I entered a music shop the other day to see what compact discs I could find. The Ghanaian and African music CDs were many compared to their foreign counterparts. But guess what made up their composition. Did you guess? Yes? Yes. Gospel. More gospel. SOme more gospel. Plenty gospel. Folks, meet the highest selling genre in Ghana - gospel.
The funny thing is gospel is even sounding a lot like hiplife and highlife these days. Take a peek at the track listing for some popular CDs - track 1 is a highlife version of Song A and track 8 is the reggae version. Track 2 is the slow version of Song B and track 6 is the praises version. And they are all gospel songs.
The airwaves don't tell different stories. From 4am when all the sermon messages dominate on radio, they are accompanied by gospel music. During the morning shows, the popular songs flaunt their authority and many of them are gospel too. The afternoon shows play gospel music too; seems it is too early in the day to hear music about love and sex, I suppose. After the popular 6pm news, you may see the hiplife and highlife songs rearing their heads, but why don't you just switch to Channel R, they are guaranteed to be playing some more gospel. Ghana don go gospel, Chineke!
I bought Graphic Showbiz yesterday, Ghana's most popular entertainment newspaper. It is dominated by events surrounding the African Cup of Nations but Joy FM's Megahits radio chart stood still, it shall not be moved. The show, hosted by Prince Frimpong Bediako and produced by Nii Ayi Tagoe, is probably the most authoritative chart show in Ghana. It charts the pulse all over Ghana, with help from Skyy Power FM in Takoradi, Luv FM in Kumasi and Sky FM in Sunyani. Back to the blog, I suppose you know the news already - the show was dominated by gospel songs. In fact, only 7 of the top 20 songs were by non-gospel artistes.
The top 20 were as follows -
1. Most high God - Pastor Lenny Akpadie
2. Odwo - Ofori Amponsah
3. Wadwen - Ohemaa Mercy
4. Osaberima - Cee
5. Yaw Dompreh - Kofi B
6. The Altar - No Tribe
7. You lied to me - Becca
8. Onyame Otease - Ernest Opoku
9. Juliana - Obour n AB Crentsil
10. Ade Kese - Mary Mary
11. Go high - Philipa Baafi
12. Madanse die - Evangelist Diana Asamoah
13. Nhyira ba - Ceccy
14. Yeda w'ase - Moses OK
15. Nyame wo mmre - Grace Ashy
16. Holiday - Daddy Lumba
17. Casanova - Nana Acheampong
18. Wafom - Daasebre Gyamera
19. Wode me aba fie - Esther Smith
20. Okyeso Nyame - Agnes Opoku Agyemang
Well, there is not a single hiplife artiste representing. And there's a gospel artiste in Ghana called Mary Mary? Hmm
Anyway, am off to enjoy some new gospel music.
PS: Image from ghanagospel.org
Email
, USD 15.67 only.
It looks like the Ghana Music Awards are going to dominated by gospel music as well. No room for hiplife this year.
The charts don't lie, airplay doesn't lie, sales don't lie and payola doesn't lie either.
Hmmm
can someone please tell me where to buy Pastor Lenny Akpadie - Most High God.
phabolousghetto@hotmail.co.uk
most music shops should be selling it.
Kantamanto, or big ben or despite music in accra.
hope to have the song on this website soonest
Most High God don come
Check out this link
http://www.museke.com/node/1767
Well, I dont seem to get the point that the author is trying to make. Anything wrong with Gospel music dominating the airwaves????
The music is good (you can choose not to believe it, but that is what we love) and people love to listen to it. So it is played for us. Seriously, there is a patronising hint in that article and it is very unfair to lovers of Gospel music like myself.
I will be glad to see Gospel musicians picking up awards at the Ghana Music Awards, despite the numerous criticisms against them for not being creative with their compositions and music videos.
hey PSeg, I have no problem with gospel music dominating the airwaves. I am just pointing out that that is the case. I am a little disappointed with how hiplife is getting less airplay due to piracy and payola though.
You may love gospel music (I do too), but I am not trying to be unfair. Besides, everyone knows gospel music is the best selling genre in Ghana, I am just saying that it is even selling much more now.
And yes, I expect gospel music to sweep more of the awards at the Ghana Music Awards.
As for the criticisms, we all want the best for Ghanaian gospel music and am sure the people involved are working hard to make it better
I was in Accra in May & June and bought myself some Ghanaian Gospel music. Glad to know that the music I bought is among the 20 top songs! The music is good.
Post new comment