Ohemaa Mercy once again

A year ago when Ohemaa Mercy was asked if she could combine teaching with singing, she very confidently said she could do both.

Now she is not so sure. “I am finding it increasingly difficult doing so because both demand so much of my time which I cannot share equally. I find myself skipping classes to be somewhere else for my music and now it is becoming too stressful,” she says.

“I would have lost my teaching job by now if my headmistress had not been so understanding about my absenteeism though she sometimes gets angry with me because my class loses when I am not there. The other staff also complain sometimes and I don’t know how long I can continue like this.”

She never thought things would turn out this way because she initially did not realise the all- consuming nature of the industry she was entering and how successful she would become.

She says given the chance to choose, she would opt for music because that is her passion, though she likes teaching.

She seems to have retained her humble and calm disposition in spite of the popularity that has come her way.

According to her, it surprises and thrills her at the same time when people recognise her in the streets.

“I’m happy that people like what I do and show their appreciation. It makes me feel very humble because I never thought that this could happen to me. I am grateful to God for all His blessing”.

Ohemaa has released her second album, Edin Ben to see if she still has what it takes to sustain the success she achieved with her first album Made Me Ho.

The album contains inspiring songs capable of lifting up the spirits of anyone who listens with enough attention.

Easily the best song on the album, Menwu Da is beautiful for its meaningful lyrics. According to Ohemaa, she got the inspiration for that track after visiting the late Brother Philip, who was a friend, in hospital.

“I left him feeling very sad. The message came when I left the hospital and I decided to do it to encourage others.” That might account for why she sings the song with so much passion.

It is a slow song that makes use of very few instruments. Ohemaa sings that even when at the verge of death with no hope left, she still has faith and will not die but will live to declare the good works of the Lord. She encourages her listeners to do the same.

It is a duet with Nacy, who also happens to be her sound engineer.

The title track, Edin Ben is also another collaboration with Nacy and it has a danceable rhythm. Nacy really has a great voice and enhances the song so much.

They ask what name we would call on when we find ourselves in trouble. The chorus answers that it is Jesus’ name.

They give options like gods, witches and fetish priests and ask whether they have the power to give us the eternal life we seek.

It is a song that encourages us to seek the face of God at all times whether good or bad.

W’adwen is based on Ohemaa’s life and the troubles she’s been through. “After I released my first album, things became very tough for my husband and I.

We went through very trying times. I thought God had given up on us but I later realised that he had not and that it was the way I thought”.

And that is the subject matter of the song. It clearly says that it is our minds that deceive us into thinking that God has neglected us or given up on us but He never does and never will. She encourages us to continue to put our trust in God only.

It has a highlife rhythm and a very good chorus, something that runs through the whole album.

Other songs on the album are Fefeefe, Nahendi, Adwenpa, Se Manhyia Yesu, Meda Wase, Menbo Hu and Oye Onyame.

Ohemaa acknowledges the support of Big Ben, her producer for believing so much in her and her husband for his encouragement.