Museke: Can you tell us about your background and family?
Omega: I was born and bred in Uganda.

Museke: How did you get into music and what was your first break?
Omega: I started singing from home, church was the major influence and I was shaped by Sunday school. Truth of why I sing is because my mother attended an event and saw a gentleman with his kids singing and she was so touched so she wished her children would sing too. My brother and I sing. I sang in the African children’s choir.

The first phase of auditions for Ghana’s search for a gospel music gem, soul search ended at the Anaji Royal Hotel, Takoradi over the weekend.

The event which started last month in Accra, saw over three hundred contestants coming out to showcase their talent with the aim of making it to the final stages of the competition.

Event organisers, Global Media Alliance expressed satisfaction with the response to the contest. Producer of the program, Sena Atoklo noted that, Season One of Soul Search is just the beginning of greater things to come. According to him, “Soul Search, a TV reality show has come to stay adding that it is GMA’s contribution towards the development of Ghanaian music industry”.

• View all from Makoma
  Artistes Makoma
  Album Remix edition
  Writer Nathalie Makoma, Annie Makoma, Pengani Makoma, Tutala Makoma, Duma Makoma, Martin Makoma, and Patrick Badine
  Language Lingala
  Video URL http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8b4xXJjmcLM

• View all from Jeremiah Gyang
  Artistes Jeremiah Gyang
  Album Na ba ka
  Year 2005
  Writer Jeremiah Gyang
  Language English
  Track # 2
  Runtime 4:02

This interview was done in the presence of Kwame Karikari, Philipa's producer.

Museke: Can you tell us about your background, family and education?
Philipa: I was born in Kumasi to Mr. Fred and Mrs. Grace Baafi. I have 2 other siblings and come from Manhyia. I attended Kings International school and because I was brilliant, getting 1st positions and all, I ended up at St. Monica’s (Girls) Secondary School. I studied science there and from 1998-1999 was the head prefect. I released my first album in 1999 shortly after I finished Monica’s.

Museke: Talking about music, how did you get into it and what was your first break?
Philipa: I released Nyame honhom sane (God’s spirit come down) in 1999. One Father Manu at St. Monica’s produced the album. I had been leading the praise and worship team in school. I was the SU president as well as science club president.
My second album, Mogya no akasa (the blood has spoken), came out in 2002.

• View all from Moses OK
  Artistes Moses OK
  Album Meda w'ase
  Year 2007
  Writer Moses OK
  Language Twi
  Track # 5:19

Philipa Baafi, the 27 year old singer, songwriter, musician and philanthropist is a native of Manhyia, a community which is about 50 minutes drive from Kumasi, the regional capital of Ashanti. Touted as the queen of gospel icons, Philipa sees her career more as a ministry than a mere profession. Philipa is one of a handful of superstars who can still shift merchandise to their favour even when they have not released a new project for a relatively long time.

Singing started for her when she was just an infant in a basic school. This was very much against the wishes of her parents, her mother particularly. She however continued the musical talent through her secondary school (St. Monica’s Secondary School) at Mampong where she still had time for her singing even when she was in her final year. By the time she completed school in 2000 she had recorded her first album as the Head girl, “Nyame Honhom sane” which literally means Descend upon us, Thou Holy Ghost.

• View all from Jamnazi Africa
  Artistes Jamnazi Africa
  Album Riziki
  Year 2007
  Writer Awilo - Michael Otieno, Jamnazi Africa
  Language Swahili
  Runtime 11:53
  Video URL http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tfWahaIfXjE

• View all from Cee
  Artistes Cee, Great Ampong
  Album Osaberima
  Year 2007
  Writer Cynthia Appiah-Kubi
  Language Twi
  Track # 1
  Runtime 5:50

• View all from Ohemaa Mercy
  Artistes Ohemaa Mercy
  Album Edin Jesus
  Year 2007
  Writer Mercy Twum Ampofo
  Language Twi
  Track # 3
  Runtime 4:48