New ladies on the block

Saturday, November 22, 2008 (The Mirror Pg 3)
By Rebecca Kwei
If the expression ‘what is in a name?’ is anything to go by, then the all-female group, Ggirls, have lived up to its name by becoming “glorious” in the just-ended TV3 Gang Starz reality show.
Ggirls in full is Glorious Girls and it was the only female group that made it to the finals, emerging winners in the end. It is made of three Liberians and a Ghanaian.
The show, which lasted for 14 weeks, had 12 groups participating and it was aimed at unearthing musical talents, as well as discovering the most promising vocal group. Week after week one group was evicted until it got to the final four groups.
Obviously elated at winning the show, the Ggirls, comprising Peggy Dickson, Carol Kaifunbah, Nadia Jennifer Hani and Leona Moore, could not hide their excitement in an interview with The Mirror.
“We are very proud of ourselves. I feel as if we have crossed a great river,” said Nadia.
For Leona, it was a stepping stone to something better in future, while Peggy saw herself now as a star, special and outstanding.
It’s mixed feelings for Carol as she was happy that the group won, but at the same time she was sad because she would miss all the friends she made during the competition.
On how they met, Peggy, the leader of the group, said they lived in the same neighbourhood but it was not until they had performed at a concert at the Budumburam camp in 2006 that they came together.
During the concert, they sang individually and after that they became friends and decided to come together because they realised that “in unity there is strength”.
They called themselves the Glorious Sisters and started performing at shows.
“When we saw the promotion on TV3 about Gang Starz, we decided to audition. We knew we had talent and wanted to show the world what we’ve got and by God’s grace we are winners,” Leona interjected.
The producer of the show, Iso Paeley, who wanted a more ‘funky’, name changed the name Glorious Sisters to Glorious Girls (Ggirls).
The girls described the competition variously as tough, cool, challenging and fun.
For them, winning the show is also a great challenge because they are the first female group to have won a reality show organised by TV3.
“We hope to stay together as a group and be the next Destiny Child of Ghana,” they said.
After winning Gang Starz, Ggirls say they will be working to come out with an R & B gospel album.
According to them, what kept them together was the love they shared and staying focused on their goals.
Where do they see themselves in the next five years?
“We see ourselves performing all over the world. Ghanaians should watch out for the best.”
They were grateful to their parents, sponsors and fans for their love and support. They also gave thumbs up to TV3 for creating the platform for them to exhibit their talent and to Onetouch, the main sponsor of the programme.
For emerging winners, they received GH¢10,000. They will also have free promotion of their music video and be special guests at TV3 programmes.
Blaze, made up of three males, came second and it took home GH¢6,000. The group also received the Best Stagecraft special award from Onetouch.
Da Soul, also comprising four males (all Liberians), came third and was rewarded with GH¢4,000, while Pipers came fourth and took home GH¢3,000.

Nadia Jennifer Hani
Nadia, the shy one among the group, is 18 and completed A-47 Christian School in Lagos, Nigeria. She aspires to be in the airline industry as a ticketing and reservation agent while pursuing music part-time.

Peggy (Margaret) Dickson
Peggy is the leader of Ggirls and wants to combine acting with her music career. She completed St Rose’s Senior High School, Akwatia. While in St Rose’s, she was the President of the Drama Club. She is 18.

Carol Kaifunbah
A lady with a lot of ambition under her sleeve. She wants to be a banker, own a TV station and be the head of the United Nations (UN). Carol is 18 and graduate of Saint Robert School, Grand Kru, Liberia.

Leona Moore
A graduate of the New Testament School, Monrovia, Liberia, Leona, 18, aspires to be a sound engineer in future.