For a long time, the growth of the Ghanaian Gospel music industry was stagnant on the international front due to its standardized format. However, contemporary gospel artists such as Cwesi Oteng, Sonnie Badu, Joe Mettle, and Diana Hamilton started a facelift. However, there was still room for further improvement as the Gospel according to Mark 15:16 instructed Christians to preach the word in every nook and cranny. Gospel musicians had the duty to convert the word into the language that people understood best.
Joseph Matthew, the ideator of Afro-Gospel music in Ghana, saw the vision from afar and moved the motion. Although there was criticism against the novel genre, Joseph Matthew pushed it further. His songs such as “Hallelujah,” “My Story,” and “Nyame Ye” have dominated most Gospel cultures outside Ghana but found it difficult to gain roots in Ghana because most thought the genre was cumbersome.
Then his songs “Not Alone” and “The Name” started gaining roots in the Gospel circles in Ghana because the broad genre “Afro” was fast gaining roots in all music spheres around the world. What actually broke the camel’s back for the total acceptance of the “Afro Gospel” genre was his latest song, “Blessed,” close to a year ago.
The song climbed the music charts on radio and TV in Ghana. The masses on the streets and in churches also trumpeted the jam excessively. It was no doubt that the genre was now fully functional, and Ghanaians were in tune with it.
Then came a new crop of Gospel artists like Evans Scott, who had a smashing Afro Gospel hit song titled “Mapeke” last year, Kneeded, Lucky Ekeh, Kingzkid, Fresh Joy Music, and a host of other young upcoming artists who have adopted the genre and is making good use of it.
This year’s FootPrint TV’s Celebrity Hangout Party saw ace Gospel musicians appreciating the new crop of Gospel musicians who specialize in the urban gospel and the novel genre “Afro Gospel.”
In an interview with Joseph Matthew about his thoughts on the rise of the new genre in which he played a key part, he disclosed that he was overwhelmingly excited and felt fulfilled that at last, the Ghanaian Gospel industry is in tune with the new genre. He also prayed that they would support the young artists who have made it a point in their careers to do new things to help push the gospel of Jesus Christ to the ends of the earth.
