AFTER securing five nominations at this year’s Vodafone Ghana Music Awards (VGMA), one would expect Gospel musician, Celestine Donkor, to be over the moon and brimming with optimism at her chances.However, the opposite is the case as she says her bitter experiences at the VGMA?over the years - especially in 2009 when her collaboration with Philipa Baafi, Go High, did not win a single award - have made her measured in her expectations.  

“Is this not VGMA we are talking about? I don’t want to raise my hopes too high because VGMA is full of surprises and unpredictable. I’m saying this because of what happened in 2009 when Go High, which was one of the biggest songs on the music scene, couldn’t win the Best Collaboration award.

“I was so positive that year but my expectations were not met and since then, I have been very careful not to raise my hopes when it comes to VGMA and that is why I will not be disappointed when I go home empty handed on the night.

“It will be hallelujah when I win but if it doesn’t go that way, I will still thank God for how far He has brought the Celestine brand,” she stated.
 
Celestine received nominations in the Vodafone Most Popular Song, Best Gospel Song, Best Gospel Artiste, Female Vocalist and Best Video categories.
 
And regardless of the position she has taken to “psych myself up for anything”, Celestine said she was looking forward to taking home at least two awards.

“Agbebolo was big last year and did very well. The numbers are there on YouTube so me getting two awards is not too much.

"Besides, when I posted my nominations on my social media pages, the messages were so encouraging which go to confirm that I deserve an award, especially in the Gospel categories,” she said.

Currently, there’s a social media campaign to canvass for votes for her to win Best Gospel Artiste and Best Gospel Song with Agbebolo which features Nhyira Ba Gideon of Nsoromma fame.

It has been a long road for Celestine Donkor having started as a backing vocalist who has gradually built herself into a strong force in the Gospel music sector.

The success, however, didn’t come on a silver platter and the Okronkron Hene admitted her management had to strategise well to get her brand to where it is now.

“We invested more in promotions, increased social media presence and did more radio and TV interviews. A lot of work was done last year but apart from that, I will say consistency has brought me far because for the last five years, my songs have done well,” she stated.

While waiting for what is in store for her at the VGMA, Celestine, who is still revelling in her win as the Best Gospel Artiste at the recently held National Gospel Music Awards, said she was preparing to host her annual Celestial Praiz on Sunday, April 26.