Ghanaian Gospel artist Piesie Esther has shed light on the less-than-virtuous side of the gospel music industry during a revealing interview on Kumasi-based Angel FM.
The singer, known for her powerful voice and inspiring songs, opened up about the challenges and issues she believes are holding the gospel music sector back, including hypocrisy, jealousy, and greed.
“I’ve been in the industry long enough to know that there’s a lot of unhealthy competition. People claim to be spreading the word of God, yet there is a lot of sabotage happening behind the scenes,” Piesie Esther shared. Her candid comments on the show sparked a conversation about the state of the gospel music scene in Ghana.
The artist, who has been recognized for her talent with nominations at the Vodafone Ghana Music Awards (VGMA), expressed disappointment at the lack of unity among gospel musicians.
“There are some who will go as far as refusing to perform at events if they know another artist they don’t like is on the same bill,” she continued. “This is not what God’s word is about. It’s sad to see this kind of behaviour in an industry meant to spread love, peace, and unity.”
“This doesn’t happen in secular music. Even if two secular artists have differences, they can still work together for the sake of the show. But with gospel artists, it’s a different story altogether,” he noted. “Gospel artists are supposed to be ambassadors of God, but the competition and egos often overshadow their mission.”
Piesie Esther seemed taken aback by Ike’s revelation, although she admitted that his experiences mirrored what she had long suspected.
“It’s shocking to hear, but honestly, it doesn’t surprise me. There is so much jealousy and competition that some people forget the very reason why they are in the industry in the first place,” she said.
Ike De Unpredictable, who hosts the show, shared his own frustrations as an event organizer. He revealed that some gospel artists have declined to participate in his events due to personal issues with other artists on the lineup.