MzVee, others sing for Atewa forest
Different things inspire the creative juices of musicians to flow at different times.
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For MzVee, Obour, Nero X and others, it is the protection and sustenance of the Atewa forest in the Eastern Region that has prompted them to record a campaign song and shoot a video for it.
It is a project referred to as ‘Atewa Till Eternity’ and the video was launched last week at the Royal Netherlands Embassy in Accra.
The musicians involved, who are tagged as ambassadors for the project, are Obour, Sherifa Gunu, MzVee, Kojo Rana, Nero X, Kuami Eugene, Richie Mensah, Patch Bay Band, Dela Botri and Heleen Van Den Hombergh (from Netherlands).
The Atewa forest functions as the source of three important rivers: the Densu, Birim and Ayensu rivers. It is also a source of water for agriculture, industry, and over one million households. The forest is, however, steadily degrading due to timber and non-timber harvesting and the encroachment of farms and gold mines.
The aim of the ‘Atewa Till Eternity’ project is, therefore, to help raise awareness on the need to preserve the forest and turn it into a viable national park.
Obuor, who is also the president of the Musician’s Union of Ghana (MUSIGA), spoke on behalf of the ambassadors at the launch of the video directed by Prince Dovlo.
He said they camped for two days in the Atewa forest where they composed the music which was produced in the studio by Richie Mensah of Lynx Entertainment.
“As musicians, apart from talking, making pronouncements and granting interviews, the biggest item we to communicate with people is our music. We are happy to be ambassadors for the project and we are extremely committed to the cause,” Obuor stated.
According to him, they would keep up the campaign in Ghana and beyond till the Atewa Forest is eventually declared a national park. He added that the music ambassadors for the project have decided to institute a music festival in the forest from next October to harness more attention till the national park status ids declared.
Guests at the video launch included Mrs Mrs Barbara Oteng -Gyasi, Deputy Minister for Lands and Natural Resources; Dr Ziblim Iddi, Deputy Minister of Tourism, Arts and Culture; diplomats, people from academia and civil society.
Mrs Oteng-Gyasi and Dr Iddi officially launched the video. The ‘Atewa Till Eternity’ project was initiated by A Rocha Ghana and coordinated by Family Tree Entertainment.