Diana Hopeson: A Tale of Perseverance

Veteran Gospel musician Diana Hopeson formerly called Diana Akiwumi is the last of seven children born to Francis Arhin and Ms. Hannah Amoo, who hail from Awutu Breku in the Central Region.

She was born on August 30, 1970 in Accra, Ghana.

She attended Bubiashie Cable and Wireless Primary School from 1976-1978, Eaton Preparatory School from 1978-1982, and successfully completed the Winneba Secondary School both ‘O’ and ‘A’ Level from 1983 – 1990.

Her professional musical career skyrocketed immediately after school although she was very active with music and other cultural activities during her school days.

Her special interest was singing, dancing and acting but most of all as a dedicated Christian, she loved to sing gospel music.

It was, therefore, no wonder she went straight into professional singing after leaving college and came out with her first album in 1991 titled HE IS LORD.

Music Life and Marriage

The success of this debut did really propel her in becoming one of Ghana’s most popular gospel musicians.

She followed it up with another release in 1993, YE YI W’AYE DAA.

That album included titles like Winner, Gyina Pintin, Onyame Ye Odomfo etc. and till today, these songs which became instant hits have become unmissable tunes in any gospel activity in Ghana.

Diana fellowshipped with the famous North Kaneshie Assemblies of God Church in those days.

She released yet another album in 1994, YESU MO and followed that up in 1995 with IF JESUS SAYS YES…. and like the previous releases, the latter became an instant hit too, becoming the slogan in the Christian circles.

Blessed with the charm and charisma, she has through her music been able to touch the hearts of many in some parts of the world.

In the company of her first husband, Rev. Samuel Akiwumi, she toured all the regions in Ghana singing the gospel and preaching the word of God.

Speaking on her love life in an exclusive chat with the Graphic Showbiz in 2006, Diana who got separated from her husband, Rev Samuel Akiwumi in 1997 and divorced in 2001 said there is no one in her life at the moment.

“ I have been busy with my new baby, the Performing Arts Ministry (PAM), of the Youth With a Mission, Ghana/(YWAM)” she said of the body of which she is the Director.

“I really want it to work so all my attention is focused on its success. It is the reason why I have not been looking but it doesn’t mean I have closed the door to a relationship. Probably Mr Right is yet to come along.”

“The next person in my life should be supportive of what I do. Infact what I need is a companion. Someone who understands what I do. My current schedule is very tight. My work is very involvng.

There are times I go on outreach programmes sometimes for a month or more so you see the person should be one who understands otherwise insecurity sets in and that breeds problems.”

Diana describes her seven years of marriage as the first phase of her life.

“My marriage, separation, divorce and all the ‘trappings’ that came with it has made me a stronger person. It was not easy for me but right now I can say I am a happy person. By God’s grace I am at peace with myself. Life is good.

“ Because I am a very private person, going through all these really took a toll on. It was depressing watching someone you have so much hope in throw his life away.

But thank God I was able to brace the storm.

I managed to pay our debts with proceeds from the music I made as well as concerts I performed.”

Diana who got married in 1990 right after completing sixth form said it is unfortunate her marriage didn’t work. “My marriage didn’t work but that doesn’t mean the end of the world. There is no marriage in heaven.

We have our individual calling so I realised that I had to get up and move on to fulfil my purpose in life and that is winning souls for God through music.

Marriage is good but it is not the only option in life.”

Asked if she misses her husband, Diana answered in the negative. “ No I do not miss him. I only remember bad things.

He was insecure and couldn’t stand the fame and attention I was getting so he made trouble all the time.

It was so bad that I was only happy when I was out performing.

“I am not angry with him. I have forgiven him for all that he did to me. I don’t hate him but it is unfortunate I can’t marry him anymore.

It just didn’t work.” In as much as she says she has bad memories of him, Diana credits him for her walk to fame.

“ I was already singing when I met him. The talent was there but it was he who encouraged me to go professional.

He is very assertive and brainy that is why I say it was depressing to watch him throw his life away.”

She also dispelled rumours that she had been denying him access to their 14 year old son.

“ I have never refused him accesss to our son but I have been upset with things he had done when he came for the boy. Of course our son misses his father sometimes so why would I stop them from being together.

My ex-husband is not consistent. (As at 2006… The man is now Dead)

He disappears and appears at will. I don’t even know where he is so it is difficult to even send the boy to him.

“There are times he picks the boy up at weekends and brings him in the middle of the week meaning the boy misses classes.

Once, I got to know he took him to a night club and of course no mother worth her sort would want her child in such places. My son is important to me and he is my life.”

Until now the limelight that shone on Diana Akiwumi, who stormed the Ghanaian music scene with the award winning song Winner in 1993 appeared to be flickering.

The late Rev. Samuel Akiwumi was an evangelist with the Assemblies of God Church.

In 1993, she won the Best Gospel Music Award from ECRAG in Ghana. She received a fax message of recommendation from the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association for her music being one of the best from Africa and a possible feature on their network broadcasts.

Attending a very important Women’s conference organised by the 70/70 club in Nigeria, the star reception she received was a proof that her popularity had in no doubt spilled over into Nigeria.

She was later featured on BBC for music in Africa, a 45 minutes interview.

To climax her international reputation, she successfully toured parts of Europe and performed in various grand churches in Holland, France, Germany, Belgium and Britain.

She remains one of Ghana’s most powerful female stage performers and is in no doubt loved by her audience wherever she performs.

In 1997, the music star came out with her 5th Album on both on Cassette and CD entitled ONYAME ASEM SE… This was her third CD and was recorded in Holland at the A.I.P.P Studios, engineered by Sloopy Mike Gyamfi – This album is a true representation of what she stands for.

The first track opens up with a praise song and flows into a very authentic highlife medley of three songs in the second track. Sang in Ebo, Yoruba, Awutu her mother tongue and English she demonstrated here her talent as a multi–linguist which has become a unique feature in her music.

The third song on the Onyame Asem Se album is in Ewe, titled Akpe. This song, which is a modern combination of Reggae and African music, breaks down halfway into a soulful Twi verse of a thanksgiving to God.

Other songs on the CD worth mentioning are Odo Ben Ni, Agyenkwa Hene, Wo Din Ne Wo Honam Se, Okamafo and of course the title song Onyame Asem Se.

These are all original materials written by her, sponsored by Animco Shipping under the A.I.P.P. label.

May God Sustain her Faith Unto Salvation