These include Black Film Critics Circle’s Rising Star Award, Best Young Actor at Venice Film Festival, Best Actor at Spirit Awards, Best Actor in Lead Role and Discovery of the Year at Ghana Movie Awards 2015. What else can a novice ask for?
His enviable achievements have won him many hearts who will fight for him should anyone, through his actions or inactions, belittle the star boy or mock him.
Radio presenters Jay Foley and Lexis Bill were taken to the cleaners after reports suggested that the duo had ridiculed Abraham Attah’s speech at the Film Independent Spirit Awards. Some people thought the “local champions” were mimicking him and considered it as very offensive.
Yes, they were hit with a bang that they had to apologise. But I think we should cut them some slack. Enough of the insults. For people to say these radio presenters envy Attah is neither here nor there. They are in a class of their own. If I were to caption their actions, it would have been ‘joke gone bad’. To tell you the truth, I saw nothing wrong with his accent. Even university students and some prominent personalities who have had quality education pronounce 'thank' as /taŋk/ instead of /θaŋk/.
My utmost concern and of course, the reason for penning down this article is the response from Abraham Attah. Undoubtedly, I was touched by the content of his reply.
“l know that some of the radio presenters in Ghana are saying I gave a bad speech at the independent spirit awards. They don’t know what happen to me. I thought was not going to win so I decided not to write any speech down. I was so surprise when she mention my name. I didn’t know what to say when I went up there,” was his Instagram post.
So I ask: “Why was no speech prepared for Abraham Attah so that should he win, he would read it?”
In award ceremonies, every nominee is a potential winner though some may be ahead of others. And that is what amounts to the ‘surprise’. Before the Independence Spirit Awards, Attah had snatched a number of awards from big stars who were nominated in that category, a reason for which his handlers should have drafted something and coached him on how to deliver it. If they had done that, this whole brouhaha may not have occurred.
Again, who went through his post before it went on Instagram? If anyone did, certain information, including why he did not script any speech would not have been out. And even if it did, it would have been captured in a different way. Public relations (PR) is key in show business. The chap is now a celebrity and should be handled as such. He is a big inspiration to every child, most importantly those who may be thinking all hope is lost.
Secondly, handlers of Abraham Attah should let him know the kind of industry he has found himself in. Aside the fact that we mostly celebrate mediocrity, he should develop a tough skin. He should and must have the stomach to swallow all nonsense. This is a country where some unscrupulous people can just throw shots at any point in time. Will he be responding to everything he hears?
As Kwame Dadzie puts it, Attah must be on the lookout because all these people who hauled insults on Jay Foley and Lexis Bill for mocking his ‘tenk you’, will shower him with more than what the duo received when he is able to say, “thank you”.
Already some people have pitched Attah against experienced actors like John Dumelo and Majid Michel in some photos and videos circulating on social media. Oh, yes! Social media platforms have been flooded with memes ridiculing these actors for their inability to attain the heights reached by Attah despite several years of shooting many movies. A very needless comparison. Very unfortunate!
Why? I am afraid Abraham Attah may be carried away and that will affect his consistency and skills. Attah is no better actor than the aforementioned and other experienced actors. His handlers need to make sure he remains humble than becoming complacent and pompous.
It is good to know that the most celebrated showbiz personality in Ghana is enrolled in school. This will help if he takes his studies seriously.
The handlers should help him manage stardom because it is a recipe for disaster if not well managed. He is indeed an asset to his homeland.
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