Maher-shalal dedicated to Komla Dumor

Gospel artiste Nicholas Omane Acheampong has said he is dedicating his current hit song, ‘Maher-shalal-Hash-baz’ to the memory of Komla Dumor of BBC, who passed away in London last Saturday.

“I have read from the papers and also heard on radio what was said to be one of the last pieces Komla Dumor wrote a few days before he died. In that letter, Komla was talking about some crisis and misery he was going through and some people with negative attitudes stabbing him in the back. But his conclusion was that he thanks God for seeing him through and that ‘the enemy will be scattered’. That last sentence is what my song; ‘Maher-shalal-Hash-baz’ is talking about. I am so moved by his statement,” Nicholas Omane Acheampong told NEWS-ONE.

Omane Acheampong explained that the crisis and pressure Komla was talking about was not different from what many journalists and Ghanaians in general experience in their everyday lives and that it is necessary for everyone going through any form of crisis to take it easy and believe in God to scatter the enemy and bring victory.

“I got the title from Isaiah chapter 8 verse 1, ‘Maher-shalal-Hash-baz’, meaning, the enemy or evil one shall be destroyed. So when you meet someone just say ‘Maher-shalal’ and the person would respond ‘Hash-baz’ and then all enemies of poverty, sickness, bareness shall be destroyed,” Nicholas Omane Acheampong explained to NEWS-ONE.

He continued: “I will be making this official when I sign Komla’s book of condolence. This is a time those of us who are ministers of the gospel should use our calling to calm people down and sing songs of consolation, songs of hope, songs of prayer and songs that would minister peace and happiness to the hearts and minds of Komla’s family in particular and the nation as a whole.”

Nicholas Omane Acheampong was arguably the biggest gospel act for the year 2013 considering the popularity of his ‘Maher-shalal-Hash-baz’ song, the radio and TV airplays and his sheer number of public performances.

It is widely expected he would scoop several gospel awards at the upcoming Ghana Music Awards including Gospel Song of the Year, Gospel Artiste of the Year and Gospel Album of the Year.