VIDEO REVIEW: RED RED – HOW FAR FEAT. MENSA

VIDEO REVIEW: RED RED – HOW FAR FEAT. MENSA

Finally, Mensa has released visuals for his political and socially correct single HOW FAR, off his up-coming collaborative album with Hungarian DJ/Producer ELO of Irie Mafia. The album, Red Red is more of an experimental album-it explores different musical influences but is primarily driven by electronic sounds.
Shot by filmmaker/documentarian Jareth Merz-known for his ‘African Election’ documentary, the video opens with a long shot of parts of James Town, with Mensa atop the famous Lighthouse.
Mensa’s opening lyric ‘where dey the Saviour we dey look for?/E bi some guy for the sky inside or ebi me then you?’ set the tone for what the song is about; the need to be proactive as a people and demand the best of things from ourselves and leaders.
How Far is a socially conscious and politically unapologetic song enumerating the many deliberately created challenges confronting the nation-where political corruption is high, energy crisis (as depicted by the candle scene and dark background), social welfare is virtually non-existent, medical facilities in deplorable state, educational system failing and general economic hardships.
Interestingly, Mensa, in this video, reflected these situations vividly by dressing up in various apparels- pastor, policeman, nurse, student and a hawker-to drum home his point.
How Far also captured the energy and bustling scenes of James Town and her environs. The busy markets and streets, beaches, rubbish heaps, the people-a window into the everyday life of the Ghanaian populace. The video was also people centred as ordinary citizens-both old and young- sang the catchy yet profound chorus of the song ‘God Bless Our Homeland Ghana’, an important line in our national anthem.
Including scenes from his 27^th August, 2015 concert at The Republic Bar, along with Wanlov (as FOKN Bois) especially faces of some of the city’s prominent ravers including the legendary highlife kingpin, Gyedu-Blay Ambolley and graffiti paintings of legendary African leaders and revolutionaries was awesome.
If people still don’t know what ‘Gospel Porn’ means, How Far gives you a definition- naked truth spoken with no apologies.
Watch the video