Gospel Artistes Should Not Be exempted From Some Awards - Diana Hopeson

Diana Hopeson has disagreed with the opinion that gospel artists should not be competing for the same awards as secular performers.

This opinion was suggested by Mr Logic, who expressed his displeasure that Diana Hamilton won the Artiste of the Year at the Vodafone Ghana Music Awards ahead of KiDi.

He maintained that Diana Hamilton only won because of backing from the church and KiDi should have been the rightful owner in the absence of any bias.

The pundit then argued that gospel artists should have their own category, instead of mixing them up with secular artists who have worked hard since the public would always want to favour a gospel artiste over a secular artiste because of religion.

Diana Hopeson, while speaking to Nana Romeo on Accra FM's mid-morning show, ‘Ayekoo Ayekoo’, maintained that gospel artists work at the same rate as secular artists and they should not be exempt from some categories in awards.

According to her, the same effort that goes into producing a gospel song goes into a secular song even though their message might be different.

“I don't agree because the Ghana Music Awards recognise musicians for the work they have done in the year under review. We all go to the studio, book sessions, spend the night writing songs. Even though we have a certain direction, the other genres also have their focus. Someone's focus is to make marriages work, some to focus on pre-marital sexual relationships which we do not really encourage [as gospel musicians]. Some also motivate people to work hard”.

“We all commit resources into music and video promotion. So if in the year under review, a gospel song and/or musician are doing well, they can't be exempted”.she maintained.

The former Board chair of the Ghana Music Rights Organisation (GHAMRO) further noted the major contributions that gospel artists have made to the growth of the music industry in Ghana.

“In the history of Ghana during military rule when a lot of people fled, it was gospel music that brought live music back.

“God used the likes of Esther Nyamekye, Mary Ghansah and Tagoe Sisters to boost the status of gospel music.”