Scratch Studios gears up for another exciting year

Last year was a fairly busy period for Scratch Studios, the  Accra-based one-stop music outfit  headed by Kofi Amoakohene,  with activities both here and abroad.

Located near America House at East Legon,  one of the  major events for Scratch Studios  in 2013  was the Afro Jazz Festival,  which was organised  in  May in partnership with Alliance Francaise.  It was an event that featured live music at a number of venues in Accra and which may be repeated this year.

The company was also represented in Cannes, France, at the big global  music fair, Marché International du Disque et de l'Edition Musicale (MIDEM), where it showcased music from Ghana.

Its staff  also  participated in the 2013  World Music Expo (WOMEX), an important  international  professional  market of world music of every kind, in Cardiff, Wales.

“We have explored more opportunities this year to make the world aware of the beautiful music from  this country and we would work hard to make that happen,” Mr Amoakohene  told Daily Graphic in a chat.

The facilities available to Scratch  in Accra to facilitate its music business include  a  spacious performance hall,  a recording studio, a distribution outlet, a publishing arm,  a photography and video production unit and a magazine dedicated to entertainment.

The outfit also has artistes on its label.

Amoakohene pointed out to Daily Graphic recently that his company’s  major concern on the local front  in the first quarter of this year would be the presentation of the third Dream Child Foundation concert  at the National Theatre in March.

The Dream Child Foundation  aims to empower  underprivileged African children to play important roles in the continent’s socio-economic development.

It would do that by raising funds through a major concert each year and donating the money to a specific organisation working in children’s interests.

Proceeds  from the first concert  in 2012 went to the children’s unit of the Korle Bu Teaching Hospital.  Money was raised for the Child Development  Centre at Apam last year.

This year’s philanthropic initiative will benefit Orphan Aid Africa, which works to put orphans in foster care instead of institutions.

“We recognise that music is a powerful tool in raising funds for all sorts of causes. Since music is our business at  Scratch, we want to continue using  it to help our children,” Mr Amoakohene said.

According to the Scratch Studios CEO, this year’s concert will highlight  artistes on the Scratch label such as Elivava, Paul Bilson and Ralph Karikari.

It will, however, be a night of varying music with acts like Osibisa and  Becca, as well as  Kunle Ayo, Yinka Davis  and Gloria Ibru, all  from Nigeria.

There will also be a fashion show to unveil the Scratch wear,  which is everyday wear at affordable prices.  Top designers from Ghana and abroad are expected to show their clothes at the event.