Buzz
HUAWEI launches 2021 HMS App Innovation Contest, Apps UP

Not all superheroes wear capes. Some sit behind a desk conjuring up ways in which they can use technology to make the World a better place. Whether it’s to improve health and education systems or to alleviate stress and improve mental well-being through fun and supportive video games, these apps are always in demand. A call has been made once again to developers around the World to put their skills to the test on a Global stage with the launch of the 2021 HUAWEI HMS App Innovation Contest, Apps UP.
Level up your innovation
The competition aims to inspire talented developers around the World to create seamless, smart, and innovative digital experiences, and explore the future of digital intelligence. By highlighting pioneering HMS open capabilities, the competition gives App developers the tools to build tomorrow’s all-connected World. This includes constructing the future of technology and bringing all-scenario smart life experiences to Huawei end users in over 170 countries and regions, reaching over 650 million Huawei users globally.
Hard work leads to big rewards
The Apps UP competition from Huawei is a real-life example that hard work pays off. The competition will be held in Middle East & Africa, Europe, Asia Pacific, Latin America, and China. Huawei has set aside US$1 million from the Shining Star Program as prize money for the contest.
US$200,000 will be allocated for the following award winners in Middle East and Africa:
- Best Application Award
- Best Game Award
- Most Social Impact Award
- Best HMS Core Innovation Award
- All-Scenario Coverage Award
- Excellent Student Award
- Starlight Creative Award, and
- Honourable Mention Award.
This year’s contest also includes a new Tech Women’s Award, and will feature speeches from outstanding women in tech, with the goal of supporting and encouraging – together with HUAWEI Women Developers – female developers in realising their dreams by pursuing groundbreaking work.
Winners are also eligible for additional rewards, such as HUAWEI AppGallery promotional resources, Huawei cloud resources, and exclusive incentives for paid HMS Core capabilities, among others.
The theme for this year’s Huawei HMS App Innovation Contest is “HMS Innovate for All”. How to enter
To enter, participants must register an account on the official competition website, between 14 June and 20 August 2021 and sign up as either an individual or as a team of up to three members. All Apps must be developed integrating HMS Core and submitted on the same website by 20 August 2021. The panel of judges will pre-select work based on social value, business value, user experience and originality, and this will happen between 21 August and 9 September. From there, the top 20 shortlisted apps in each region will be made available to the public to download and vote for their favourites on the competition’s official website or HUAWEI AppGallery from 11 September to 23 September, before making their way to the finals in October. To find out more, click here.
A distinguished judging panel, with diverse professional experience
Judges for the contest include technical experts, executives and founders in finance and tech, leading tech media voices, and representatives from non-profit sectors. Their abundant experience will prove invaluable to contestants, inspiring them to greater heights.
Over four million entrants
The 2020 HUAWEI HMS App Innovation Contest attracted more than 3,000 teams from over 170 countries and regions in the five competition regions. 20 outstanding Apps were shortlisted in each region, among thousands of HMS innovative Apps submitted. These Apps covered every facet of daily life, inspiring smart experiences in health and fitness, education, agriculture, environmental protection, transportation, and public safety, among many others. The contest reached more than four million developers. Standout entries from South Africa, which were recognised and rewarded, were as follows:
l Pregnancy educational App, My Pregnancy Journey – Best App and Best Social Impact App winner
l Space adventure game, Gauntlet – Best Game winner
l Space adventure game, Slug Hunter – Honourable Mention
l Load shedding informational App, Load Shedding Notifier – Honourable Mention
Buzz
From Good Deeds to Grooves: Mr. Drew’s Seleey Concert Lights Up Mallam

The third edition of Mr Drew’s annual event dubbed Seleey Concert was held last Saturday 25th November, 2023 at the Kokroko Station in Mallam.
The musical concert, which was put together by Big Lala Entertainment Ltd, attracted several thousands of avid music lovers from far and near Mallam-Gbawe.
Fameye, Bisa KDei, Kofi Mole, Lasmid, Sefa, Keche, Fancy Gadam, Olivetheboy, Krymi, Quamina MP, Kelvynboy and J Derobie were among the many artistes who graced the massive stage with never to be forgotten live performances at the concert, dropping back to back hits which kept the teeming crowd entertained. There were also eclectic dance performances by Incredible Zigi and his Afro Zig crew, the iTwinz and other notable dance groups.
The man of the night, Mr Drew, also mounted the stage to give live renditions of his hit songs backed by the band masters and crowned it with an amazing delivery of his 2023 hit song Case with the help of the featured artiste; Mophty Legacy, which charged up the crowd for a great ending.
On Friday 24th November, prior to the main event, Mr. Drew donated to the New Gbawe Cluster of Public Schools as a social responsibility to give back to the society that raised him. Items donated include; bowls and spoons to aid in the school feeding programme, whiteboard markers, board cleaners, exercise books and stationery. Refreshment was provided by ‘Yah!’ ice cream to over 1000 pupils. Boxes of Indomie noodles from Indomie Ghana were also donated to the school.
A football match between the youth of Mallam and the Gbawe youth Alliance was played at the start of Saturday as part of the activities preceding the main event to foster unity amongst the youth and people of those communities.
Video games were set up by the Canvic Records Esports teams, where young enthusiastic players took turns to battle each other for video game supremacy. Other physical games were also available including snooker, table tennis and foosball.
Buzz
Yhaw Hero hits the ground running with debut EP “Yours Faithfully”

After garnering so much attention and buzz, Ghanaian artist, Yhaw Hero has finally released his debut EP “Yours Faithfully”. The project is an open letter from the rapper to his fans, as he gives them more insight into his life and his thought process.
Before the EP dropped, fans got served ‘Bra Fie’ and ‘11 Six’. ‘Bra Fie’ was a song of assurance from Yhaw to his mom–who hadn’t seen her son in a while, that he would return once he’s made it on the streets. ‘11 Six’ on the other hand, is a song that delves into the struggles of the youth and the bad leadership that plagues our political space. It’s a song that serves as an advocacy and even a protest of the status quo.
The EP has seven songs and one feature from Nigerian star, Jeriq. It shines nonetheless, thanks to its nifty writing and production. “Yours Faithfully” has been gradually climbing the charts since its release with fans and critics already giving it a positive reception.
Yhaw Hero’s “Yours Faithfully” EP is available on all digital streaming platforms globally here: https://azuri.lnk.to/
OR
OR
Instagram: yhawhero__
Twitter/X: @yhawhero__
Facebook: Yhaw Hero
Buzz
BOOMPLAY RECAP 2023: BLACK SHERIF, SARKODIE, WENDY SHAY, DIANA HAMILTON & MORE ARE TOP ARTISTS

From the captivating music releases in the year accompanied with trending sounds and viral dance challenges to the rave exploits of Ghanaian artists, 2023 has been another great year for Ghanaian music.
As the year draws to its end, Africa’s premier music streaming and download platform, Boomplay, unveils its yearly report of music consumption on the platform that reflects music streaming data of local music scenes. Tagged #BoomplayRecap2023 to signify the year under review, the report is segmented into three to focus on country, artist and user insights of 2023.
The streaming platform recorded an increase in its catalogue to 120 million songs with over 10 million plus artists and 7500 plus content providers in the year under review. The most popular music genres on Boomplay in 2023 include Afrofusion, Afrobeats, Amapiano, Gospel, Gengentone and HipHop & Rap.

According to the Boomplay Recap 2023 for Ghana, these are some of the categories of top artists and most streamed songs of 2023:
Top Male Artist
1. Black Sherif
2. Sarkodie
3. Stonebwoy
Top Female Artist
1. Wendy Shay
2. Diana Hamilton
3. Gyakie

Top Rising Artist
Banzy Banero
OlivetheBoy
Skyface SDW
Most Streamed Songs
1. Country Side – Sarkodie ft. Black Sherif
2. Konongo Zongo – Black Sherif
3. Oh Paradise – Black Sherif
Most Streamed Albums
1. The Villain I Never Was – Black Sherif
2. Jamz – Sarkodie
3. 5th Dimension – Stonebwoy
View the complete Boomplay Recap 2023 for Ghana and other countries list here: https://www.boomplay.com/RecapPr2023/
Also, one can find Boomplay Recap 2023 lists for all key African countries on the Boomplay app including specially curated playlists of all categories, genres and artists. Boomplay Recap for Artists 2023 and your unique My Boomplay Recap 2023 (Recap for Users) coming soon.
About Boomplay
Boomplay is an Africa-focused music streaming and download service which houses millions of songs, videos, and entertainment news. Boomplay users can stream their favourite songs for free and subscribe to access premium features such as ad-free streaming and saving music for offline play. Boomplay currently has over 90 million monthly active users (MAU) with a rich catalogue of over 120 million songs from around the world. The service is available globally on mobile through the Google Play Store for Android, App Store for iOS and on the web via www.boomplay.com. The company has regional offices in Nigeria, Ghana, Kenya and Tanzania.


Buzz
I Will Soon Release A Campaign For Bawumia – Diana Asamoah

Contemporary Ghanaian Gospel singer/songwriter, Diana Asamoah has hinted at releasing a campaign song for the newly elected Flagbearer of the governing New Patriotic Party (NPP), Dr Mahamudu Bawumia. (more…)
Buzz
I Was Once A Pupil Teacher – Diana Asamoah Reveals

Ghanaian gospel music sensation, Diana Asamoah, has revealed that she was once a pupils teacher before venturing into music. (more…)
- Buzz6 days ago
“I Was Being Paid Gh400-Gh600 Monthly – Kuami Eugene’s Ex-Househelp, Mary
- Buzz6 days ago
Kuami Eugene sacked me because I returned late from an errand- Mary
- Buzz1 week ago
Lil Durk cosigns O’Kenneth and Xlimkid’s ‘Lonely Road’
- Buzz6 days ago
Kuami Eugene shares popular phrase, “Nipa bi y3 cobra” following allegations by former househelp, Mary
- Buzz4 days ago
Being younger than someone is not a flex- Mr Drew calls Kuami Eugene a liar as he responds to his comments
- Buzz1 week ago
Hilda Baci says Ghanaian women will pick Nigerian men over Ghanaian men because they’re the best
- Buzz4 days ago
I still haven’t received royalties on “No Dulling” from Keche- Kuami Eugene
- Buzz1 week ago
Ghanaian Jollof lacks flavor; Nigerian Jollof is the best- Hilda Baci
- People & Lifestyle5 days ago
Bevies on the Hill
- Buzz3 days ago
Kuami Eugene needs a nanny, not a maid- Mzbel suggests
- Buzz1 week ago
Ghanaians on Twitter descend heavily on Hilda Baci for her comments on Ghana Jollof
- Buzz4 days ago
I started my studio in my mother’s kitchen at age 17 – Kuami Eugene