Celestine Donkor shocked as close gospel musician friend demands 70% upfront payment to perform

Award-winning Ghanaian gospel artiste Celestine Donkor has shared her disappointment after a fellow gospel musician she considered a close friend demanded payment before agreeing to perform at her event.

Speaking on Hitz FM’s Afternoon Ride with Andy Dosty, Celestine revealed that she reached out to the colleague to perform at a programme she was organizing, only to be told that she must pay 70 percent of the total fee upfront before the artiste would confirm participation.

Celestine said the response left her deeply hurt, as she believed their relationship went beyond professional boundaries. According to her, they had built a strong bond over the years, frequently spending time together and supporting each other’s events.

“The demand really surprised me,” she said. “This is someone I considered a personal friend who has performed at my events before without any issues. But this time, the tone of the message was so formal and businesslike, it made me question whether the friendship was ever real.”

Despite her disappointment, Celestine said she holds no grudge, explaining that she chose to share the experience to highlight how quickly relationships in the music industry can change.

“I’m not bitter,” she said. “I just want people to understand that sometimes, in this industry, friendships can shift when business gets involved.”