Wutah Kobby rides on faith
When Wutah Kobby mounts the stage to perform at the listening session of his new album this Saturday, September 6, at the +233 Jazz Bar in Accra, he would be concerned about winning souls for God as well as projecting his new identity as an entertainer.
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The new 13-track album, titled God and Love, is his second since the Wutah duo he belonged to, split a few years ago. His first collection of songs, Selfless Bliss, came out in 2012.
With three outright gospel pieces on the God and Love album: Wonderful God, Ewurade Do Wo and Father For All, Kobby says he did not include them because Ghanaian audiences appear to gravitate towards that direction these days.
To him, the songs simply reflect the personality he has now become after the negative vibes that flowed around him in the immediate aftermath of the Wutah break-up.
The young man whose catchy baritone ragga delivery was one of the identification marks of Wutah, said people started comparing him to others who had not pulled through after the demise of their groups and generally predicted he would not survive on music scene.
“I realised I needed to walk closer with God to keep my sanity. Ever since I started doing that, he has been opening doors for me and He has been taking me from grace to grace. Everyday, He gives me a new song to sing.
“There could have been frustration, deterioration of talent or even complete diversion of career but I have tried to keep my faith and worship Him in truth and humility.”
Kobby says he prays constantly and regularly attends a prayer centre in Accra where he gets useful teachings and directions on how to live peacefully and wait upon the Lord to guide his steps towards maturity in his music.
Apart from the God-centred songs on the new album, there are tracks about romantic love that seek to tell about the joy of being in love.
An aspect of the maturity manifest in Kobby now is that he sings a lot more these days and accompanies himself proficiently on the acoustic guitar.
“I have grown and sing to reach a bigger audience than before. Ghanaian acts that have evergreen songs are the singers. Kojo Antwi, Amandzeba, Pat Thomas and others. That’s why I concentrate now on singing rather than the ragga thing.”
How well Kobby sings now would be shown on Saturday at the God and Love listening session. He would be on stage alone with his guitar at some points and also play with the Patch Bay band.
Artistes that featured on the new album such as Guru, Quarme Zaggy and Ogabi will also perform. Some of Kobby’s friends such as Samini, Kwabena Kwabena, Akwaboah, Ras Bomba and Steve Bedi are expected to be there to support Kobby at the event.