{"id":15751,"date":"2026-01-20T20:18:17","date_gmt":"2026-01-20T20:18:17","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sbmediaonline.com\/?p=15751"},"modified":"2026-01-20T20:18:17","modified_gmt":"2026-01-20T20:18:17","slug":"10-surprising-facts-you-probably-didnt-know-about-gospel-legend-yaw-sarpong","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sbmediaonline.com\/?p=15751","title":{"rendered":"10 Surprising Facts You Probably Didn\u2019t Know About Gospel Legend Yaw Sarpong"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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Ever wondered about the life and journey of celebrated Ghanaian gospel musician Yaw Sarpong?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

With a career spanning over four decades, here are some key highlights of his life following his death on Tuesday, January 20, 2026.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

1. Born in Accra to a Member of Parliament, Yaw Sarpong\u2019s education was disrupted when his father died in 1966 after being imprisoned during the overthrow of Dr Kwame Nkrumah.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

2. After his father\u2019s death, economic challenges forced his mother to relocate the family to Akyease in Kumasi, where Yaw Sarpong traces his roots.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

3. Driven by his love for music, he joined the Methodist singing group at Asuofua in the Ashanti Region. It was there that a medical doctor discovered him and formed a music group in 1971, performing mainly in churches and at social events.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

4. During one such performance at Asuase in Kumasi, a pastor noticed his talent and offered to support him. Yaw Sarpong accepted the offer and stayed with the pastor.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

5. At another church programme, he caught the attention of Professor Kofi Abraham, who also took interest in his future and offered him guidance and support.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

6. In 1984, he left Professor Abraham and returned to Accra, where he worked as a taxi driver for nearly two years, between 1984 and 1986.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

7. He later travelled to Liberia, where he formed the group Yaw Sarpong and Asomafo in 1986.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

8. The group was made up of musicians from Liberia, Ghana and Sierra Leone, giving it a diverse West African identity.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

9. Before moving to Liberia, Yaw Sarpong had already recorded his first album in 1981, titled Adesrede (Request)<\/em>, and followed it with a second album between 1983 and 1984.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

10. He chose the name Asomafo, meaning \u201cMessengers,\u201d<\/em> because he believed neither he nor his group members worked on their own, but rather served as vessels to spread God\u2019s word.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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