakaat, King Luu, Paa Kwesi, B. B. Menson, Abraham Ohene Djan, Q de Lust, Abdullai, Ezekiel and Panji Anoff.

All will benefit from a series of workshops, seminars and hands-on instruction with Akon's own video crew, which includes Director Gil Green, Director of videos for (Brandy, Lil Jon, Akon), Producer Martell Rose (Producer for Akon, Ben Harper and Lil Flip), Director of Photography Martin Lince and Editor Pierre Verna.

The Master Class will wrap up with the whole crew getting hands-on experience in creating two separate videos: Akon's own video for his new track 'Mama Africa', followed by a new video for 'Kangaroo' - the new Tic Tac's track featuring Nigerian artiste D'Banji.

MTV base cameras will follow the video shoot and Master Class, capturing all the action, for MTV base's 'Making the video' programme, which will air on MTV base later in the year. In addition, Metro TV will give extensive coverage of the Video master Class and Akon's trip to Ghana.

According to Mr. Jake Okanta Obetsebi-Lamptey, "In our drive to market Ghana for increased tourist arrivals, we consider our music on the international circuit as a potent vehicle for this marketing effort. We also recognized the major role the private sector and private initiatives can play in this effort. We therefore much appreciate the role of MTV base, NYU and other individuals in making this project happen".

For his part, the Vice President & General Manager, Alex Okosi, MTV Networks Africa says "MTV base is delighted to be involved in this unique project which will give Ghanaian video directors creative inspiration, an inside track on state-of-the-art" video production techniques and hands-on experience of working on a video shoot of this calibre".

NYU Ghana and Guinness are sponsors of the MTV base Video Master Class. NYU has donated classrooms and facilities to host the event and has loaned all of the necessary equipment, including state-of-the-art cameras, lights and sound packages to facilitate the project. Metro TV is also a major collaborator.