I was the first gospel artiste to blend English and Twi in songs - Francis Agyei

Legendary gospel musician Elder Francis Agyei has declared himself the pioneer of multilingual gospel music in Ghana, claiming he was the first artist to blend English and Twi in a single song at a time when the practice was unheard of.

Speaking in an interview with Nana Romeo on Okay FM on April 16, 2026, the veteran artist said the decision was divinely inspired, even as it initially confused his audience.

"At first, if people were composing gospel songs, it was composed only in Twi. I was the one who introduced the blend. At that time, listeners in the Ashanti Region did not understand what I was doing. But God prompted me and I did it," he said.

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The reception, he recalled, was mixed. Some listeners even assumed he was Nigerian.

But the gamble paid off. His songs gained traction across both English-speaking and Twi-speaking audiences, crossing the cultural divide he had set out to bridge.

Elder Agyei says that breakthrough laid the foundation for what is now a common practice among contemporary gospel acts.

"I can say I paved the way for most of today's gospel musicians who are merging different languages in their songs," he said.

ID/AM

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