The Gospel Song Of The Year Award Should Be Open To Everyone – Ras Kuuku

Ghanaian reggae artist Ras Kuuku has expressed his criticism towards the organizers of the annual Telecel Ghana Music Awards (TGMA) for limiting the Gospel Song of the Year category exclusively to gospel artists.

According to him, a gospel song is defined not by the artist performing it, but by the lyrics and the message it communicates.

As per the official criteria of the TGMA, “The Best Gospel Song is the one deemed by the Academy, Board, and the General Public as the most popular Christian song, commercially released during the year in question. The song must have sparked significant public interest and gained widespread popularity. Only songs performed by gospel artists are eligible for this category.”

This means that even if an artist from a different genre releases a song with a powerful gospel message, they are not eligible for the award, a restriction that Ras Kuuku strongly disagrees with.

In an interview with Hitz FM, the reggae star highlighted that many musicians from outside the gospel genre have produced songs that reflect gospel themes, yet they are excluded due to the limitations of the category.

He pointed to examples like Aseda by rapper and singer King Paluta, Aseda by the late Dancehall/Afrobeats artist Ebony Reigns, and his own song Me Mpaebo, all of which, he argued, carried strong gospel messages but were automatically disqualified because they were not performed by gospel artists.

“The gospel music category should be open to all artists, regardless of their genre or background. What defines a gospel song is its lyrical content and message, not the artist performing it. Any song that promotes hope, praises the divine, and carries a positive message should be eligible for a gospel award at the TGMA.”

“The focus should be on the song’s merit, not the artist’s identity. If there’s a Gospel Song of the Year category, it should recognize the song that best embodies the values and spirit of gospel music, regardless of the performer,” he added.

In addition to his concerns about the Gospel category, Ras Kuuku also voiced his frustration about being consistently overlooked for the Male Vocalist of the Year nomination at the TGMA.