Cwesi Oteng

Cwesi Oteng is one of the artists who modernised Ghanaian gospel music, a singer, songwriter and youth pastor whose urban, cross-cultural sound and business savvy helped reshape both the music and the commerce of the genre.

Early life and faith

He was born Hermon Cyrus Kwesi Nhyira Oteng. He gave his life to Christ as a teenager and was drawn to church music, a calling that would define his career as both a performer and a youth advocate.

A new gospel sound

Touted as a new sound of African gospel, Cwesi Oteng fused contemporary Western production with strong African rhythms, a fresh approach that set him apart. His breakthrough hit, God Wey Dey Bless Me, became an anthem and remains his signature song.

Changing the business

Beyond the music, he is credited with raising the commercial standing of gospel artists in Ghana, being among the first to charge professional fees and event ticket prices, and pushing the industry toward treating gospel music as a serious business.

Awards and standing

His work earned nominations and wins at the Africa Gospel Music Awards, including Video of the Year, and recognition across the Ghanaian gospel scene. Singer, songwriter and pastor, Cwesi Oteng helped bring gospel music into a modern, professional era, and remains one of its most distinctive voices.