The story last week of how life-battered Kumawood actor, Bernard Kwame Nyarko once made a u-turn from the verge of taking his own life may have been lost on many.
In a week when fellow actress Moesha Boudong chose to seize every media platform so she could be harangued for daring to paint all Ghanaian women with one brush on an international platform when she disclosed she has made it her business to make rich husbands sponsor her choice lifestyle for benefits, anything could have been lost.
But Bernard’s amazing story, thinking he had come to the end of the road because he saw no more reason to trudge on in life, as he told it last week, certainly did not escape Mr. Music Man Kojo Antwi.
Privately the musician of legendary dimensions said he was whispering “God is wonderful” to himself upon hearing the actor’s own confession that it took one particular song to convict him out of the wrong step he had opted for and almost executed.
According to Nyarko, with his heart heavy and soul sunken to its lowest ebb following one failure after another and disappointment upon disappointment in life while the “pains were growing from bad to worse”, his best calculations had left him clutching a loaded gun in hand, ready to pull the trigger, with a suicide note ready in place.
The former athlete turned preacher and actor said it was at this stage that Kojo Antwi’s music stepped in.
It was sudden, and all he could hear was Kojo Antwi’s song “Sunkwa” (Pray for life) playing on Kumasi-based Ash FM radio. To his amazement, the lyrics turned out to be the antidote to his immediate predicament. He felt disarmed and gave up trying to shoot himself dead. In his suicide note he said he had wished his loved ones a good bye, and explained why he could no longer continue to bear the shame and fruitlessness life appeared to have in store him.
But when the Twi music played;
Sika yi sɛ mannya bi a, mannya bi a, mannya bi a, (If I’ve no money)
ɛdan mansi bi a, mansi bi a, mansi bi a, (If I’ve failed to build a house)
Abrokyire mannkɔ bi a, mannkɔ bi a, mannkɔ bi a, (If I’ve been unable to travel abroad)
Mennkɔ sɛn me ho oo, (I’ll not hang myself)
Menni awerɔho oo,… (I’ll not be sad)
Nkwa ne ahoɔden, ɛno nkoa n’ehia me ee, (Long life and good health are all I need)
Aboterɛ ne akokoduro, ɛno nkoa n’ehia me ee (Patience and courage are all I need)
He felt instant relief from the musical therapy.
On the phone to Kojo Antwi, he told Graphic Online that throughout his music career he has come across many people (including his fans) who bore testimony to benefitting from his songs. From encouragement, to gratitude, love, marriage, peaceful coexistence, yes, many have expressed gratitude.
“Bernard’s case is special however. Never has anyone said my music helped save his life and I’m grateful to God for this miracle. You know, you mind your business and strive to do your best and God makes you an instrument to save a life from destruction, I’m really happy,” he told Graphic Online, and added “indeed music has a powerful therapy”.
Bernard Nyarko made his confession on Hiplife radio, saying he has been through challenging times before and is thankful God is in control of his life presently.
Source: Daily Graphic
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The astonishing power of music!!! It’s unbelievable when u take up music and some people look down on you cos they think you’re a failure. To all musicians out there doing great music, keep up the good work. It’s a privilege to be able to do music that changes people’s lives in a positive way. It’s a shame that the system in Ghana don’t favour a lot of u do u don’t actually see most of the time, the rewards in proceeds of your hardwork. But don’t give up. We appreciate you!! Kudos to both the old and the young musicians. Kudos the likes of Kwame Yeboah who is undisputedly, one of the best instrumentalist and producer to come from Ghana. My respect to the great Zapp Mallet and all the great contributors to great music in Ghana. God bless your hustle.
Now a days, f000lishness is what gains prominence on our airwaves. The media don’t help matters too as 99% of them don’t play and promote sensible songs anymore. They love to promote senseless, promiscuous music and music with bad and irresponsible attitudes who only brings out the worst in our youths. When u say it, u have some equally demented f00ols fiercely defending the unthinkable. Maestro, u have indeed done well with songs like, Sika dam, adinkra, asem bisa, emeri bi beba and the host of them. Nana Amakye is another amazing icon with great songs like, su fre wo nyame, yeyi wo bebia ko b3bi and the list goes on.
You are right, I’ve never been a fan of Kojo Antwi, but his lyrics have saved a life. How can we ever have the likes of him again when we glorify profanity. I have nothing against the late Ebony (beautiful with a great voice), but seriously, what did she really bring to bear and to the extent that she won 3 awards posthumously? Why won’t the young of today copy and even “over copy” to be recognized?
As always Mr Music Man, may God bless you more to do good music to uplift ones soul . Mr Actor , thanks for sharing your testimony. All thanks and Praise to the Most High Lord.
All you hear are these F0O0LISH Songs on every Radio Station. Aside Chairman General who keeps on with the good work by playing the good old songs, all the others fall for these stuuupppid songs. You have to stop playing to discourage them
Just imagine this happened to him now.....whose song would have saved him? Patapaa, Shata or any of those lyrics without message? Today we have a generation of musicians who spew trash in terms of content and call it music and sadly the society sees nothing wrong with it. Our only hope; Gospel music has also been diluted to the extent that practitioners like Brother Sammy and Co could arrogantly insinuate and insult people in a so called diss song and call it GOSPEL and shamefully defending it on one radio stations. People like OJ tries to correct him and he (Sammy) says OJ is not wise. Hmmmm!
you would have been in black panter if you were in america