GHANA GOSPEL MUSIC IS THE ELEPHANT IN THE ROOM

I

 have always been critical of Ghanaian gospel music, justifiably so. About 10% of the songs produced are worth gold, the others are just nuisance that we are made to listen to out of politeness. Music is an expression. More so, gospel music is your profound expression after you have had an encounter with divinity. It baffles me how you can’t find the best expression of Love, Hate, or any other emotion worthy of the occasion?

Joe Mettle Artist of the Year Ghana Music Award (VGMA)

With 60% of Ghanaian vocalist discovering their act in church and about 90% of instrumentalist having their informal music training in churches, you would think Gospel music would be the best music genre in Ghana.

It has become the most plagiarized music industry! Gospel musicians, figuratively, compose about three original songs and merely sing renditions of songs by other artist to satisfy their album requirement.

We rightfully deserve this mediocrity. We have pampered gospel musicians with kid’s gloves, forgetting to hold them accountable for quality. Meanwhile Shatta Wale, and other dissident musicians are critiqued by the media, henceforth to do better.

I was eavesdropping on a conversation in a public transport (trotro) and all that stuck with me was, “Gospel music is easy.” In their explanation, all you need to do is to take a quote or a name in the Bible and find a melody to back it.

If we continue to look at gospel music this way, when will the laziness and the mediocrity in the industry every stop?

Others argue that there is no money in gospel music as compared to Hip-Life or you don’t have the moral conscience to make money out of the church. Oh! How ignorant ye are. Ye are of little faith.

On the contrary, Christian music content is the most sought after in Ghana. You can type “Jesus loves you, type Amen.” in your Facebook status and wait to see the interactions. It doesn’t take my media journalism training to spot this trend in media consumption.

Clearly, there is a demand for Christian content and Christian music online. I believe it is a sleeping giant of an industry yet to happen in Ghana. Hell, the next big thing for Ghana’s music.

Others are worried they would not be accepted when they divert to gospel music.  No! ‘Onaapo’ has been adopted into church praises and worship like the prodigal son. El’s ‘Koko’ was widely accepted; I would say one of the best Christian music by a circular artist. But he will not be the only one. Robert Kelly (R. Kelly) starts every album with a powerful gospel/ motivational track; we know how vulgar the rest of the album gets. Yet we don’t judge him. Mariah Carey performed “There can be miracles” (the sound track to an animation movie of Moses), a beautiful song. It’s not too late for circular artists to join the Christian music industry. There is a precedence.

If you are still adamant, thinking you might not be paid well as a gospel artist, (smh) you lack foresight and inspiration.

Church members pay huge tithes (sorry I didn’t mean to say that).

Churches are always inviting song ministers for programs and events once your music is powerful and pleasing enough.

We still invite pastors and renowned preachers to Ghana for events, pay their transportation and hotel bills and give them church offering to go with. Who says that can’t be done for Christian artists?

As I said, foresight or the lack thereof has made us continue to irritate our eardrums with foul melodies of some gospel music, while Gospel artist envy their circular counterparts of having it better.