Yaw Sarpong
If you are not billed to die, nothing can fast track your death. Yaw Sarpong’s two year bed-ridden story perfectly caps into one of his most popular songs, commonly referred to as “Joseph.”
From the throes of death to a talked about legend, there is no gainsaying that the gospel legend is one of the most visible gospel artistes presently. Not that his fame had dipped, even without any new song on the market, or his two year absence, but Yaw seems to have some air of grace around him that makes him just to be loved.
His general demeanour, coupled with the inspirational songs he has served generations for the past forty years, makes him a legend worth celebrating. What is even more commending is how he has kept his relevance both in the main stream media and at the “grassroot,” level so to speak. But all that: all his feat, the grace upon him is not by accident. Who doesn’t find his life, music, commitment to the gospel, and his love for humanity inspiring? It isn’t also for nothing that he has loyal and dedicated members of his Asomafo Band still helping him to propagate the gospel.
He has been the face of the band, but he has never carried himself without a mention of the band, or above the Asomafo. Why am I obsessed with Yaw Sarpong? I have every cause to. In a recent post on my Facebook timeline cataloguing my Top 10 Most Inspiring Gospel Musicians of all time, Yaw found his way in there, and rightly so. A South African friend, who had wondered who Yaw Sarpong was, decided to check out his songs on YouTube. His confusion was the language barrier. Nevertheless, he confessed to loving his music and was amazed by the response in terms of the comments and testimonies.
He was even more captivated when he saw Yaw Sarpong’s new video of his “Oko Yi” which features Tagoe Sisters and Pat Thomas. Apart from the simple but chic nature of the video, he summed all in a phrase, “This is a true gospel song.” The English subtitling of the song was a perfect decision by Yaw Sarpong’s team. If gospel music is all about the message, what a perfect way to affect people by making them understand the message.
This is where I will commend Doxa Elevation, the team behind Yaw Sarpong. Yaw has always been a solid brand over the years no doubt. But his brand has been further enhanced with the new team behind him. Yaw has had considerable level of attention from the media in Accra and other parts of the country selling his 40th anniversary in gospel music and his social responsibilities. Aside the anniversary launch on August 26, he will also formalize his foundation –The Yaw Sarpong Foundation.
The first initiative of his foundation is The Prison Project where he is working with the Ghana Prisons Service to build music centers in selected prisons, among other projects. Compassionate Yaw will in October, stage the Hope Concert at the Nsawam Prisons. In December, he launches his 26th studio album. If the Asomafo has inspired generations for the past forty years, then his new album, if his “Oko Yi” video is anything to go by, is expected to bring both nostalgic and contemporary elements to bear.
There are many Yaw Sarpongs in Ghana: musicians with impeccable song writing capabilities, musicians who have the clout- those with already considerable cult lovers, many whose old albums could be brought to light, and those who have enough energy to perform. What these ‘veterans’ lack is the motivating, finance and management. If Charles Amoah was able to show us what he is capable of doing at the recent Ghana Music Awards, who says music is still not in them? Charles, may not be lacking, there are a lot of his senior colleagues or contemporaries who have the will, but lack the will-power.
Investors out there can look their way. They are not finished yet. They are in high demand. Apart from their songs, performances are their main stay. And if albums do not sell in Ghana, as we are made to believe, but musicians thrive on performances, then I am strongly convinced investors will have value for their monies, if the musicians allow people to invest in them. “It is important to respect and honour those who have gone ahead of you. When you honour them, God will honour you. You attract the anointing and grace that you value,” these are the words of Joe Mettle when he honoured Yaw Sarpong at his recently held Live DVD Recording, ‘God of Miracles’ concert at the Accra International Conference Centre.
Yaw Sarpong and the Asomafo are yet to release a new song. What they have out there is a music video. And I can guess that the collaboration with Pat Thomas and Tagoe Sisters alone bodes freshness in nostalgia. The veterans are still evergreen. They need our attention.