Ghanaian actress turns musician; launching album in USA

After a long hiatus from the limelight, Esther Afua Yirenkyi, one of the lost Ghanaian actresses in the Ghana Movie Industry has resurfaced as a gospel musician.

Esther’s name disappeared on the radar of movie producers when she migrated to the United States of America to seek greener pastures. Before her migration, she was seen then as one of the budding talents who was ready to take over from the already-existing-but-gradually fading away actresses.

Esther who was discovered and recruited into the then vibrant theatre company; "Theatre Mirrors" based in Asylum Down in Accra by a legal luminary, Lawyer Captain Nkrabeah Effah-Dartey would launch her maiden album as a gospel singer on Saturday September 28, 2013 at 5171 Lawrence Place, Hyattsville MD 20781.

Like many others before her, Esther started singing at a young age, “I started singing at a tender age in the Church choir and later doing solos at churches. Music has always been a part of me, its in-built and the only set time is now”.

The album titled "Songs of Praise (Ayeyi Nwom)" has soothing and soul inspiring songs which everybody can relate to.

Before she left Ghana, Esther was involved in stage acting for seven years when she joined Theatre Mirrors. She made cameo appearances in the popular television serial 'Kejetia' which also featured the late Gilbert Karikari known in the series as Baffour, Koo Hia and Miliki Micool. She moved on to another television series "Small World" to play a lead role.

Acting came to Esther as a natural thing. What shot her into the limelight was when she was casted by movie producer Harry Laud to play the leading character in the movie "Yaa Asantewaa".

The movie made the headlines; therefore, Esther's name became a household name in Ghana. She was offered another opportunity by the same producer in "Who Killed Okomfo Anokye" due to the success of the first movie.

Even as she embark on a journey to win souls for Christ through her ministration, she has not completely shunned movies as her latest movie shot and produced in Virginia titled "Benji God Got You Covered" would be released soon.

She co-founded 'Asomafo' group with Ebenezer Osae to propagate the word of God. She has since unearthed her real talent. She is part of the praises and worship team in Christ the King Presbyterian Church, Maryland, International Central Gospel Church, Redemption Temple, Maryland, Miracle Center, Maryland, as well as a performer in Divine Word Ministries Springfield, Virginia.

Esther is a native of Akuapim, Adukrom in the Eastern Region of Ghana. She is the first of five siblings, three brothers and a sister, and blessed with a beautiful daughter named Tyra Ama Nyame.

When asked about specificities she giggled and said, “I could write an encyclopedia, however, watch out for my upcoming movies because they would tell a lot of my stories.”