The noble idea of just establishing a reliable music wing by the Baptist Student’s Union (BSU) of Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST), to comprise a ministering choir and matching instrumentalists that will see to the musical needs of the union alone, was only realised for a short period of time as events surged for a bigger course.
A few years into its formation, the said music wing evolved into a vibrant ministering group with a sizeable membership under the name God’s Instruments, GI for short, and since then it has redirected its aim to reach out to souls everywhere possible.
However, it was under the leadership of gospel music wiz, Kofi Dua Anto as music director of the group that a special mark was realised which will for a long time remain an inspiration for the group- the release of mind blowing and highly inspirational album for the group, Awurade Ei.
With members composing all songs and variety of musical taste incorporated into the project album, it was released in 2003 and instantly became a favourite among gospel fans at the tertiary education level. Later, title track Awurade Ei (Se Woma Wonsa So Aa…) and Onyame Ye D’awase walked the album forward for mainstream attention which it gradually received before becoming famous among most worshippers.
Awurade Ei as an outreach album has helped the group to reach out to souls on campuses and outside all these while until quite recently when Gye W’ayeyi was put together as a compliment to the former. Speaking to this reporter in an interview, the album’s music director, Elliot Lamptey, intimated that, “Even though we would say that Gye W’ayeyi has come to add to the previous album, the new direction received is to invoke the spirit of true worship in Man, God’s creation. We pray for an unusual sense of conviction to worship as one listens to the album.”
Gye W’ayeyi opens with an intro characterised by a soulful background vocal laced with a deep-voiced speech that briefly exposes on the album’s message of essence - inspiring one to put on the spirit of true worship.
Medan Wo, done in reggae vein with good vocals, follows to share the willingness of a believer to wait on God at all times because He is one’s fortress and provider. Hyira Ne Din and Mesom No are exquisitely done in highlife. The former, a mid-tempo song, is based on a number of praise Psalms and the latter has creative salsa licks as intro before a classical Highlife completes the song to express the joy one finds in Jesus and the consequent resolution to follow him forever.
Next are Gye W’ayeyi, M’agyenkwa and a Worship Medley. Gye W’ayeyi, the title track which features Kofi Dua Anto, is well composed and produced.
It displays the group’s high level of maturity in co-ordination between lead and backing vocals and the instrumentalists, especially where alternations and high notes mattered. M’agyenkwa is a soul inspiring song that reflects the salvation message of Jesus. A collection of a number of worship songs from the public domain: Nyankopon, Yehowa Yeyi W’aye and Yen Nananom, make up the worship medley.
The Answer Is and I Will Walk admonishes one to love God first, receive his eternal love and share it with others while making room in one’s heart to accept him wholly. The good instrumentations behind of these songs are worth noting. On the other hand, it is Aseda, a personal favourite, which takes the album to a different level.
Blessed with rich elements of Adowa rhythms and the versatility of the two lead vocals, the fast-paced praise song ponders over the works of God and finds a thankful heart to adore and praise Him. Awurade Ei (Root Mix II,) a song with good percussions seals the album on a good note when it marvels at God’s works in our lives.
On the whole, though “Gye W’ayeyi” was put together within a year unlike the previous of over three, it still is a must-have album rich in inspiration and production, obviously firming the assertion that the country’s ‘real’ gospel music scene is found on campuses and in churches and not on radio and TV as we are being made to believe.
However, with the failure of most gospel groups on campuses to market well their albums, Gye W’ayeyi may also go unnoticed just like Gospel Explosion’s Yi Naye. But this the group’s new music director Joshua Amoah and his colleagues are working on.
All songs are written and executively produced by God’s Instruments of KNUST BSU and mixed at KODED Studios by Kofi Dua Anto. Christian and Challenge Music shops all of Accra are its main distribution outlets but the group could be contacted on KNUST campus for copies and bookings.
