Wikipedia

Abraham Ohene-Djan

Abraham Ohene-Djan, is a British/Ghanaian producer, director and media professional. He is the founder and chief executive officer of Ohenemedia,[2] OM Studios and Si-Fex Digital, where he produces and directs hiplife music videos, commercials, television programmes and documentaries [3][4] and is recognized for shooting the first hiplife music videos.[5][6]

Abraham Ohene-Djan
Born
Abraham Ohene-Djan

Kumasi, Ghana
Occupation(s)Producer, director, media professional
Years active1993-present
TelevisionHiplife Rewind (Documentary) - BBC Africa [1]
Websiteabrahamohenedjan.com

Early life edit

Abraham Ohene-Djan was born in Kumasi in 1974. He moved with his family to the UK In the early 1980s; initially settled in Westminster and later moved to North London, where he attended Finchley Catholic High School.[7] He went to university in the United Kingdom.[4]

Career edit

In 1996, Ohene-Djan founded Si-fex Digital in Ghana, where he produced and shot commercials, documentaries, TV programmes, and music videos for highlife and hiplife artists.[4][8][9]

In 2009, Ohene-Djan struck a deal with Wilson Author to establish a music channel on his Skyy Television terrestrial Digital Network, The Station, which became the first 24-hour music and lifestyle channel to play 100% Ghanaian content.[10] The channel later became part of the GoTV network and, a few years later, progressed onto the DSTV network,[11] making its content available Africa-wide. In 2017, FiestaGH was purchased by the EIB Network.[12]

In 2013, Ohenemedia and FiestaGH were selected as official Google Africa Partner; at a time when YouTube monetization wasn’t officially available to Ghanaians, Ohenemedia/FiestaGh and Pidgin Music were offered the opportunity to monetise content for local musicians and promote YouTube and drive content creation in Ghana. After an initial period, YouTube allowed individuals to monetise their content locally.[2][13][14]

Projects edit

In 2004, following the launch of the Nescafe African Revelation program, Abraham's OM Studios worked as a collaborative partner, producing all audio visual materials and television programs for nine participating countries.[15]

In 2012, Abraham directed and shot a tribute video in honor of Ghana's late President, John Atta Mills, who died after an illness. The video, titled Yedi Awereho, featured artists including Rex Omar, Amakye Dede, Kojo Antwi, Samini, Obour, Okyeame Kwame, Blakk Rasta, Stephanie Benson, Shee, DSP Kofi Sarpong, Cecilia Marfo, Kontihene, Kofi B, A. B. Crentsil, No Tribe and Nacee.[16]

Advocacy edit

Abraham is a proponent of advancing the Ghanaian entertainment industry, specifically dedicating his efforts to enhance the movie sector. Continuously advocating for responsible investments, he encourages industry players to ensure the industry receives the necessary resources for an accurate representation and to enable the youth unearth their talents.[17][18]

Associations edit

Abraham has affiliations with Lynx Entertainment, a Ghanaian record label that has overseen the career of many artists including but not limited to KiDi and Kwame Eugene, where he held the position of director from 2009 to 2022.[19]

From 2011 to 2015, he served as a member of the Ghana Music Awards board. Collaborating with fellow board members, he participated in the process of categorizing, collating entries, and contributed to the shortlisting of the final nominees for each award category.[20]

Controversies edit

In 2020, Abraham contested Reggie Rockstone's assertion of being the originator of hiplife, arguing that it is the beat that truly defines a genre. He believes that the genre is shaped by the engineer, not by a specific subject or style of rapper or singer. According to him, Reggie Rockstone's claim is inaccurate, and he suggests that producer Zapp Mallet is more fittingly considered the originator of hiplife.[5][21][22] Rockstone consistently asserts himself as the true originator of hiplife, dismissing any dissenting opinions as falsehoods.[23][24]

In a collaboration between YouTube and Abraham to curate a playlist of Ghanaian songs for the platform, music producer Kwame Micky accused Abraham of exploiting the musicians whose songs were included. Kwame Micky alleged that royalties from the agreement were intended for the featured musicians, but Abraham allegedly failed to distribute these earnings, using them for personal benefit instead.[25] Abraham contested this accusation and said that payments had indeed been disbursed to the musicians whose content was featured. The second round of revenue distribution from the YouTube platform involved the allocation of royalties to around 30 artists, including Daddy Lumba, Ernest Opoku, Chupa Chops, Appiah, Atumpan, Obaapa Christy, Samini, Stonebwoy, Castro, R2Bees, Okyeame Kwame, and various other musicians.[26][27]

Filmography edit

Documentaries edit

  • Vodafone in Ghana 2010[30]                       
  • Vodafone Homecoming 2013[31]            
  • Vodafone Homecoming 2014[32]            
  • Vodafone Data in Broadband 2011[33]                       
  • Vodafone World Water Day 2011[34]             
  • Vodafone World Sight Day 2011[35]               
  • Vodafone Home Coming 2015[36]                      
  • Vodafone Data 2013[37]  
  • Oak Plaza hotels 2012[38]                               
  • The Ark Apartments 2014[39]                          
  • Oak Plaza Suites Documentary 2019[40]           
  • Right to Dream Foundation 2012[41]              
  • Nestle CWAR Globe Internal Documentary 2009[42]
  • Tigo Shelter for Education Obuasi 2017[43] 
  • Shelter4Education for Obeng Yaw 2014[44]
  • Shelter4Education Obuasi 2014[45]
  • Shelter4Education - Tupa 2014[46]
  • AWDF Women of Substance 2010[47]
  • MTN Ghana 'Its my life' Television commercial 2008[48]
  • MTN World cup 2010 TVC[49]                
  • MTN GO-RIO TVC  2010[50]                         
  • Cussons baby 2015[51]                                   
  • Royal Bank 2015[52]                                   
  • Tasty Tom 2016[53]                                         
  • Star Assurance 2007[54]                                 
  • Nunu Milk 2011[55]                                          
  • Vaniado 2010[56]                                             
  • Printex 2012[57] 
  • Sahel Sahra Bank 2012[58]               
  • Dodo Skin cream and soap 2013[59]              
  • Express Hair 2013[60]                                     
  • Melcom 2013[61]                                                                         

References edit

  1. ^ Hiplife Rewind (Documentary). BBC Africa – via YouTube.
  2. ^ a b "Ohene Media Launches Partnership With Google". ModernGhana.com. 9 February 2013.
  3. ^ "Celebrating Abraham Ohene Djan - A Unique Video Director". Oseiagyemang.com. 18 July 2020. Retrieved 4 December 2023.
  4. ^ a b c "The Craziest Thing I Ever Did – Abraham Ohene Djan". Retrieved 13 December 2023 – via LinkedIn.
  5. ^ a b NyceFmOnline (9 June 2020). "Reggie Rockstone Is not the originator of hiplife" – Abraham Ohene-Djan". Retrieved 24 December 2023.
  6. ^ Oseiagyemang.com (18 July 2020). "Celebrating Abraham Ohene Djan - A Unique Video Director -". Retrieved 24 December 2023.
  7. ^ "Abraham Ohene-Djan Biography". AGN News. 29 November 2023. Retrieved 4 December 2023.
  8. ^ Abraham Ohene Djan - DriveOnJoy on Joy FM. 25 July 2019. Retrieved 14 December 2023 – via YouTube.
  9. ^ Journey of Ghanaian Music Videos With Abraham Ohene - Djan | Hip Hop At 50 | Big Conversation. Retrieved 14 December 2023 – via YouTube.
  10. ^ Adu-Poku, Richmond. "GH's First Music Television Station - Fiest". modernghana.com.
  11. ^ "Fiesta TV launches on DStv". DailyGuide Network. 17 November 2016. Retrieved 13 December 2023.
  12. ^ Ofori, Evans (6 September 2018). "EIB Network, MultiChoice Ghana launch Fiesta Music Channel". MediafillasGH. Retrieved 13 December 2023.
  13. ^ "OheneMedia Launches Chart Show Archives". GhanaCelebrities.com. Retrieved 14 December 2023.
  14. ^ "Ohenemedia launches Youtube-based music chart show". GhanaWeb. 30 August 2013. Retrieved 14 December 2023.
  15. ^ "Nescafe African Revelation Goes West". GhanaWeb. 30 November 2001. Retrieved 15 December 2023.
  16. ^ "Music Video: Yedi Awereho - Tribute To Late Prez Atta Mills By GH All Stars". GhanaCelebrities.com. 31 July 2012. Retrieved 15 December 2023.
  17. ^ OM Studios CEO Abraham Ohene Djan says sector is not fully developed -Joy News (19-5-21), retrieved 24 December 2023
  18. ^ Abraham Ohene Djan CEO, OM Studio - Speaks out on the current state of GH movie industry, retrieved 24 December 2023
  19. ^ "The power & influence of Lynx Entertainment". graphic.com.gh. 21 August 2020. Retrieved 15 December 2023.
  20. ^ "Ghana Music Awards board expanded". GhanaWeb. 23 January 2013. Retrieved 15 December 2023.
  21. ^ Kodo, Chris (9 June 2020). "Reggie Rockstone, Panji didnt originate hiplife Abraham Ohene-Djan". Retrieved 24 December 2023.
  22. ^ "Reggie Rockstone Is Not The Originator Of Hiplife - Abraham Ohene-Djan". www.ghgossip.com. 9 June 2020. Retrieved 24 December 2023.
  23. ^ Tali, Selorm (11 May 2021). "Anyone who says I didn't originate Hip Life is a liar - Reggie Rockstone (WATCH)". Pulse Ghana. Retrieved 24 December 2023.
  24. ^ "I'm the undisputed originator of Hip-life – Reggie Rockstone". GhanaWeb. 15 June 2020. Retrieved 24 December 2023.
  25. ^ "Abraham Ohene Gyan squandered royalties of some musicians - Kwame Micky - MyJoyOnline". www.myjoyonline.com. 25 July 2021. Retrieved 24 December 2023.
  26. ^ "Ohene Media Pays Royalties To Musicians". modernghana.com. 8 January 2013. Retrieved 24 December 2023.
  27. ^ "Ohene Media pays Youtube royalties to Ghanaian musicians". GhanaWeb. Retrieved 24 December 2023.
  28. ^ "Ohene Media (OM) screens new musical 'Drams & Hip Hop'". The Ghana Guardian News. Retrieved 24 December 2023.
  29. ^ "Veteran music video director Abraham Ohene-Djan out with musical movie project, 'Dreams and Hiphop'". Eventlabgh. 3 August 2016. Retrieved 24 December 2023.
  30. ^ Vodafone Documentary, retrieved 9 February 2024
  31. ^ Vodafone Homecoming 2013, retrieved 9 February 2024
  32. ^ Vodafone Home Coming 2014, retrieved 9 February 2024
  33. ^ Vodafone Data Documentry 2011, retrieved 9 February 2024
  34. ^ Vodafone Ghana World Water Day documentary 2011, retrieved 9 February 2024
  35. ^ Vodafone Ghana World Sight Day Documentary 2011, retrieved 9 February 2024
  36. ^ Vodafone Home coming ( Vodafone Foundation ), retrieved 9 February 2024
  37. ^ Vodafone Date Documentary Part 2_ Everyday people, retrieved 9 February 2024
  38. ^ Oak Plaza Hotel Documentary 2012, retrieved 9 February 2024
  39. ^ The Ark Apartments Asokwa Kumasi, retrieved 9 February 2024
  40. ^ Oak Plaza Suites Documentary 2019, retrieved 9 February 2024
  41. ^ Born To Be Free Foundation Academy Documentry 2012, retrieved 9 February 2024
  42. ^ Nestle CWAR Globe Internal Documentary 2009, retrieved 9 February 2024
  43. ^ Shelter for Education -Obuasi, retrieved 9 February 2024
  44. ^ #Shelter4Education for Obeng Yaw, retrieved 9 February 2024
  45. ^ #Shelter4Education - Obuasi (full story), retrieved 9 February 2024
  46. ^ #Shelter4Education - Tupa (full story), retrieved 9 February 2024
  47. ^ AWDF Women of Substance II 2010, retrieved 9 February 2024
  48. ^ MTN Ghana 'Its my life' Televisinn commerial 2008, retrieved 9 February 2024
  49. ^ MTN Worldcup TVC, retrieved 9 February 2024
  50. ^ MTN GO-RIO TVC, retrieved 9 February 2024
  51. ^ Cussons Baby TVC, retrieved 9 February 2024
  52. ^ THE ROYAL BANK GHANA TVC, retrieved 9 February 2024
  53. ^ Tasty Tom TVC Accra Ghana, retrieved 9 February 2024
  54. ^ Star Assurance Television Commercial 2007, retrieved 9 February 2024
  55. ^ Nunu Milk Television Ghana Commercial 2011, retrieved 9 February 2024
  56. ^ Vaniado Company Limited Television Commercial Ghana 2010, retrieved 9 February 2024
  57. ^ Printex Exclusive and Arite_Television Commercial_ 2012, retrieved 9 February 2024
  58. ^ "- YouTube". www.youtube.com. Retrieved 9 February 2024.
  59. ^ Dodo Television Commercial French Version, retrieved 9 February 2024
  60. ^ Express Hair TVC, retrieved 9 February 2024
  61. ^ MELCOME TVC2, retrieved 9 February 2024
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