LIVE CONTEMPORARY GHANAIAN GOSPEL MUSIC GETS A NEW LEASE OF LIFE ........The case of the live recording by the Harbour City Mass Choir The genre of music called Gospel is arguably the most difficult to define in recent times. The conservatives maintain that Church music is getting secular, while the protagonists argue that the gospel is being repackaged to address the challenges of the hip-life generation. There is yet a third school of thought that has its roots evidently from the wise old Gamaliel of the early church era, who carefully assert that ‘by their fruits, you shall know them’ or better still, ‘time will tell’. In Ghana, ‘Nyame Ndwom’ or Gospel, is clearly attributed to songs that carry a message from the Bible, regardless of how shallow, distorted or misquoted they may be… once there is an occasional mention of the matchless name of JESUS, you are sure to hit the gospel charts. Several groups, notably the Joyful Way Incorporated, Calvary Road Singers, The Missionaries, Rescue Mission, and the list goes on, have blazed the trail of live musical works defining what I call the ‘endangered’ brand of gospel music that has impacted several generations. One must indeed commend the Joyful Way Incorporated for consistency and finesse with respect to the albums they continue to churn out. Most of the other musical groups have metamorphosed into church choirs who continue to keep this unique brand of music going during Gospel Rock Shows, Worship Nites, etc in particularly the Charismatic fraternity. However, if one really wants to find out what real Contemporary Ghanaian Gospel sounds like, the best locations would be our universities. It is amazing to find thousands of semi-skilled but highly talented intellectuals come together to perform at events such as INTELLECTOCHOIROFEST (simply means Intellectual Choral Festival), where artistry is at its best. The beauty of this event is that every year, each institution receives fresh men who are arguably more talented than the graduating class, fulfilling the biblical saying that the glory of the latter house shall be greater than the former. The sore point however is the realization that several of these talents fizzle into thin air as soon as they are out of the campuses, probably due to the pressures of work-life, and the harsh realities of the mainstream Ghanaian Gospel Industry. Thankfully, there are always remnants, and one such group of determined musicians is the Harbour City Mass Choir. Acting upon divine direction, two friends, Nii Okai and Kwame Amihere, rallied together budding talents within the Tema Municipality in September 1999, and with an initial team of episcopal leaders including Angelo Dadzie, Marian Ampadu Acheampong (Mrs) and Barbara Kamassah, the Harbour City Mass Choir was inaugurated in October of the same year by the Rt. Revd Yedu Bannerman, one of the pioneering missionaries to Tema. The Choir has over the years carried on the ‘endangered brand’ of live contemporary Ghanaian gospel year on year with sterling compositions, creative arrangements, anointed performances and ‘tight’ musicianship. Under the baton of Nii Okai (whose maiden album – Moko Be, featured the Choir) the Harbour City Mass choir has ministered powerfully under the anointing, resulting in being selected to host the JOY FM Carols Nite and to back Alvin Slaughter last year, among many other opportunities. During the nine years of its existence, the Choir has worked with one of the Ghanaian Church’s finest musicians including Kofi Dua-Anto, David Kyei, Makafui Kwami, Edmund Johnson, Edward Asare, Richard Kumah, Michael Quartey, Mark Ayirebi-Ntiamoah, Henry Datsomor, Jerry Tachie-Menson, David Okai, Benaiah Annang and Ernest Eshun. Through their mentorship, the choir now has its own team of anointed musicians who engineer the growth of the 120-man choir. The Choir has also featured Ghanaian Contemporary Gospel Greats such as Harold Bedu-Addo, Afiba Vanderpuye (Mrs), Graciella, Jazzy, One Achord, Christ@work, Irene Sowah (Mrs), Patrick Masoperh, Ike Nanor, Pastor Helen Yawson, Pastor Joe Beechem, Rita Agyei, Koda and most recently Eyra Gadzekpo, whose ewe rendition of Moko Be, is set to be the best arrangement ever of the hit song by the composer. Quoting Pastor Joe Beechem, after a ministration with the Choir, ”This group is crazy for Christ… in fact I hereby confer on you the name “Crazy for Christ Mass Choir”. Finally, after 9 years of hard work and determination, the Harbour City Mass Choir is set to release an 8- track album, all written and arranged by its first Music Director (and now President), Nii Okai. The songs carry the presence of God and indeed define the richness of God’s talents within the Ghanaian Contemporary Gospel fraternity. Dubbed, ‘Touching Our Youth’, as goes the motto of the Choir, the album opens with a jazzy instrumental interlude, paving the way for the Title Track, which defines the origin, purpose and goal of the 120-man Mass Choir. Then follows the soulful rearrangement of Medo Wo (I’ll love you), a popular Ghanaian chorus, ably led by two of the choir’s unmistakable voices, Nana Yaa Yeboah and David Osabutey. Nii Okai reveals a hidden talent on Yebe tonton (We will praise), a hip-praise song. Eyra Gadzekpo thereafter leads the choir into a ¾ worship experience with the ewe rendition of Moko Be (Madeke me so o - None Compares), followed closely by the age-old Yehowah yeyi w’aye (Jehovah we praise you) led by the soulful voice of the choir, Georgina Nkansah-Asante. The Album erupts again with testimonies rendered with hardcore hip-praise from Nyame w’ayemuye (God’s Kindness) to Yesu sumo mi (Jesus loves me) by Ben Essel and David Osabutey and ends with a hymn of Alleluia from the MHB 215. Come Sunday the 10th of August, 2008, the city of Accra is set to witness one of the best things that ever happened to Ghanaian Contemporary Gospel Music. With support from industry greats such as the Daughters of Glorious Jesus, the praise giants – No Tribe, and ministry partners – Impact Project, Harbour City Mass Choir launches ‘Touching Our Youth’, recorded mixed and mastered by KODA, the anointed engineer. The 10 Ghana Cedi - ticket to the event comes with a complimentary copy of the CD to be received at the entrance of the National Theatre. All partakers are set to experience a paradigm shift in Contemporary Gospel with gifted Bernard Avle (Citi Breakfast host) and Jennifer Asante (Mrs) at the helm of affairs. Be a part of history!

स्टोरी: हर्बौर सिटी मॉस छोइर

Review

"GYE W’AYEYI" - GOD’S INSTRUMENTS SECOND The noble idea of just establishing a reliable music wing by the Baptist Student’s Union (BSU) of Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology(KNUST), to comprise a ministering choir and matching instrumentalists that will see to the musical needs of the union alone, was only realised for a short period of time as events surged for a bigger course. A few years into its formation, the said music wing evolved into a vibrant ministering group with a sizeable membership under the name God’s Instruments, GI for short, and since then it has redirected its aim to reach out to souls everywhere possible. However, it was under the leadership of gospel music wiz, Kofi Dua Anto as music director of the group that a special mark was realised which will for a long time remain an inspiration for the group- the release of mind blowing and highly inspirational album for the group, Awurade Ei. With members composing all songs and variety of musical taste incorporated into the project album, it was released in 2003 and instantly became a favourite among gospel fans at the tertiary education level. Later, title track Awurade Ei (Se Woma Wonsa So Aa...) and Onyame Ye D’awase walked the album forward for mainstream attention which it gradually received before becoming famous among most worshippers. Awurade Ei as an outreach album has helped the group to reach out to souls on campuses and outside all these while until quite recently when Gye W’ayeyi was put together as a compliment to the former. Speaking to this reporter in an interview, the album’s music director, Elliot Lamptey, intimated that, "Even though we would say that Gye W’ayeyi has come to add to the previous album, the new direction received is to invoke the spirit of true worship in Man, God’s creation. We pray for an unusual sense of conviction to worship as one listens to the album." Gye W’ayeyi opens with an intro characterised by a soulful background vocal laced with a deep-voiced speech that briefly exposes on the album’s message of essence - inspiring one to put on the spirit of true worship. Medan Wo, done in reggae vein with good vocals, follows to share the willingness of a believer to wait on God at all times because He is one’s fortress and provider. Hyira Ne Din and Mesom No are exquisitely done in highlife. The former, a mid-tempo song, is based on a number of praise Psalms and the latter has creative salsa licks as intro before a classical Highlife completes the song to express the joy one finds in Jesus and the consequent resolution to follow him forever. Next are Gye W’ayeyi, M’agyenkwa and a Worship Medley. Gye W’ayeyi, the title track which features Kofi Dua Anto, is well composed and produced. It displays the group’s high level of maturity in co-ordination between lead and backing vocals and the instrumentalists, especially where alternations and high notes mattered. M’agyenkwa is a soul inspiring song that reflects the salvation message of Jesus. A collection of a number of worship songs from the public domain: Nyankopon, Yehowa Yeyi W’aye and Yen Nananom, make up the worship medley. The Answer Is and I Will Walk admonishes one to love God first, receive his eternal love and share it with others while making room in one’s heart to accept him wholly. The good instrumentations behind of these songs are worth noting. On the other hand, it is Aseda, a personal favourite, which takes the album to a different level. Blessed with rich elements of Adowa rhythms and the versatility of the two lead vocals, the fast-paced praise song ponders over the works of God and finds a thankful heart to adore and praise Him. Awurade Ei (Root Mix II,) a song with good percussions seals the album on a good note when it marvels at God’s works in our lives. On the whole, though "Gye W’ayeyi" was put together within a year unlike the previous of over three, it still is a must-have album rich in inspiration and production, obviously firming the assertion that the country’s ‘real’ gospel music scene is found on campuses and in churches and not on radio and TV as we are being made to believe. However, with the failure of most gospel groups on campuses to market well their albums, Gye W’ayeyi may also go unnoticed just like Gospel Explosion’s Yi Naye. But this the group’s new music director Joshua Amoah and his colleagues are working on. All songs are written and executively produced by God’s Instruments of KNUST BSU and mixed at KODED Studios by Kofi Dua Anto. Christian and Challenge Music shops all of Accra are its main distribution outlets but the group could be contacted on KNUST campus for copies and bookings.

REVOLUTION OF GHANA'S GOSPEL MUSIC

Harbour City Mass Choir’s Launch of 'Touching Our Youth"

“So how come we never hear this soul inspiring and enormously creative music on radio by these musicians or even have a fair knowledge that this challenging gospel genre is in operation in the country?’’ Wendell, a friend, sitting by me in the National Theatre last Sunday asked loudly as we were being treated to spectacular ministrations of the Harbour City Mass Choir (HCMC) and other contemporary likes of the evangelism-minded Impact Project and Kwesi Oteng। The usual Ghanaian sigh of ‘hmm…।’ seemingly summarized my answer to his question just so my voice isn’t strained over the pulsating sounds that eclipsed the auditorium of the National Theatre and which of course was engineered by the impeccable Koded Studious। However, should we have been in a better environment where he could clearly hear me, I would have walked him into the history of the Ghanaian Contemporary Gospel Music before laying bear the right reasons in answering his question। Even so, without disclosing the history, a logical conclusion of the fact that radio is so used to the mainstream gospel, with its occasional accompaniment of mediocrity which though always frowned upon but has not yet left us, that it seems difficult to inject something new and very creative into the system, at least so the big gospel executive producers have either had to tell many of contemporary groups or insinuate that the brand wouldn’t sell। Surprising huh…! At this time, back in the National Theatre’s auditorium, where the celebration launch of the Tema based Harbour City Mass Choir’s debut album, “Touching Our Youth”, was taking place, the comperes for the day, Charys Senanu (of Sunny FM’s Inspirational Morning Drive fame) and Bernard Avle (of CitiFM’s Breakfast Show Host), were at their marketing best trying to offload the well packaged hampers which contained the debut album। The hampers also had other additions of some goodies and each represented a letter in the choir’s name and title of the album। The comperes publicized the hampers to patrons who had been caught spellbound by the new sounds they heard from the celebrant choir and the old from some of the few mainstream artistes that are still defining what gospel music is and should be- Daughters of Glorious Jesus and No Tribe।After a waiting moment or two, the first CD was purchased at five hundred (500) Ghana Cedis and others followed suit। Thereafter, Daughters of Glorious Jesus, relying on the repertoire of touching lyrics from their hit songs, took the house to another level। Perhaps, they were inspired by the solemn worship and vibrant praise sessions of No Tribe। With time being a limiting factor, Harbour City Mass Choir (HCMC), drew the curtains down for the end of a fulfilling celebration launch with a rendition of the hymn, Bless the Lord My Soul, but this was after Nii Okai (of Moko Be and Fa M’akoma fame), the choir’s music director and president, had led an altar call for patrons willing to accept Jesus Christ as their lord and saviour to do so। The almost perfect launch, save the late end which many cared in the least, came to an end and if nothing at all was achieved, at least the very creative contemporary gospel music moved patrons and was widely accepted which hitherto was shelved by many choirs and artistes or restricted to churches by many factors। In addition to having had a fulfilling moment, they went home with the historical CD in their possession. Earlier on, prior to the celebration launch, there was massive publicity in the capital, particularly on Sunny FM and in some newspapers which promised the best things that ever happened to the Ghana’s Contemporary Gospel Music. Moreover, the 10 Ghana Cedi-tickets coming with a complimentary CD of the live album, Touching Our Youth which is was recorded, mixed and mastered by the finest and anointed Kofi Dua Anto (KODA) enticed many further.Therefore it came as no surprise when a large turn out was seen at the launch and marvelling as well was their early coming which pressurized organizers to start the launch immediately. First to minister was Kwasi Oteng. Backed by his own side vocals and instrumentalists, he sang Don Moen’s I Will Worship before delivering his own and the ever-motivating Okura Yen. No Tribe followed suit and took patrons through a solemn worship and vibrant praise session singing the praise and worship medleys from their Aforemukyia (the Altar) album. Then HCMC’s ministry partners, Impact Project, delivered perhaps a flawless and amazing ministration of songs such as He is God (a choral), a reggae medley of some popular worship songs, brilliant rendition of Trust in the Lord and ended with the soulful How Can I Love You Lord.With a jazzy instrumental interlude welcoming on stage the celebrant choir, Harbour City Mass Choir (HCMC) who were smartly dressed to match nicely adorned stage, and as arranged on their CD, they ministered the first four songs; title track Touching Our Youth, Medo Wo, Ye Be Tonton and Madeke Me So oo. Many could not afford but stand as they heard their popular worship songs rearranged with exceptional finesse and musical diversity: particularly Madeke Me So oo, the Ewe version of Nii Okai’s Moko Be led by Eyra Gadzekpo.Contemporary gospel is today the most commercial variation of gospel music worldwide. Rather than rehashing the well known elements of traditional gospel music, contemporary gospel has modernised it with elementary fusions of crossover ‘R&B’, Soul and hip rhythms laced with dynamic vocals. In Ghana, this brand of gospel is characterised by a blend of foreign gospel rhythms, choral compositions and vocal patterns as well occasional tap into the country’s native rhythms of adowa, kpalogo and traditional hi-life. Danny Nettey, Pastor Helen Yawson, Nii Okai, Ike Nanor, Joyful Way Incorporated, Commissioned Family, Impact Project, KNUST’S Gospel Explosion, among others are noted for this genre of gospel music. Here the hallmark traditions of originality, creativity and quality music are not taken for granted even if messages are touching or timely which people think should be the prime focus. Sunny FM, Net2 TV, Metro TV, TV3, Oman Fm, Vans Royal, Devtraco, Benangel, Parents and Partners, Tema First Baptist Church, St. Paul Methodist Church and others partnered HCMC to publicly outdoor the historical standard definition of Ghana’s (Live) Contemporary Gospel Music after nine years of hardwork, dedication and waiting on the Lord!

Story: Azumah-Ayitey Paul, Writers Bureau College of Journalism, Manchester , England

- ANOINTED’S “ULTIMATE WORSHIP LIVE” NOW ON VIDEO

ANOINTED’S “ULTIMATE WORSHIP LIVE” NOW ON VIDEO The aspiration of a group of friends to use their musical talents in winning many for Christ led to the gospel music group, Anointed, who today could arguably pass as the finest contemporary gospel in the western region and among the notables in the country. The group, with its rich brand of contemporary gospel fused with choral layers and local gospel, is highly reputed for its outstanding reach-out concerts in churches and communities. Thus it came as no surprise when after incessant calls for their concerts to be documented on video; the group is receiving accolades from music lovers who after watching the DVD’s cannot help but to marvel. The life changing praise and worship concert dubbed “Ultimate Worship Live” was held at the King’s Temple of ICGC, Takoradi branch and features the likes of Nii Okai, Pastor Joe Gyebi and Zuta. The DVD is sectioned into three main parts: the rehearsals session before the concert, main concert and an interview session with the audience at the end of the programmme. Additional features include a music video and display of lyrics of songs ministered at the concert. The actual concert sees firstly Anointed opening up with a lively and inspiring worship session led by the group’s technical/music director Kofi Dua Anto, a multi-instrumentalist and an accomplished music producer together with Zuta. Nii Okai then comes in to supplement Anointed’s outstanding ministration with a worship medley done in reggae vein. Later, he takes the audience through some hymns where he explains to them the songwriters’ choice of words for the lyrics. Pastor Joe Gyebi also comes in to add to Anointed’s ministrations with his trademark powerful voice. He duets with Kofi Dua Anto on Anointed’s “He Will Make It Alright” beautifully. On a different radar, the audience merits a powerful deliverance and ministration time where Nii Okai leads affairs to impact into the lives of the audience. The ministrations end with a worship song. In the end, the audience is given the chance to comment on the concert. With low expectations, many revealed it blew their minds. Anointed, an outreach musical group was formed three years ago when a group of friends came together to pursue soul winning through music. Ever since then, the group has held many outreach concerts, in schools, churches and communities. The first was “Time in His Presence” and the latest “Ultimate Worship Live”. The group is preparing to churn out an audio album very soon. However, the DVD’s of the “Ultimate Worship Live” concert are out on sale and distributed by Sunny FM’s Music Store and Pastor Joe Gyebi of Covenant Family Community Church( formerly Soul Clinic) in Accra, Koded Studios in Takoradi and a few notable music outlets. The DVD is a must-have for all who love good music, creativity and quality video. By : Azumah-Ayitey Paul