Celestine Donkor apologises for comments made on Ewe surnames

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Gospel artiste, Celestine Donkor

Popular Ghanaian Gospel singer Celestine Donkor has apologised for the jokes she made during an interview on TV3.

During the interview, she commented on her Ewe surname and mentioned that she had prayed for a husband with a 'lighter' surname to avoid the 'heavy' Ewe names common in her culture.

The host, Cookie Tee, whose real name is Shirelly Emma Tiblilla, agreed with Celestine's sentiment, stating that she did not want to marry a man with a difficult-to-pronounce Ewe name.

However, their comments were not well-received by many on social media, who criticised them for making a mockery of the Ewe culture.

In a video posted on her social media on May 15, 2024, Celestine Donkor apologised for her statements and emphasised her pride in her Ewe heritage, stating that the joke does not reflect her true sentiments.

She acknowledged that not all comments made in jest are received well by everyone and expressed regret for any hurt feelings.

"I granted an interview on Today's Woman on TV3, and when I discovered the host, Cookie Tee, is an Ewe, I just got excited, and we started joking about the heaviness of our Ewe surnames. It was just a joke that came up in a conversation.

"To my surprise, from all the comments I've read so far, it turns out to be a bad joke, an expensive joke. And who am I? I'm just human. Most of the time, when we go on these interviews, as much as we have a pure heart and a clear mind, it's not everything you say that will be pleasing to somebody, and so I’m sorry," she said.

Celestine reassured her audience of her deep respect for the Ewe language, referring to it as a spiritual language spoken in heaven.

She encouraged her followers to view the incident as a learning experience and thanked them for their constructive feedback.

"And this will in no way tarnish my pride as an Ewe. I have proven over the years in my music journey that I am a very, very proud Ewe. And absolutely nothing is going to change that fact. Anyone who has truly followed me knows that I'm very proud of it.

"With love and respect to all of you. I take all the comments in good faith. I interpret them as an expression of your love. Those who love you are those who correct you when you're wrong. So thank you so much, and I'll keep doing my best," she concluded.

Watch the video below