IWD - 10 female GH. Musicians who cannot be lost on Ghana’s entertainment history

The theme for this year’s International Women's Day which is marked annually on the 8th of March is, “I am Generation Equality: Realizing Women's Rights.’

The theme is aligned with the United Nations’ Women's new multi-generational campaign, Generation Equality, which marks the 25th anniversary of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action.

As the world celebrates women in all facets of life on the occasion of the International Women’s Day, Ghanaweb places the spot lights on the music industry of Ghana and the contribution of some notable personalities who have blazed the trail in this space.

Without any particular order, Ghana’s entertainment space cannot write its history of music without referring to these stalwarts for both the right and the rather controversial reasons.

Ewurama Badu

Ewurama Badu was a Ghanaian highlife musician born in 1945 popularly known for her stage performance and hit songs. She was a gifted and talented Highlife musician who had a breakthrough when the music industry was largely dominated by males with few females to fight for a place in the industry. Her hard work paid off with scoring hit songs like "Medofo Adaada Me", "Komkom", "Emelia", "Odo Tie Me Nni Obiara" and "Obaatan Refre Ne Mma".

Cyndi Thompson:

Cyndi set a number of records rising up in the early 2000s as a gospel musician and song writer. Within a period of two years, she won seven awards with her album "Cindy Messiah. The awards included Gospel Song of the Year, Gospel Album of the Year, Best Female Vocal Performance, Gospel Song of the Period, Gospel Album of the Period, Best Praise Song of the Period and Outstanding Artist of the Year.

Mama Esther

Mama Esther has been branded the Female Mark Abraham for her soul touching words of encouragement that characterizes her songs. Ghanaians can easily relate to songs like Time Nkoy3”, Medensini Akasa.

Mzbel: Belinda Nana Ekua Amoah

Mzbell, born in December 1979 dared the popular tagging of female musicians in the hiplife space as perverts and promiscuous ladies to become the most popular hiplife artiste in Ghana. She was known for her controversial and sexually suggestive song titles and style of dressing. This was to usher in other ladies who now felt empowered to try their interests in this space which remains male dominated.

The late Ebony Reigns

Sensational Dancehall/hiplife artiste Ebony Reigns was born Priscilla Opoku-Kwarteng, affably known as Nana Heemaa (Oheema) by her close relatives, in Dansoman, a suburb of Accra. Hit songs that brought her to the limelight were "Dancefloor" and "Kupe". Bashed by many for her dress codes and controversial music lyrics, she took the centre stage with her music on domestic violence and her popular Di Me Dwa song. She died in a ghastly accident in the year 2018 in an accident while returning from the Brong Ahafo Region after visiting her mother. Ebony is the first female to win the 'Artiste of the Year', an award which was honoured her posthumous

Comfort Annor

Comfort was a Deaconess of The Church of Pentecost, unique for her soothing unique voice, alternating between a mezzo-soprano and a contralto. Her sons continue to rock the stages of praise and worship leaders in churches in Ghana. She is known for her hit songs "Asaase Dah? Gyan", "W’awo Me ?ba", "Abraham Sarah", "Mewo Agyapade?", "Hena Na W’aye". However, her major Album is "Dom Hene", which was released in 2006 and has about 10 songs. She died on 22 February 2015 at the Okomfo Anokye aged 66 from an undisclosed illness.

Christiana Love

She comes across as one of the Ghanaian Female Gospel Artistes who continues to catch the headlines for extra – musical affairs. She made the chats in the year 2001 with the album “me y3 onyame ba” rendered with the Holy Ghost International Choir. Her songs have either been full of sorrow, joy and insinuations that mirror her mood and happenings in her life. Christiana Love now goes by the name Obaapa Christy after she dropped her ex-husband's name following her bitter and very public divorce.

Diana Antwi Hamilton.

Diana Antwi Hamilton undeniably brought another level of class to gospel music. A nurse by profession, she blends twi and English creatively into lyrics that leave memories on the minds of virtually every listener. She released her debut album in 2007 titled, "Osoro be kasa" and this album enjoyed some good airplay which brought her into the limelight. Her second album "Ensi wo yie", released in 2010, gained her prominence in the Ghanaian Gospel Music Industry.

Akosua agyeapong

Born on 17th November 1969 she made waves as Ghana’s female highlife musician with the best stage performance from 1990 to date. Her first album was, ‘Frema’ which was released on January 1, 1990. The ‘Frema’ album had songs full of inspiration like ‘Me ye Obaa’ which became an instant hit , ‘Born again’, ‘Anan tuo’, ‘San be hwe wo mba’ among others.

Daughters of Glorious Jesus

The Daughters of Glorious Jesus is a gospel trio from Ghana. It is made up of Cynthia Appiadu (lead singer), Edna Sarpong, and Monica Owusu Ansah.

Cynthia, the youngest, writes and composes most of the songs of the group. They started as part of the choir of the Resurrection Power and Living Bread Ministries, then headed by the late Rev. Francis Akwasi Amoako in 1987. Daughters who celebrated their 30 years in December 2020 by far have the most popular, and most played songs among Ghanaian gospel singers in Ghana.