Celestine Donkor is a Ghanaian gospel musician and songwriter. In March 2021, she was among the Top 30 Most Influential Women in Music by the 3Music Awards Women's Brunch. She won the Gospel song of the year at the Ghana Music Awards 2021 with her hit single Agbebolo. She founded the Celestial Praise, an annual Gospel music concert. She has featured and collaborated with international artistes like Kenyan gospel artiste Evelyn Wanjiru, Zimbabwean gospel musician Tembalami, Ghanaian artistes Diana Hamilton, Piesie Esther, Obaapa Christy, Akwaboah, Efya, and many more.
Early life and education Donkor was born to the family of Mr. and Mrs. Akakpo, both from the Volta region of Ghana. She started her primary school education at St Augustine Preparatory school in Abeka Lapaz and continued to Nsaaniya Secondary Business School at Kasoa where she had her secondary school education. She proceeded to the University of Ghana, Legon where she obtained her BA (Hons) Sociology and Information studies.
Music career At the age of sixteen, while still in secondary school, Celestine met music producer and sound engineer Fred Kyei Mensah, popularly known as Fredyma, who introduced her to the Ghanaian music industry as a backing vocalist. Her collaboration with Fredyma marked the beginning of her professional music career. She subsequently served as a backing vocalist for several prominent Ghanaian contemporary gospel musicians.
In 2016, she founded Celestial Praiz, an annual gospel music event. Since its inception, the event has featured gospel artists and ministers from across Africa, including Minister GUC, Zaza Mokhethi, Evelyn Wanjiru, Daughters of Glorious Jesus, Joe Mettle, Ceccy Twum, Piesie Esther, Uncle Ato among others.
She has many hit songs, including "Turning around", "Bigger", "Okronkronhene", "Manim Nguase", "Boobobo". Her latest Album Agbebolo earned her the Artiste of the year at the National Gospel Music Awards.
Personal life Donkor is married, and has three daughters.
Discography
Albums
Gye Wadea (2007) Restoration (2010) Righteousness (2015) Turning Around (2015) Okronkronhene (2018) Bread of life (2019)
Awards and nominations +YearEventAwardNominated workResultRef20223Music AwardsGospel Act Of The YearHerselfArtiste Of The YearHerselfGospel Song of the YearOnly YouWoman of the YearHerself2021Vodafone Ghana Music AwardsBest Gospel Artiste Of The YearHerselfInternational Collaboration Of The YearFavor everywhere ft Blessing WanjiruBest Gospel Song Of The YearFavor everywhere ft Blessing Wanjiru2020Vodafone Ghana Music AwardsGospel Song Of The YearAgbebolo (Bread of Life) ft Nhyiraba GideonFemale Vocalist of the YearHerself3Music AwardsGospel Song Of The YearAgbebolo (Bread of Life) ft Nhyiraba Gideon2019National Gospel Music AwardsArtiste of the YearHerselfAlbum Of The YearAgbeboloCollaboration Of The YearAgbebolo (Bread of Life) ft Nhyiraba Gideon2018Vodafone Ghana Music AwardsGospel Artiste Of The YearHerself2014Christian Community Music AwardsBest Traditional SongHerself2012Best Traditional SongHerself2009MTN Music Video AwardsBest Gospel VideoSupernatural
References