Ghanaian musician Kuami Eugene, popularly known as the Rockstar, has explained why he moved from gospel to secular music. He says the industry is not set up to help new gospel artistes succeed.
He made the remarks in a recent interview on Joy Prime's Changes show.
According to Kuami Eugene, Ghana's industry is "not structured to benefit an upcoming gospel artiste". He said Afrobeats and highlife suit platforms such as TikTok, which is why young artistes can emerge with a single song and quickly win a large audience.
He added that public attitudes make it harder for gospel newcomers to break through. In his view, listeners often judge how a gospel singer looks, such as wearing a chain or leading worship in an unconventional style, instead of focusing on the message. As a result, he said, a sincere performance can fail to make an impact.
Despite his efforts in gospel, Kuami Eugene said he did not get the breakthrough he wanted. He found recognition easier after switching to secular music, where he believes talent and ability largely decide success.
He insisted he remains involved in gospel indirectly:
- He writes and produces songs for other gospel musicians.
- Some of his own songs carry inspirational messages and elements of the gospel style.
- He plans to include at least one gospel song in every project he releases.
He said he still feels he is doing God's work by giving songs to others to perform.
This is not his first comment on the gospel scene. In December 2025, he criticised clashing release dates in Ghana and noted that gospel artistes often avoid releasing songs at the same time as one another.
Kuami Eugene has also released a new song, Ajei, an upbeat track that is already finding favour with listeners.
