Kumasi Evangel Choir-Ghana
It has been almost 13 years of spreading God’s word through choral music and the Kumasi Evangel Choir-Ghana has been consistent with projecting unique Ghanaian perspectives with its wide repertoire.
When the choir breaks out in songs, often rendered in Asante Twi, which is broadly spoken across Ghana, it is not only the melodious voices that thrill audiences but also the accompanying rich Ghanaian traditional rhythms such as Adowa, Adenkum, Kete, Kpanlogo and Agbadza.
Initially known as the Celestial Evangel Choir-Ghana, the group changed its name to the Kumasi Evangel Choir-Ghana in 2022.
That was mainly out of a desire to be recognised as an authentic choir with strong ties to its community and culture.
The outfit is based in Kumasi, capital of the Ashanti Region, which has always been known as a culture-drenched locality.
The choir is a widely-travelled entity. It has taken its delightful music to countries such as Germany, Czech Republic, The Netherlands, Italy, Sweden, Vatican City, Switzerland, France, Spain, Portugal, Nigeria and Cote d’Ivoire.
Always conscious to adequately convey the diversity and richness of Ghanaian culture to its audiences in foreign lands, the Kumasi Evangel Choir-Ghana has segments during its performances where it explains lyrics and rhythms to patrons.
So whether delivering any of the infectious praise pieces such as ‘Di Wo Hene’, ‘Ayeyi Wora’, ‘Ye Beda Yehowa Asi’, ‘Odo Nyankopon’, ‘Yesu Ye Mi Botantim’ or ‘Ennye Mi Ahoodin’, the choir goes into top gear and then breaks down the core elements of the pieces to the charmed audiences.
One of the reasons why the choir, made up of people from a variety of backgrounds such as medical doctors, bankers, IT specialists and lawyers, is highly praised during its travels and also at home, is its articulate workshops and training programmes.
Those sessions help to enhance abilities such as choral singing techniques and vocal performances as well as provide mentorship to upcoming gospel artistes and choir groups.
Sometimes, choral and other music experts from abroad are hosted by the choir in Kumasi, to enable the guests imbibe how it cleverly brings together Ghanaian ingredients with classical renditions that appeal so much to assorted audiences.
Their guests have included notable American names like Dr. Richard Elliott, Principal Organist of the Tabernacle Choir at Temple Square in Utah; Dr. Randall Kempton, Choral Director at Brigham Young University, Idaho and gospel musician Brandon Brown of the National Association of Negro Musicians (NANM) in Chicago.
As the versatile Kumasi Evangel Choir-Ghana readies itself for another tour abroad soon, it remains conscious of inspiring admiration for choral music with a Ghanaian twist on the international scene.
By George Clifford Owusu