‘We were disgracefully so poor, we depended on leftovers’ - Piesie Esther

The latest VGMA Gospel Artist of the Year, Piesie Esther recently shared her childhood struggles in an interview with actress Nayas.

In the interview, she recalled growing up in abject poverty with her four siblings at Mampong Nsuta Atonso, where her parents worked as farmers and even struggled to provide basic necessities such as clothes and food.

“We never got fresh clothes and it was difficult for us to get things we wanted. We were so poor, I won’t lie about it, and it was very disgraceful…We went through a lot in life,” she said.

According to her, her father had to leave home in search of better opportunities after defaulting on a government loan.

Piesie Esther said her life changed when her mother's friend invited them to Kumasi.

“My mother wanted to go to Kumasi but she knew no one there… so when this invitation came in, I was delighted. When we went there, my mother’s friend was living in a single room so we had to manage somewhere else and it was hell. Imagine a married woman, leaving her home to become a servant for someone.

"But we loved it. Though they had to stay in a single room and her mother worked as a servant," Piesie Esther indicated that they were grateful for the opportunity.

She continued, "Life in Kumasi was better than their village, but they still struggled to afford food and often survived on leftovers from a 'chop bar' where her mother worked.

“We couldn’t afford food, we survived on chop bar leftovers. When they eat the fufu, then my mom will take the leftovers and make sure we eat in the evening.”

Despite her difficult upbringing, Piesie Esther encouraged others going through tough times to stay focused and keep their hopes high, as struggles can become testimonies.

She stressed, “People going through trials and tribulations are to never lose focus since testimonies never come without a struggle.”

The gospel singer revealed that her experiences have inspired many of her gospel songs, including her hit song 'Mpare Me,' where she picks inspiration from her mother’s life struggles.