Due to the global front, the Ghanaian Gospel Institute’s expansion was slowed for a very long time. For a donkey’s years, Ghana’s regulated format for gospel music remained unchanged.
Contemporary gospel singers like Cwesi Oteng, Sonnie Badu, Joe Mettle, Diana Hamilton, and others progressively gave the genre a facelift. Because Mark 15:16 expressly commands Christians to walk through every nook and crevice to spread the word, there is still opportunity for progress. So, it was the responsibility of gospel musicians to spread the message in the language that they were most fluent in to the farthest reaches of the streets.
The creator of Afro-Gospel music in Ghana, Joseph Matthew, saw the vision from a distance and set the action. Despite opposition to the novel genre, Joseph Matthew continued to advance it.
His songs, including Hallelujah, My Story, Nyame Ye, and others, have dominated most Gospel cultures outside of Ghana, but he struggled to establish himself there since Ghanaians viewed the genre as onerous.
Then, as the broad musical genre “Afro” quickly gained ground in all musical spheres around the world, his songs like “Not Alone” and “The Name” began to take root in Ghana’s Gospel communities.
His most recent song, “Blessed,” which was released about a year ago, was the straw that finally broke the camel’s back for the “Afro Gospel” genre’s widespread recognition.
In Ghana, the song shot up the radio and television music charts. Also, the crowds overly trumpeted the jam in the churches and on the streets. There was no doubt that Ghanaians were familiar with the genre and that it was now fully operational.
Then came a new generation of gospel performers, including Evans Scott, who last year had a smashing Afro Gospel hit single with “Mapeke,” Kneeded, Lucky Ekeh, Kingzkid, Fresh Joy Music, and a host of other up-and-coming musicians who have embraced the genre and are effectively utilizing it.
At FootPrint TV’s Celebrity Hangout Party this year, renowned gospel musicians celebrated the upcoming generation of singers that focus on urban gospel and the creative genre “Afro Gospel.”
In an interview with Joseph Matthew on what his thoughts were about 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 to them to support the younglings who have made it a point in their career to do new things to help push the gospel of Jesus Christ to the ends of the earth.