Joe Mettle

Joe Mettle broke one of the most enduring barriers in Ghanaian music. In 2017 he became the first gospel artist ever to be named Artiste of the Year at the Ghana Music Awards, a landmark that reshaped how the genre was regarded in the country.

Early life

He was born Joseph Oscar Nii Armah Mettle on 5 July 1981 in Accra, the eldest of six children. He studied through to Pentecost University, and though a marketer by training, he describes himself as a worshipper by calling.

Rise through worship

He learned his craft as a backing vocalist for Ghanaian gospel greats including Cindy Thompson and the late Danny Nettey, and led the multicultural group Soul Winners. That grounding in worship music shaped the heartfelt, congregational style that would become his signature.

Breakthrough

His songs, among them the hugely popular Bo Noo Ni, made him one of the most beloved gospel voices in the country. His crowning moment came in 2017, when he swept Artiste of the Year, Gospel Artiste of the Year and Male Vocalist of the Year at the Ghana Music Awards, the first time a gospel act had taken the top prize.

Standing

That historic win opened doors for gospel music across the Ghanaian industry, and Joe Mettle has continued to be one of its leading ambassadors, a worship leader whose music reaches far beyond the church.