Gospel musician Christiana Love Antwi, popularly known as Obaapa Christy, has revealed that she personally approached Ghanaian rapper Michael Owusu Addo, known professionally as Sarkodie, for their collaboration.

According to the veteran gospel musician, working with Sarkodie was a privilege because of his stature and achievements in the Ghanaian music industry.

On Oyerepa Breakfast Time with Nana Ama Intsiful, Obaapa Christy said she considered herself fortunate to have secured the award-winning rapper for the project.

“I approached him. Sarkodie is big. God has blessed him. So, if you get such a person to work with, it’s grace. So, it was a privilege,” she said.

The collaboration, which brought together two artistes from different musical backgrounds, attracted mixed reactions from some music lovers who questioned the decision to feature a secular artiste on a gospel project.

However, Obaapa Christy said she was not surprised by the criticism, insisting that artistes should not expect everyone to support every decision they make.

“It’s normal for people to think otherwise. Don’t think everyone will like what you want to do. Life is not like that. What you have to know is that not all people will love you, and it’s a problem if everyone loves you,” she stated.

She explained that criticism can sometimes serve as motivation for an artiste to improve, adding that some people who initially reject a song may eventually embrace it.

“The one who speaks badly about you helps you to stand upright. It helps you to know you have to do more. At the same time, the one who will say it is bad will be heard singing the song. Some people cannot align with you unless they understand you,” she added.

Obaapa Christy, who has maintained a strong presence in Ghana’s gospel music scene for more than two decades, also disclosed that she is open to future collaborations with secular artistes.

However, she said she does not select collaborators simply because of their popularity, explaining that the song itself determines who she eventually chooses.

“When the time is due, it will come. I will know the person after God has dropped a new song. I consider the song before considering who to feature. So, when it is time, it will come,” she said.

Her collaboration with Sarkodie reflects the growing crossover between Ghana’s gospel and secular music scenes, with artistes increasingly exploring collaborations based on the message and creative direction of a song rather than strictly defined genre boundaries.

Watch the interview here:

Source: Yvonne Nyarko Agyemang