Secular musicians absent

Sarkodie and Efya- Popular secular musicians in Ghana missing at the show

Ceecy Twum- gospel musician

By Forgive Adjoa Forfoe
 Most of the secular musicians did not show up last  Thursday and Friday, October 1 and 2,2015 for the maiden edition of MUSIGA’s Musicians Time with God, a show that was supposed to make history as the first musical concert to have had a collaboration of both secular and gospel musicians on one platform with one voice to worship one God.
Apart from Sarkodie, AB Crentsil and Nana Ampadu who were said to have travelled prior to the programme,only  Pappy Kojo,Rex Omar,Yaw Siki,Bessa Simons,Becca and Della Hayes were known or identified to have appeared. The handful of other secular musicians that showed up either wanted to remain as far away as possible from being identified or just preferred not being seen
 Though Rev Thomas Yawson, Head of the Gospel Department  of MUSIGA,  addressed the crowd and wanted the world to know that “history was being made as this event was the first of its kind in the world because it brought together musicians from all genres on one altar to worship one God with a united voice’’, the purpose of the show, which was to debunk the perception that secular musicians do not know God, was almost totally defeated as the show took the form of a normal church service with a lot of gospel artistes as was the case.
 While MUSIGA president Obour blamed the unfortunate issue as due to other activities some of the secular musicians had at the same time, and Rev Yawson also blamed it on poor publicity,other organisers like Fiifi Folson and Madonna,both of Sunny FM,  went straight to the point. “The secular artistes did not actively participate or show up compared to the gospel artistes.The gospel artistes showed a lot of solidarity which was quite difficult for the secular artistes. The gospel guys showed up massively, first day second day but the secular musicians’ support and active participation were low’’ they told Showbiz.
 Some of the artistes present at the show also spoke to Showbiz. Diana Hopson, a gospel artiste and former MUSIGA president told Showbiz ‘’ I spoke to the elderly secular musicians like Efua Dorkenoo and co, and they were willing to come. I believe those who were ready to meet God came. While Rev Yawson of the Gospel Department was seen working all over the place, the heads of the three other genres,Nana Tuffour for Highlife,Hammer for Hiplife and Ras Appiah Levi for the Reggae , were all not at the programme. The musicians themselves also knew about the programme, but they didn’t believe in it so they did not come.
‘ ‘’These musicians prefer to stay at the background and won’t come on board to help,but if things are not going their way, they are the same people who would be complaining. I won’t be invited for a discotheque programme, but when we all claim we love God, whether I’m a gospel artiste or not, I will come for a programme like this’’
 Sensational band singer and all women band owner ,Della Hayes,also tells Showbiz ‘’ I do all genres of music. I believe in my God,so anything that has to do with Him, I don’t miss it. It’s very unfortunate that most of the secular musicians did not turn up’’ she concluded.
 Afrobeat sensation, Becca and hiplife artiste,Yaw Siki, however, managed to give a good account of themselves as Yaw Siki gave a moving testimony on the first day and Becca led a gospel song, More, by Lawrence Flowers, ‘fell under the anointing’ and recovered to read the Bible scriptures for the day much to the amazement of all present on the second day. 
 Stacy Amoateng, former hostess of TV3’s Music Music , and recently discovered cousin of Becca,also gave a moving testimony about how God saved her from cancer and directed her to host her current programme, Restoration.  MUSIGA president,Obour,also   led the  crowd to sing his favorite gospel song, Nea Yehowa ahyira no that left the  otherwise disappointed crowd in a  frenzy to save the day.