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Music of Monday, 8 August 2005

Source: ghanamusic.com

Diana Finds New Love ? Moves To Merge Her Love With Gospel Music

It is true? Has Diana found a new husband? I’m sure this is the type of questions that would come across the mind of everyone that reads this headline. I would be too quick to answer in the affirmative, if I said, yes. But Diana has truly found a new love.

Diana Akiwumi, one of Ghana’s most celebrated Gospel musician, has found a new love that she is so passionate about. Though, her new love may not be in direct connection with her marital issue (which I strongly believe is the perception almost every reader of this piece has), suffice it to say, she has found happiness.

In her exquisite ‘Youth with a Mission’ (an international institution of higher learning) office in Tema, Diana spoke at length about her move to infuse various African traditional and cultural dances into gospel music.

She said “I love Adowa. I love the art of dancing. I feel called in the art. The only thing is that dances comes in variety, so I challenged myself and I searched the scriptures to know what the bible talks about music, to know what the Bible talks about drums”.

“In fact, dancing is celebrating joy and victory and those of us who are saved by the Lord express that joy. Like when we go to our chiefs and Kings, we pay homepage. All the dances have their meanings, their uses and occasions “.

For instance, when we talk of Adowa, we have a royal procession drumbeat that goes on when the chiefs are marching. I will do that and march in the presence of God. I will do that for Christ who is my life”.

Her conviction about incorporating traditional African dances into her music and the church, is evident her latest album, where she collaborated with an African-American and paraded many traditional dances.

Diana looked so young and elegant again as she talked about her new love. “That’s part of what I teach here (Youth With A Mission, YWAM).I teach people who also feel called into the art. I want to witness a time when Christians can dance al kinds of dance meant to honour our kings and chiefs for God; the one who is greater than all kings”.

She reiterated further, “I feel this call so much and I’m planning to have a seminar here. Some of the things I want to talk about is that dance culture in the church and music is biblical”.

Through YWAM, she is intends travelling across the lengths of the world, teaching and delivering notes on dance culture in the church and music. She’s indeed found a new love.