Ghanaian reggae/afro-pop musician who also doubles as a medical doctor, Knii Lante has advised young and upcoming musicians that it’s possible for them to add other professions to what they do.

According to him, one can become a medical doctor like him while still pursuing their music career.

Speaking in an interview on radio, the medical doctor said, “It’s possible to be a musician and at the same time a doctor or other profession.

“I have had no reservations about being labeled a reggae act but my horizon stretches further than that. I do different kinds of stuff as well and I’m proud of that,” he added.

Knii Lante revealed that he started music with afro-pop before he later delved into reggae by releasing a reggae album which even had some afrobeats songs on it.

The National Film Authority (NFA) has entered into a partnership with leading American distribution company, Indie Rights.

The partnership is to help push Ghanaian film content to the rest of the world after President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo launched a USD$25 million Presidential film pitch series.

A statement by the NFA and copied to the GNA Entertainment said: “This important announcement is coming off the back of the launch of the Presidential film pitch series by President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, where he reiterated the ultimate drive to position Ghana as a film hub in the region and to get Ghanaian content to the world.

“The Presidential Pitch Film Series is a pipeline facilitation program to help fuel the value chain of the film sector by providing a vibrant market place where great film projects within the Ghanaian film ecosystem can connect with investors, sponsors, agents, distributors, broadcasters, and platforms for business to happen.”

The statement added that the partnership makes it possible for IndieRights to offer the very best audience opportunities to the more than 800 filmmakers they work with especially during their yearly exhibits.

Indie Rights, one of the world’s leading distribution companies have partnerships with Amazon, Google, AppleTV, TubiTV, among others.

The entertainment industry in South Africa is mourning the passing of actor, scriptwriter, director, and choreographer Mahlubi Kraai who passed away on Sunday at the age of 47.

News of the multi-talented veteran actor confirmed on Monday that Mahlubi had passed away in Rustenburg, North West.

Born in Mahikeng, Mahlubi has acted in a number of television productions including Generations, Isidingo, Mzansi, Soul City, Rhythm City, Ke Nako and Hillside.

Many will remember the actor as Lebo on the SABC1 sitcom Gauteng Maboneng, whete he played a car mechanic who miraculously inherits a fortune and a whole world of trouble to match.

Others may remember him for his starring role as Jakes in the drama series Mzansi, from 2004-2006.

Having studied for a National Diploma in Drama at Technikon Pretoria from 1995-1997, he has also performed in numerous theatre productions in the nineties, including Noqawuse, Sophiatown, Boesman and Lena, The Island, and others.

Fans were saddened by the news and sent messages of condolences on social media.

Walt Disney Co’s Marvel Studios on Monday encouraged superhero fans to return to movie theaters, a show of support for pandemic-battered cinemas trying to stage a comeback amid competition from streaming services.

“See you at the movies,” said a three-minute-long trailer designed to stir excitement for 10 upcoming Marvel films including “Eternals” and a “Black Panther” sequel.

The video also showed footage from inside a theater of fans reacting to the decisive battle scene in “Avengers: Endgame” in April 2019.

The future of movie theaters is uncertain after extended closures during the pandemic.

Independent operators and large chains including AMC Entertainment , Cineworld Plc and Cinemark Holdings Inc hope that blockbusters from Marvel and others will help lure audiences back.

At the same time, Disney and other media companies are investing billions to compete with Netflix and provide consumers with plenty of options to stream at home.

The board of the Hollywood Foreign Press Association (HFPA), the group that hands out the annual Golden Globe awards for television and film, proposed several changes on Monday to address criticism over its membership’s diversity and ethics.

In a letter to members, the HFPA board suggested several steps to diversify its roster, including hiring a chief diversity officer, putting emphasis on recruiting Black journalists and widening the pool of potential applicants.

The board also proposed adding at least 20 new members in 2021 and boosting its ranks by 50% over the next 18 months. The changes must be approved by current members and will be discussed at the group’s next meeting, the letter said.

“We have created a roadmap for transformational change in our organization,” the board said.

The moves follow an investigation published in February by the Los Angeles Times that noted there were no Black people among the 87-member group of foreign entertainment journalists who make up the HFPA.

The Los Angeles Times also raised long-standing ethical questions over the close relationships between the HFPA and movie studios that may influence the choice of Golden Globe nominees and winners.

The controversy overshadowed the Golden Globes ceremony in February, one of the major Hollywood award shows leading up to the Oscars in April.

The HFPA board said it developed the recommendations with input from outside advisers and inclusion experts as well as media partners. Comcast Corp’s (CMCSA.O) NBC network broadcasts the Golden Globes ceremony each year and welcomed the plan as “an encouraging step in the right direction.”

“It outlines the thorough reforms that are critical for our continued relationship,” NBC said.

Among other proposals, the board urged that HFPA members stop accepting promotional items from film and TV studios and that the group post a public list of members with links to their work.

Meghan, Britain’s Duchess of Sussex, is to publish a children’s book in June titled “The Bench” about the relationship between a father and son, publisher Random House said on Tuesday.

The book is the latest venture by Meghan and her husband Prince Harry, Queen Elizabeth’s grandson, since they stepped down from royal duties and moved to Los Angeles last year with their young son Archie.

The book, inspired by her husband and son and illustrated by artist Christian Robinson, will be published on June 8, with Meghan narrating an audiobook version, the publisher said.

“The Bench started as a poem I wrote for my husband on Father’s Day, the month after Archie was born. That poem became this story,” the duchess said in a statement.

“My hope is that The Bench resonates with every family, no matter the makeup, as much as it does with mine.”

Prophetess Director, Niyi Akinmolayan has opened up on one of the biggest challenges faced in new Nollywood.

Akinmolayan recently tweeted how new Nollywood (a term used to describe films made after the rebirth of cinema in the Nigerian film industry) struggles with classism. He tweeted: “Classism is a big problem in new Nollywood sha. But I won’t start that discussion today.”

The filmmaker’s tweet attracted reactions from filmmakers Isioma Osaje and Naz Onuzo, both confirming that the industry struggles with an elitist culture where certain opportunities are available to a certain class.

Onuzo tweeted “There’s classism, and there’s privilege. Both are combining in a not great way because of the steep requirements to break in. I say this as a beneficiary of both. Figuring out how to democratise access is a problem with no obvious solutions.”

Though Akinmolayan’s tweet did not speak of a personal experience, it comes amid recent talks of cabals with exclusive access in the industry.