By Paul Azumah-Ayitey
Every now and then new entrants flood the gospel scene with varying messages and tunes. But one thing that has always served as basis for argument and debate is the quality of their packaging: musical composition, inspirational and challenging messages, and the ability to creatively minister the song in entirety unto listeners to have an effect on their lives.
That has been the bane of the Ghanaian gospel circuit leading to the assertion that a plethora exists who are constantly producing shallow and mundane works to the detriment of God’s work. This is where B&D come into the picture as the gospel pair is bent on bringing in the whole package to invigorate Ghanaian gospel- following the path of the consistent and ever-inspiring landmarks in the names of the Daughters of Glorious Jesus, Tagoe Sisters, Jane and Bernice as well as the other notable few.
Beatrice and Doris (Mrs. Beatrice Amoateng Akin and Doris Owusu, cousins), now re-branded B&D, may not click as a household gospel name yet, particularly here in Ghana. Nevertheless, gospel music lovers mainly in Canada and parts of Europe will relish in the fond memories of songs from a “Winner” gospel album which brought untold joy and inspiration into their homes, churches and gatherings late 2007. Listening to songs such as ‘Enye Onyame’, ‘Bubu Obonsam’, ‘Winner’, and ‘Onyame Nsa Wo Mu’ on the maiden ‘Winner’ album will give you just a few among clues as to what Beatrice and Doris are made of now- the re-branding into B&D comes with loads of maturity, quality production, effective management and ministrations making the package.
Now back home in Ghana, B&D have just completed work on a ten-track album titled in the plain but authoritative question, “Who Go Fit Challenge God?”…. and this is what the album’s content answers directly. According to the duo, “………. taking all that have happened in our lives into consideration and how God has acted in every situation, no befitting rhetoric question comes to mind except these five words; Who Go Fit Challenge God? In fact, not a soul can challenge Him!’’
Impressed with the depth of inspiration, I enquired what their secret was and continues to make the difference. “The secret is being born again, a new creation, by simply accepting Jesus as your personal saviour and constantly renewing your mind with the word of God and getting to understand fully that since the Holy Spirit is with and in you, all difficulties and problems become opportunities for you to prove to them that you do not live any longer on your own but by the power of God!”
The new work, “Who Go Fit Challenge God” is largely angled towards mainstream appeal but will occasionally reflect contemporary gospel elements in some of their compositions. Relaying praise, worship, thanksgiving and admonishing messages, the album incorporates rhythmic flavours of highlife, Nigerian music, zouk and reggae in low, mid and high tempo fashions.
‘Meyi Na Aye’ (I Will Worship Him) opens the album backed by a pulsating high-tempo (Praises) instrumentation where B&D acknowledge the good works of God in getting them this far and offer thanks in appreciation. ‘Mekwa Nna Nyinaa’ (All the Rest of My Life) follows suit with creatively arranged vocals over a blend of zouk and highlife instrumentation; a mid-tempo song that allows you to sip in the thought-provoking message. This song becomes more special when Beatrice revealed that the lyrics came at a challenging time when she was confronted with the choice of believing God or not just after a long prayer session only to receive the news that her mum had died! Though in confusion and pain, she worshipped God all the same, got the encouraging message and resolved to follow God no matter what- all the rest of her life.
The album also has remixes of two hit songs of the maiden album: ‘Ebe Ye Yie (It Will be Alright) which features Nacy and ‘Winner’. Other soul inspiring tracks include ‘Wo Fata’ (You Deserve it) and ‘Bediako Mu Osahene’ which esteem God for his greatness seen in his handiworks and ‘Agya Nyame’ , ‘Hwan Mpo Na’ and the pidgin-written title track, ‘Who Go Fit Challenge God’, all done in the praise vein carry so much conviction.
On the whole, B&D’s ‘Who Go Fit Challenge God?’ depicts them as true inspirers carrying a unique package as coming onto the gospel scene not for the fun but to impact lives. The all-round album is engineered by Nacy whose producing touch needs no emphasis and is under the B&V and UMT Productions label. Videos for the album are all by the creative Phamous People with ‘Meyi Na Aye’ (I Will Worship Him) and ‘Mekwa Nna Nyinaa’ (All the Rest of My Life) videos already on TV and receiving plaudits. Radio interest has also been great and airplay is gaining grounds while nationwide distribution deals with heavyweight distributors are just a whisker from being sealed.
The next time you visit a music outlet ask for B&D’s ‘Who Go Fit Challenge God’, be witness to this quality mainstream gospel in all aspects and provide me with the answer to this rhetoric question, Who Go Fit Challenge God?
