It was a clear Saturday night in Accra, but the real fun was happening in the air-conditioned halls of the plush La-Palm Beach Hotel facing the Gulf of Guinea.

A huge roar of applause went up as a couple of DJs grabbed the microphone to sing one of Kojo Antwi's hit tunes. The sound system boomed as the first vocal notes of discord from the DJs miming "Tom and Jerry Aware" drew another wave of cheers from the guests. But the other guests were all media practitioners with arts and entertainment bias.

It was a dinner night sponsored by Kojo Antwi to celebrate his success in the music industry, especially, his massive haul in the recently held 2001 Ghana Music Awards.

The guild of arts critics had a lot to share with "Mr. Music Man", Kwadwo Antwi, when the music maestro hosted media personnel to a regal buffet dinner.

"Mr. Music Man" collected awards in five different categories last two weeks at the music awards, lifting the ultimate prize of "Song of the Year Award." He was also a Kora Award winner last year, establishing his credentials as one of the finest musicians in Africa.

Antwi was therefore generous enough to appreciate the contribution of music critics and DJs who have contributed to his success.

Answering questions in the generally informal atmosphere, Antwi disclosed his intention to try his skills at gospel music.

"I am currently doing research into gospel music, and I hope to take the standard of gospel songs to a higher level," to told his audience.

Antwi cited the likes of BeBe and CeCe Winan, Kirk Franklin and the Family, and John P. Kee, and said gospel is winning a wider audience with some of the up-tempo tunes from such contemporary gospel musicians.

Kirk Franklin and the Family, whose hit single "The Reason Why I Sing" is a favourite on urban radio stations across the world, helped to revolutionalise contemporary gospel music, some of which have even made the pop and soul music charts.

Antwi said the new trend in gospel is just keeping pace with the times while perpetuating the message of the Gospels.

"Music changes with the time and we have to keep the same message that sustained us in the past with music that describes our future," he said.

The general perception among Ghanaian music fans is that local secular musicians turn to gospel lyrics as a refuge to re-launch their careers after some of their works have been declared "controversial" or profane.

Antwi dismissed such suggestions, insisting that he appreciates the quality and style of gospel music, and his decision to try his hands on it doesn't contradict his earlier music philosophy.

The lyrics in Kojo Antwi's songs are generally saturated with love. His fusion of Yaa Amposah-inspired beats and R&B rhythms, blend nicely with his tenor to produce the unique love songs that keep the local charts busy all year round.

And he has some fascinating ideas about Hip-life songs that have currently taken over the industry in Ghana. He thinks the new development is a refreshing step towards giving highlife a new lease of life.

"We cannot be caught trapped perpetually in the Yaa Amposah tempo, and that is why hip-life is a great innovation in our music industry", he told his audience.

Hip-life artistes like Reggie Rockstone, Buk Bak, Tic-Tac, Obrafuor and Deeba are some of the new kids on the block whose works Antwi thinks should receive critical acclaim.

"What I don't like, however, is the imitation of off-stage foreign culture and the insulting lyrics that are creeping into the industry", he said.

For those who have become addicted to the Kojo Antwi December 24th splash over the past decade, the maestro promises a night of music extravagance this year with a line-up of some of the best local and international musicians.