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UOLLYWOOD AWARDS 2018: Representative Ghana, Maryland United States
Biography:
Koby Maxwell (Born November 25, 1978) is a Ghanaian musician, [1] singer, actor and producer [2] known for One Night in Vegas (2013), The Wrong One (2018) and Paparazzi Eye in the Dark (2011). who currently resides in Washington, D.C. in the United States. He says that his goal is to maintain the authenticity of African music, while incorporating the sounds of others. [3] In June 2010, he became a film producer and executive producer when he hired a US film production company to produce his first Nollywood[4] feature film, entitled Paparazzi Eye in the Dark.[5][6][7]
In 2016 he started producing a show on the North American TV channel ABC2 called Nollyhot TV which was first aired on January 6 of that year. The show captures happenings within the Nigerian entertainment industry of Nollywood for an American audience. Nollyhot TV is also broadcast on the DCW 50 and The CW television channels in the USA.
Koby Maxwell;
Ghanaian International Artiste
If there is an individual who personifies the value of hard work coupled with an amazing gift of music, then Maxwell K. Okwensy is that person. Mr. Okwensy has been fighting for proper recognition to be accorded to African music. He has been simultaneously serving as a cultural ambassador for the continent too. The artiste, who prefers to be known as Koby Maxwell has been making a mark on the music industry both in his adopted home of the USA and his birth place of Ghana.
Koby is a gifted bass player, singer, lyricist and composer who brings a unique music mix blended with a taste of Europe, a twist of America and a squeeze of Africa all stirred up to create a colorful and powerful sound fusion.
As the oldest of six children, this native-born Ghanaian is no foreigner to the United States. He arrived in the States 13 years ago and has been tirelessly working on his God-given musical gifts and abilities which have ushered him into prominence and seen him perform in venues like the Kennedy Center in the US capital of Washington DC and the Radio City Music Hall in the Big Apple; New York City. He has additionally shared the stage with prestigious artists like Nancy Wilson, Chaka Khan and Dionne Warwick. In August 2006, he performed at Reggae on the river and shared the stage with Reggae superstar Sean Paul, Barrington Levy, Sanchez, Ziggy andStephen Marley, Bunny Wailer and a pioneering father of African music; Salif Keita, among others.
Koby Maxwell has also gained additional recognition as a key performer in Detroit’s Annual African World Festival. Yet, the beauty of his determination to remain true to his origins and country as an artist is of noteworthy as he believes because 'other countries have kept the authenticity of their music... my goal is to continue to maintain the authenticity of African music, but still incorporate the sounds of others to make it universally appealing'.
An element of the incorporation talked about is the distinguished fusion of sound which has enabled Koby to diversify his performances irrespective of the stage or the occasion, be it for charity groups in the USA, churches in Europe, Jazz festivals in the Bahamas or on his native Ghanaian stages for and with fellow celebrities. His international credentials documents performances with Kojo Antwi, Hugh Masekela, Amayke Dede, Daddy Lumba, Ofori Amponsah and Toby Foyeh. Most notable of these is his membership of the famous Sakra Band of Megastar, which took the music scene of Ghana to newer heights.
As an artist, the versatility of Koby Maxwell is vividly displayed on his first Gospel CD entitled “Praise the Lord” and his famed second album; “Pepele”-- flying with the Lord. In 2008, he released the “Step to the Top” project, a compilation of AP, Hip-life, hi-life andCoupé-Décalé . Out of this project was borne the groundbreaking four CD/DVD set, the first of its kind for a Ghanaian musician. It contained the hit song I’m Aware featuring Veeda & Red Eye, a music video, interviews, a behind-the-scenes segment of the making of the video and an exclusive photos slide show. The music videos of this project which were directed by the sister of Bill Cosby--Ms. Cosby--were mainly shot at Zanzibar Bar on the Waterfront of downtown Washington DC, and included picturesque shots of the Washington Dulles Airport and the Potomac--Maryland areas.
Later on in 2008, Koby launched a tour to promote the 'I’m Aware' album that begun at the Zanzibar Bar and Night Club and eventually took him to Ghana and Liberia among other places. While in Ghana, he was interviewed on a number of leading radio shows such as Xhale by Jon Germain on XFM95.1 and 'Efie Kwanso' by Abeiku Santana on Adom FM; two of Ghana's biggest radio stations. The album received rave reviews and attracted even more publicity when he appeared on all the three major TV networks in Ghana, thus TV3, TV Africa and GTV. Koby Maxwell has also been interviewed on Liberia’s leading radio station Power 93.3 FM where his music is on regular rotation due to overwhelming listener requests.
Stateside, Koby has performed at many well-patronized concerts and other entertainment events where he regularly receives top billing. As his popularity has soared, he has quite literally become a household name in the African community. This has led to several engagements like his headlining the Miss Guinea Beauty Pageant, three years in a row (2008, 2009 & 2010), and being the toast of many African Student Union campus events. In March 2010, he joined Ghanaian born Hollywood star, Michael Blackson to commemorate Ghana’s 53rd Independence anniversary in Sacramento, California. Acknowledged by many fashionistas for his eye for style and fashion, Koby Maxwell is not only regularly invited to be part of many a fashion shows, but to perform his infectious brand of Afro-pop music to captivated audiences. He has certainly left his mark on the annual Afrisonore, the Africa Spring Bling and FestAfrica events where he is known as much for his dabber style as his music. Perhaps, one unknown aspect of this shining actor and musician’s life is his outstanding contributions to charity and the community. Indeed, Koby sets aside an unspecified amount of tour dates each year to perform for his favorite charities, something he fervently believes is his small way of giving back and has preferred not to publicize such happenings.
The year 2010 can be said to be one of the busiest periods in this multi-talented musician’s life. Ever the perfectionist, and in spite of a grueling tour schedule, Koby found time between tour dates to record, produce and star in the critically acclaimed movie “Paparazzi--Eye in the Dark”. The 13 track CD which includes the soundtrack to the movie titled “Do It”, features Chris Deshield, and the accompanying music video is currently enjoying a lot of airing on television stations and on YouTube. Like all singer/songwriters, Koby comes up with some of his most intriguing material when he turns inward for inspiration. One thing that makes Koby’s songs so exciting is that they’re usually anything but typical. Rarely does a Koby Maxwell composition follow a standard verse-verse-chorus formula, and he almost never gives his songs obvious titles. Take a look at the titles from his yet-to-be released album such as “Whatever”, “Can you handle it” and “My Dream”. This fervent self-produced CD is scheduled to be launched at the 2nd Annual Koby Maxwell Birthday Bash in Washington DC.
The “Paparazzi--Eye in the Dark” movie has Koby as a producer who also starred in it. The movie is a cool, stylish, and classy look into the voyeuristic world of celebrity worship. Masterfully cast and directed by Bayo Akinfemi (Gemini Award Nominee for Human Cargo & The Border), this romantic movie kind of serves as a who-is-who in the world of African cinema. It features the likes of Ghanaian A-list actor Van Vicker and Syr Law of Tyler Perry's Diary of a Mad Black Woman, J.J Bonney (Nollywood USA), Chet Anekwe (Monique’s Phat Girls) and Tchidi Chikere (Top Nollywood Producer/Director) also star in this movie which was filmed on location in the City of Atlanta. The movie has been premiered in major cities across North America and the Caribbean since 2011, with subsequent screenings in select African capital cities.
Koby rounded off the year 2010 with a number of awards and nominations. The most notable of these is the 2010 3G Media award for excellence in African Music Industry. This honor and recognition accorded Mr. Maxwell is a testament of his drive and passion to not only commercially produce and succeed but churn out critically acclaimed projects too. Nationally or Internationally, Koby Maxwell is an artist on the move, and deservedly so because like fine wine, Koby keeps getting better with time. The future for this accomplished artiste looks bright indeed, but even in the present he has already built up a fine body of recorded work and a history of many wonderful live shows.
Currently residing in Maryland, Koby Maxwell became the producer for the movie Paparazzi which he wrote and won 6 awards for in 2011 after receiving nominations in 12 different categories, Later that year, the movie Paparazzi was selected as best movie in the African Movie Academy Award (AMAA). Koby Maxwell also won the best sound track award for the movie Paparazzi at the WMIFF. The Pan African Film Festival Awards in Hollywood also selected Paparazzi for a screening in which Koby interacted and networked with well known Hollywood celebrities like P-daddy, Meagan Good, Gabrielle Union and many more who were in attendance. Paparazzi was highlighted by the PAFF African film festival in 2012, the same year in which the music video-- Password--was nominated as best music video.
In March 2013 at the 56th celebration of the independence of Ghana, Koby Maxwell organized the maiden edition of a meet and greet of celebrities that had in attendance stars like Jimmy Jean-Louis, Sarodj Bertin; the former Ms. Universe and Michael Blackson. A year before this, the video 'Password' by Koby Maxwell was nominated by Indie Music Channel (a Hollywood based organization that selects independent artist for recognition) for the best music video of the year 2012.
'One Night in Vegas' is a new movie successfully completed Koby Maxwell which has leaning Ghanaian actors like John Dumelo, Yvonne Nelson and Van Vicker playing lead roles. This movie will be the first African movie to be translated into Spanish and French. The future is full of exciting surprises and projects that are set to positively impact the African and global entertainment scenes. Watch out for more from this versatile character Koby Maxwell because whatever he plans or mixes, it always turns out to be uniquely different, inspiring and powerful. His products and projects will definitely bear trademarks of "Koby Maxwell".
Filmography
Koby Maxwell: Producer | Actor | Writer | Composer | Music department
Writer (2 credits)
Composer (1 credit)
Music department (1 credit)
http://www.kobymaxwellproductions.com
