'Secular music is not the problem, worldly music is' — Kaywa

Renowned sound engineer, David Kojo Kyei, known in showbiz circles as ‘Kaywa’, has waded into one of the most debated assertions in Christian circles.

He has argued that the term "secular music" is widely misunderstood and poorly applied.

Speaking in an interview with MzGee, Kaywa drew a clear line between music created outside the church and music that actively promotes harmful content, insisting the two are not the same thing.

"Secular music is not the problem, worldly music is," he said.

The veteran producer, whose credits span both gospel and mainstream music, said not all non-gospel music contradicts Christian values.

He made a case for what he described as "inspirational music," songs that may not explicitly preach Christ but still carry messages of hope, encouragement and positivity.

Kaywa also challenged how gospel music itself is defined. In his view, a song only qualifies as truly gospel if it communicates the core message of Christ; His death, resurrection and the call to repentance.

Songs centred solely on motivation or emotional uplift, he argued, belong in a different category, regardless of where they are performed.

They called me ‘Kaywa’, I didn’t even like it at first - David Kojo Kyei

He pointed to social settings like weddings as a practical example, noting that many Christians use mainstream music for celebration because there are no gospel alternatives to wedding songs.

"If we had those kinds of songs, we would use them," he said.

Kaywa also questioned church practices that exclude people based on their association with secular spaces, arguing such approaches narrow the church's reach rather than expand it.

Kaywa’s production credits span both secular and gospel music, reflecting his versatility.

In the mainstream space, he has worked on songs such as “Adonai” by Sarkodie featuring Castro, “Yenko Nkoaa” by Stay Jay and Eduwoji and “Bye Bye” by Asem and Kwabena Kwabena.

On the gospel side, his work includes songs like “Mo Ne Yo” by Diana Hamilton and other spirit-led productions that reflect his deep Christian faith and musical roots in church.

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