Renowned gospel artist from Ghana, Celestine Donkor recently shared her belief that having a partner as a manager, especially for female artists, is highly beneficial.
In an interview with TV3, she expressed how having her husband as her manager has been incredibly advantageous for her career.
Donkor reflected on their journey, starting from the beginning and growing together in the music industry.
She emphasised that having her husband as her manager has been “the best thing” for her.
“I think, from my experience, it’s the best thing to ever happen to a female artiste. It’s the best thing that can happen to you. My husband and I started from scratch, he was a businessman who was into imports and exports and then he came into music [doing it on a full-time basis].”
They began when he transitioned from a background in imports and exports to managing her music full-time.
Working together has not only strengthened their bond but has also brought joy to their travels and performances, both locally and internationally.
“We can go like a month back to back on the road. Which husband will be staying at home for you? It will be really difficult if you are not on the field with your husband. It’s all part of the fun. It’s even better because we travel together. So we get to enjoy the other things.”
Donkor highlighted the flexibility of being able to travel extensively without her husband having to stay at home.
However, she advised that for such a partnership to succeed, there must be a shared interest in music between the couple.
“You need to find out if your partner is, first of all, interested in doing it. If your partner is interested, even if that interest is just 10 or 20 per cent, I think you are good to go. You just need to consult, get information on what the job really entails, and then learn on the job.”
She suggested assessing the partner’s level of interest and willingness to learn about the industry to ensure a harmonious collaboration.
Overall, Donkor’s experience underscores the potential benefits of having a partner as a manager in the music industry, particularly for female artists.