Celestine Donkor
{{Short description|Ghanaian gospel musician and songwriter}}
{{Infobox musical artist
| name = Celestine Donkor
| associated_acts = {{flatlist|
}}
| genre = Gospel
| landscape =
| occupation = Singer, songwriter
| years_active = 2007–present
| module = {{Listen
|embed = yes
| filename =
| title = {{center|Agbebolo}}
| description =
| pos = center
}}
| yearsactive =
| spouse = Kofi Donkor
| website =
| notable_work =
| birth_name = Celestine Akakpo
}}
Celestine Donkor is a Ghanaian gospel musician and songwriter.{{Cite web|url=https://www.ghanaweb.com/GhanaHomePage/people/person.php?ID=640&mode=biography|title=Celestine Donkor|website=www.ghanaweb.com|access-date=2020-02-25}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.ghanaweb.com/GhanaHomePage//GNGMA-19-Celestine-Donkor-crowned-Artist-of-The-Year-871525|title=GNGMA 19: Celestine Donkor crowned Artist of The Year|website=www.ghanaweb.com|language=en|access-date=2020-02-25}}{{Dead link|date=November 2023 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }} In March 2021, she was among the Top 30 Most Influential Women in Music by the 3Music Awards Women's Brunch.{{Cite web|title=Amaarae, Cina Soul, Gyakie, Adina, Theresa Ayoade, others named in 3Music Awards' Top 30 Women in Music list - MyJoyOnline.com|url=https://www.myjoyonline.com/amaarae-cina-soul-gyakie-adina-theresa-ayoade-others-named-in-3music-awards-top-30-women-in-music-list/|access-date=2021-03-18|website=www.myjoyonline.com|language=en-US}} She founded the Celestial Praise, an annual Gospel music concert.{{Cite web|date=2021-03-05|title=3Music Awards organisers name Top 30 Women in Music|url=https://citinewsroom.com/2021/03/3music-awards-organisers-name-top-30-women-in-music/|access-date=2021-03-18|website=Citinewsroom - Comprehensive News in Ghana|language=en-US}}
Early life and education
Donkor was born to the family of Mr. and Mrs. Akakpo, both from the Volta region of Ghana.{{Cite web|url=https://www.pulse.com.gh/entertainment/celebrities/celestine-donkor-gospel-musician-says-her-mum-tried-to-abort-her/khf7gj4|title=Gospel musician says her mum tried to abort her|date=2016-06-22|website=Entertainment|language=en-US|access-date=2020-02-25}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.modernghana.com/entertainment/7745/who-is-celestine.html|title=Who is Celestine?|website=Modern Ghana|language=en|access-date=2020-02-25}} She started her primary school education at St Augustine Preparatory school in Abeka Lapaz and continued to Nsaaniya Secondary Business School at Kasoa where she had her secondary school education. She proceeded to the University of Ghana, Legon where she obtained her BA (Hons) Sociology and Information studies.{{Cite web|url=https://www.gospelhypers.com/2020/02/gospel-artist-profile-biography.html|title=Gospel Artist Profile & Biography – Celestine Donkor {{!}} Gospel Hypers|last=Hypers|first=Gospel|website=Africa's No1 Gospel Music Marketing Agency and Entertainment Blog • Gospel Hypers|access-date=2020-02-25|archive-date=2020-02-25|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200225125818/https://www.gospelhypers.com/2020/02/gospel-artist-profile-biography.html|url-status=dead}}
Music career
Donkor collaborated with numerous gospel musicians,{{Cite web|url=https://www.ghanaweb.com/GhanaHomePage/entertainment/Celestine-Donkor-performs-at-Adom-Praiz-588873|title=Celestine Donkor performs at Adom Praiz|website=www.ghanaweb.com|date=8 October 2017 |language=en|access-date=2020-02-25}} including Joe Mettle, Joyce Blessing, Ceccy Twum, Mkhululi Bhebhe, Edem, Philipa Baafi, Funny Face.{{Cite web|url=https://www.modernghana.com/entertainment/48527/joe-mettle-celestine-donkor-lord-kenya-lead-pent.html|title=Joe Mettle, Celestine Donkor, Lord Kenya Lead Pentecost Gospel Concert|website=Modern Ghana|language=en|access-date=2020-02-25}} She has many hit songs,{{Cite web|url=https://yen.com.gh/114277-top-trending-celestine-donkor-songs.html|title=Top trending Celestine Donkor songs|last=Shem|first=Shemcy|date=2018-08-17|website=Yen.com.gh - Ghana news.|language=en|access-date=2020-02-25}} including "Turning around", "Bigger", "Okronkronhene", "Manim Nguase", "Boobobo". Her latest Album Agbebolo earned her the Artiste of the year at the National Gospel Music Awards.{{Cite web|url=https://www.graphic.com.gh/showbiz/ghana-music/celestine-donkor-wins-gospel-artist-of-year-at-ngma-2019.html|title=Celestine Donkor wins Gospel Artist of the Year at NGMA 2019|website=Graphic Showbiz Online|language=en-gb|access-date=2020-02-25}}{{Cite web|url=https://worshippersgh.com/celestine-donkor-crowned-the-overall-gospel-artist-of-the-year-at-ngma19-full-list/|title=Celestine Donkor crowned the overall gospel artist of the year at NGMA19 (Full List)|date=2020-02-19|website=WorshippersGh|language=en-US|access-date=2020-02-25}}
Personal life
Donkor is married, and has three daughters.{{Cite web|title=Celestine Donkor and her husband renew their wedding vows at Celestial Praiz 2017|url=https://www.ghanaweb.com/GhanaHomePage/entertainment/Celestine-Donkor-and-her-husband-renew-their-wedding-vows-at-Celestial-Praiz-2017-535324|access-date=2020-02-25|website=www.ghanaweb.com|date=5 May 2017 |language=en}}
Discography
= Albums =
- Gye Wadea (2007)
- Restoration (2010){{Cite web|url=https://www.ghanamma.com/2010/11/30/celestine-donkor-brings-restoration-to-the-world/|title=Celestine Donkor brings Restoration to the world - Ghanamma.com|language=en-US|access-date=2020-02-25}}
- Righteousness (2015)
- Turning Around (2015){{Cite web|url=https://www.graphic.com.gh/entertainment/events/celestine-to-launch-turning-around-album.html|title=Celestine to launch Turning Around album|website=Graphic Online|language=en-gb|access-date=2020-02-25}}
- Okronkronhene (2018){{Cite web|url=https://www.gospelempiregh.com/music/celestine-donkor-okronkronhene/|title=Celestine Donkor - Okronkronhene (Music Download)|date=2018-10-28|website=GospelEmpireGh|language=en-GB|access-date=2020-02-25}}
- Bread of life (2019){{Cite web|url=http://www.myjoyonline.com/entertainment/2019/June-10th/new-video-celestine-donkor-out-with-agbebolo-bread-of-life.php|title=New video: Celestine Donkor out with 'Agbebolo' (Bread of Life)|website=www.myjoyonline.com|access-date=2020-02-25}}
Awards and nominations
| class="wikitable"
|+ !Year !Event !Award !Nominated Work !Result !Ref |
| rowspan="4" |2022
| rowspan="4" |3Music Awards |Gospel Act Of The Year |Herself |{{Won}} |
| Artiste Of The Year
|Herself |{{Nom}} |
| Gospel Song of the Year
|Only You |{{Nom}} |
| Woman of the Year
|Herself |{{Nom}} |
| rowspan="3" |2021
| rowspan="3" |Vodafone Ghana Music Awards |Best Gospel Artiste Of The Year |Herself |{{Nom}} |
| International Collaboration Of The Year
|Favor everywhere ft Blessing Wanjiru |{{Nom}} |
| Best Gospel Song Of The Year
|Favor everywhere ft Blessing Wanjiru |{{Nom}} |
| rowspan="3" |2020
| rowspan="2" |Vodafone Ghana Music Awards |Gospel Song Of The Year |Agbebolo (Bread of Life) ft Nhyiraba Gideon |{{Won}} |
| Female Vocalist of the Year
|Herself |{{Won}} |
| 3Music Awards
|Gospel Song Of The Year |Agbebolo (Bread of Life) ft Nhyiraba Gideon |{{Won}} |
| rowspan="3" |2019
| rowspan="3" |National Gospel Music Awards |Artiste of the Year |Herself |{{Won}} |
| Album Of The Year
|Agbebolo |{{Won}} |
| Collaboration Of The Year
|Agbebolo (Bread of Life) ft Nhyiraba Gideon |{{Won}} |
| 2018
|Gospel Artiste Of The Year |Herself |{{nom}} |
| 2014
| rowspan="2" |Christian Community Music Awards |Best Traditional Song |Herself |{{Won}} |
| 2012
|Best Traditional Song |Herself |{{Won}} |
| 2009
|MTN Music Video Awards |Best Gospel Video |Supernatural |{{Won}} |
References
{{DEFAULTSORT:Donkor, Celestine}}
Category:Ghanaian women musicians
Category:Year of birth missing (living people)
Category:Ghanaian gospel singers
Category:University of Ghana alumni
Category:People from Volta Region
{{Ghana-bio-stub}}
{{Africa-musician-stub}}