Celebrated Ghanaian highlife singer, George Kwabena Adu, popularly known as Kwabena Kwabena, has shared a personal experience of rejection in his musical journey, revealing that he once felt belittled by a gospel artist when he tried to explore gospel music.
In a candid interview with Doreen Avio on Daybreak Hitz on Hitz FM, the award-winning singer disclosed that during an attempt to collaborate with a gospel musician, he was made to feel like an outsider in the gospel space, simply because he was known for highlife music.
“There was one particular gospel artiste, for obvious reasons, I won’t mention the name, but I believe the way I was treated was quite disrespectful,” he shared.
“She made me feel like a worldly person. I reached out to her, and she directed me to speak to her husband instead.”
According to Kwabena Kwabena, this encounter left him feeling unwanted and judged, reinforcing a stereotype that secular artistes aren’t welcome in gospel circles.
However, the story took a positive turn when he later reached out to Obaapa Christy, a respected gospel powerhouse, who welcomed the opportunity to work with him.
“I’m very grateful to Obaapa Christy. When I contacted her about doing a song together, she was genuinely excited and honoured. Her humility touched me, and I now understand why she stands out in the gospel industry,” he said.
Their collaboration led to the release of “Fakyɛme”, the lead single on Kwabena Kwabena’s “God of Restoration” EP, his seventh studio project.
The EP, made up of five soul-lifting tracks, reflects his spiritual journey and personal growth, showcasing a different side of the artist.
Kwabena Kwabena’s story highlights an ongoing conversation in Ghana’s music industry about the gap between secular and gospel music, and the need for unity and mutual respect across genres.
