Celebrating Urban/Contemporary Gospel Music – DerrickManny EveryWhere Writes

Hello, Ghana Music Awards (TGMA),

I want to take a moment to express my heartfelt appreciation for your recognition of Urban/Contemporary Gospel music in your esteemed awards program.

This genre has empowered many talented young Gospel musicians to flourish, yet traditional Gospel artists have often grappled with embracing this evolution.

The challenge is further compounded by the pervasive influence of Western culture, making it difficult for these artists to shine in the main Gospel Artist of the Year category — a space where I believe their contributions are equally deserving of acknowledgment.

The advent of Urban/Contemporary Gospel has broadened the horizons of Gospel music, significantly impacted our youth and expanded the audience for this innovative genre.

Artists such as Evans Scott, Raf Able, Team Eternity Ghana, Kingzkid Nation, Kofi Owusu Preprah, among others, are making remarkable strides, yet their recognition has unfortunately remained elusive.

I also want to commend Kwame Mickey for his bold steps in addressing the use of “Defe Defe” by Team Eternity—an iconic phrase by Hallelujah voices some 16 years ago, for which he produced the original song. This legal action has once again placed Urban/Contemporary Gospel in the limelight, emphasizing its cultural significance and influence.

I am immensely grateful to the Board and Academy of the Telecel Ghana Music Awards for their visionary decision to elevate and spotlight Urban/Contemporary Gospel in Ghana. Your support is crucial for fostering the growth of this genre. I firmly believe that the inserted song “YOU NO DEY SEE” by Raf Able featuring renowned Gospel musician Cwesi Oteng deserves serious consideration for nomination. It perfectly encapsulates the essence of this new, inclusive genre and showcases the talent that deserves to be celebrated.

Thank you for your thoughtful consideration.

Warm regards,

Derrickmanny Everywhere C.E.O, Global Hype Network.

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