Sinach’s WAY MAKER Song Tops Gospel Music Charts, Makes Way For American Imitator To Copy And Make Success
The Oasis Reporters
May 27, 2020
American Gospel music singer, Michael W. Smith has Nigerian born Sinach to thank for the song, WAY MAKER which currently tops Billboard’s Christian Airplay Chart (for the past two weeks), and over 18 million people have viewed a live audio version on YouTube (more than half a million have listened to the radio version), and fans all over the world say the song has deeply ministered to them at a global crisis time like this coronavirus pandemic.
“Here we are in this crazy, unprecedented time,” Smith says, “and I just think it’s become people’s go-to song. It gives people hope”.
Guess what, the song that has given Michael W. Smith this phenomenal success, is not even his.
“I didn’t write the song, a woman from Nigeria, an artist named Sinach, wrote it,” he says. “I discovered it through my daughter, Anna, who was going through a bit of a trial in her life. She asked me if I’d heard this song called ‘Waymaker’ and I said no. So, she played it for me and I ended up recording it”.
And who is Sinach ?
Definitely Nigerian from the South east.
SINACH is bigger and more successful than the likes of 2face, Wizkid, Davido, Burna Boy etc. She doesn’t have that great recognition In the mainstream because she is a Gospel Artist. Yet, in about four years, over a million views have hit a version of the song on YouTube.
WAY MAKER is the biggest song out of Africa.
Many Gospel artistes have had to ditch the gospel genre to mainstream to make fame and fortune. If you see a gospel artiste in America hit this level then know it’s no mean feat. Remember Bebe and Cece Winans, Kirk Franklin et al? These are American.
Now, for someone from Africa? Oh, Lagos, Nigeria to be precise and Christ Embassy in particular? This is no mean feat and achievement. I hope this encourages someone out there.
Chris Oyakhilome and Christ Embassy must be commended for always over the overwhelming support gospel ministers receive in his church. Lots of artistes regularly switch to his Ministry, because if a singer is good, the Church which is one of Africa’s biggest television ministries, would definitely push the singer onto the global pedestal.
This should encourage anyone to do what he or she knows how to do and strive to be better at it and hope for the best always.
Osinachi Joseph, known professionally as Sinach, is a Nigerian singer, songwriter and senior worship leader at Believers Loveworld.
Born Osinachi Kalu on 30 March, 1973 (age 47 years) to Igbo parents, she got married to Joe Egbu in 2014.
Her Albums include Way Maker (Live), There’s an Overflow (The Album), Great God (Live in London), I Know Who I Am, etc. Way Maker, in worship tribute to the Almighty God and this has broken every imaginable gospel music record in the world as well as climbing to number one on the charts.
Even non Christians would hum the tune in taxi cabs on Lagos roads, as well as across the country.
Additional reporting: Ahmed Magem
