You are annointed, sing in English for the world to hear you - Nathaniel Bassey to GH gospel acts

Highly acclaimed Nigerian gospel artiste, Nathaniel Bassey is challenging Ghanaian gospel artistes not to limit their reach and global impact by singing in the local dialects.

In a passionate appeal at the Jesus Christ Encounter event held at the Accra Sports Stadium yesterday,  Nathaniel Bassey mentioned that Ghanaian gospel artistes were much anointed but not getting global attention because they mostly sang in Twi.

 “In the Next 4 To 5 years, Psalmist from Ghana will come to Nigeria and host their own concert, that your songs will rise from Ghana to the nations of the earth.

“As a way of instruction, can I plead with Ghanaian music ministers to write songs in English? Yes I know you love your local dialect, Twi etc but there is an anointing on you and the world needs to hear your songs,” Nathaniel  Bassey stated.

Nathaniel Bassey’s appeal might perhaps bring to the limelight some challenges of Ghanaian gospel artistes among which include the low patronage of English songs compose by gospel artistes.

 ( Related article: Don't reduce us to local champions—Celestine Donkor)

 In an interview with Graphic Showbiz last year, Celestine Donkor stoked conversations on the way forward for Ghanaian gospel artistes in this regard when she entreated patrons to embrace their songs rendered in English with the same enthusiasm they do to those in the local dialects.

The Agbebolo singer said not patronising their English songs went a long way to limit the potential of Gospel artistes to the confines of the country and virtually turned them into local champions hindering their prospects of being accepted on the global scene.

She explained that she had observed over the years, through the records and performance of her songs, both in local and English languages, that the former was patronised more, which to her had the tendency to stifle the progress of Ghanaian artistes reaching global market.

“Over the years, I have noticed a trend with my songs. Anytime I release a song that is 100 per cent English, it has low streaming and downloads from Ghana. Interestingly, it is a different story in other African countries.

"It's quite surprising that when songs are from Nigeria and they are 100 per cent in English, they are sung in churches and are always on people's playlists.

"They are fully embraced but the moment an English song is coming from a Ghanaian artiste, it doesn't get the same reception,” she said at the time.

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