Veteran Ghanaian gospel musician, Amy Newman, has opened up about her early marriage and how it played a crucial role in rescuing her from a painful childhood.
Speaking at the maiden edition of MzGee’s “A Convergence of Mothers”, the renowned singer behind “Okamafo Jesus” revealed that she got married at the age of 18 — a turning point she described as a divine intervention.
According to her, life as a child was filled with hardship and abuse. She explained that her father had many children with different women and later sent them to live with various relatives. Unfortunately, Amy ended up with some particularly harsh family members. “They treated me badly,” she said, hinting that they may have seen something special in her — “a shining star” — and tried to dim it.
Recounting how she met her husband, Rev. Kwesi Newman, she said it all began when a cousin from Kumasi visited Takoradi and told her about a dance event happening in town. She joined in, not knowing that the man who would later become her husband was in the crowd. Captivated by her performance, Rev. Newman found his way to her house the very next day to ask for her hand in marriage.
“He told me God spoke to him while I was dancing and said, ‘That’s your wife,’” she shared, calling it the day “God visited” her. The two got married soon after, and she began having children at age 20.
Amy Newman noted that their marriage has now spanned over 40 years and is blessed with eight children. However, the journey hasn’t been without challenges. She recalled how people tried to defame her, calling her a “sexy dancer” in an attempt to tarnish her image.
Despite it all, Amy Newman continues to inspire many with her story of resilience, faith, and how love came at a time she needed it most.
