Ghanaian gospel singer and songwriter Kofi Karikari has revealed that he struggles to sing secular songs, including classics by Daddy Lumba and Kojo Antwi.

According to him, this is because he did not grow up listening to that kind of music.

Speaking to Kwame Dadzie and Doreen Avio on Daybreak Hitz, the gospel musician said he is often amazed when he hears people sing songs by the two highlife icons word for word.

“When I see people sing Lumba and Kojo Antwi songs I am like ‘ei, wow.’ Because I can’t sing even one line of those songs,” he said.

He explained that his upbringing did not expose him to secular music.

“Growing up in my house those things were not played,” he added.

Kofi Karikari also noted that instead, he grew up listening to hard metal music as well as gospel songs by artistes such as Don Moen, Rev Stanley Mensah and Danny Nertey, among other contemporary gospel musicians.

He described his musical style as eclectic, drawing inspiration from a range of sounds, including afrobeats.

As a songwriter, Kofi Karikari has written songs for artistes such as Team Eternity Ghana, Adom Kiki and Luigi McClean, among others.

Some of his popular songs include Who Says God No Dey?, Meda W’ase, You Are Great, We Bow Down and Worship Yahweh, Hallelujah, Yahweh, Lifted High and his latest release, Stamina.