JHECTA NEWS EXCLUSIVE

INTRODUCTION

Some people sing because they love music. Others sing because music gives them a way to express what words alone cannot explain. And then there are those whose voices carry pieces of their lives, their faith, their struggles, and their hope for tomorrow.

Evangelist Stella Chin Akoma, popularly known as Stella Chin, is a recording artiste, author, and speaker whose creative journey is closely connected to faith, personal experiences, and the desire to inspire others. Known for embracing different musical expressions, she is building an identity that goes beyond a single genre.

Her story includes love, loss, perseverance, and the determination to continue pursuing a calling even when life changes in ways she never expected.

In this JHECTA News Exclusive, we sit down with Stella Chin Akoma to explore the person behind the music, the meaning of The Sojourner, the experiences that have shaped her artistic expression, and the vision driving her forward.

So, let's get to know the lady behind the voice.

QUESTION 1: Stella, welcome to JHECTA News! Before we get serious, tell us something about yourself that people might not guess from listening to your music.

Stella Chin Akoma:

Thank you for having me. I'm happy to be here!

Well, people might hear my music and imagine that I'm always sitting somewhere thinking deeply about life, composing songs, or preparing a message for somebody. (Laughs.)

But beyond the music, I'm a lady with different sides to her personality. I enjoy meaningful conversations, creativity, learning, and discovering new ways to express myself. I can be serious when the situation calls for it, but I also appreciate humour and the lighter side of life.

I'm still learning, still growing, and still discovering new things about myself. I believe life is a journey, and every experience has something to teach us.

QUESTION 2: Who is Stella Chin Akoma beyond the music?

Stella Chin Akoma:

Beyond the music, I'm a lady whose life is guided by faith, purpose, and a desire to make a meaningful difference.

My identity is not limited to being a recording artiste. I'm also an author and speaker, and I have a deep interest in storytelling, human experiences, and the lessons we learn through life.

I believe that our experiences can become instruments of encouragement to others. Sometimes, the very things we struggle to understand today become the stories that help somebody else find strength tomorrow.

I'm not claiming to have all the answers. I'm simply a person on a journey, learning to trust God, discovering my purpose, and using the gifts He has given me to contribute something meaningful to the world.

QUESTION 3: You call yourself The Sojourner. What does that name mean to you, and why did you choose it?

Stella Chin Akoma:

The Sojourner represents my understanding of life as a journey.

A sojourner is someone passing through a place, moving along a journey rather than treating the present world as the final destination. For me, it is a reminder that life is temporary, our experiences change, and we must never lose sight of what truly matters.

My personal experiences have deepened my connection to that name. Life can change unexpectedly. The things we once considered permanent can change, and the people we love may not always be physically present with us.

Yet, even through uncertainty, we must keep moving forward.

The Sojourner reminds me that I am still on a journey. I am learning, growing, creating, and preparing for something beyond what I can see today.

It is not simply a name for my music. It is an expression of how I understand life, faith, and purpose.

QUESTION 4: Your husband, Mr. WleyPatriot Chibe Akoma, played a significant role in your musical journey. How did that journey begin?

Stella Chin Akoma:

My musical journey carries a very personal story, and my late husband was an important part of it.

He encouraged me to keep singing and to take my musical gifts seriously. His encouragement helped strengthen my determination to continue pursuing music.

My journey officially began on 26 October 2021, and that date holds a special place in my heart because of the role he played in encouraging me.

Losing him on 26 October 2025 was a deeply painful experience. It was difficult to reconcile the date that marked the beginning of an important part of my musical journey with the date I lost someone who had encouraged me along the way.

But I have come to see my music as something I must continue to nurture. His encouragement remains part of my story, and I want to keep moving forward with the gifts and opportunities I have been given.

For me, continuing to sing is not about pretending that loss does not hurt. It is about finding the courage to continue living, creating, and fulfilling my purpose despite the pain.

QUESTION 5: Your song Show Me Joy Through You (Heaven, Hear Me) touched on grief and the struggle to find happiness after losing someone you love. What inspired it?

Stella Chin Akoma:

That song came from a very personal place.

After my husband's death, I experienced the kind of grief that makes ordinary things feel different. You may find yourself smiling in front of people while struggling emotionally when you are alone. Sometimes, you want to feel okay, but you cannot simply command your heart to stop hurting.

Show Me Joy Through You (Heaven, Hear Me) grew out of those feelings. It expresses the struggle of losing someone you love, the difficulty of finding happiness again, and the longing for reassurance when life feels unfamiliar.

I wanted the song to communicate something that many grieving people experience but may find difficult to explain.

Grief is not always loud. Sometimes, it is quiet. Sometimes, it hides behind a smile. And sometimes, it comes through music because music allows us to express emotions we cannot easily put into ordinary conversations.

The song was released on 16 April 2026, about five months after my husband's death.

I hope that when people listen to it, those who have experienced loss will feel understood. I also hope it reminds them that even when happiness seems far away, they are not alone in their struggle.

QUESTION 6: You have released different songs, including Victory Is Calling and The Sojourner Anthem. What do these songs represent in your musical journey?

Stella Chin Akoma:

Each song represents a different expression of my musical and personal journey.

Victory Is Calling carries a message of hope, encouragement, and the possibility of moving forward even when circumstances are challenging. I believe that people need reminders that their present struggles do not necessarily define their future.

The Sojourner Anthem, on the other hand, connects strongly with my identity as The Sojourner. It explores the idea of a wanderer's homecoming, using rich acoustic guitars, pulsing polyrhythms, and inspirational vocal arrangements.

It reflects the journey of searching, growing, and finding one's way home.

Although the songs have their individual identities, they belong to a larger creative journey in which I explore faith, life, hope, and the human experience.

I want my music to do more than fill the silence. I want it to communicate something meaningful.

QUESTION 7: Your music cannot be placed neatly into one genre. Are you deliberately avoiding being labelled as a Gospel artiste or an Afro-Fusion artiste?

Stella Chin Akoma:

I appreciate Gospel music deeply, and my faith is an important part of who I am. However, I don't want my entire artistic identity to be restricted to one musical category.

I am interested in Gospel, Afro-Fusion, Afrobeat, inspirational music, and other creative expressions that allow me to communicate different ideas and emotions.

For me, music is a language. Different sounds can communicate different experiences, and I want the freedom to explore those possibilities while remaining true to my values and identity.

I don't believe an artiste must limit their creativity simply because the industry finds it easier to place them in one category.

I would rather allow my work to develop naturally while ensuring that every project reflects the message, sound, and artistic direction I intend.

Ultimately, I want people to recognise the person behind the music, not just the genre attached to a release.

QUESTION 8: You are also involved in writing and speaking. How do these creative expressions connect with your music?

Stella Chin Akoma:

I see music, writing, and speaking as different ways of communicating.

Sometimes, a melody expresses an emotion better than a paragraph could. At other times, a written reflection allows me to explore an idea more deeply than a song would permit. And there are moments when speaking directly to people creates a connection that neither music nor writing can fully replace.

My interest in writing also comes from my desire to reflect on life and share lessons from personal experiences.

Through these different expressions, I can explore faith, human behaviour, personal growth, hope, and the realities of living in a world where circumstances do not always unfold as we expect.

I don't see these interests as competing with one another. I see them as complementary parts of my creative journey.

My goal is to communicate meaningfully, whether someone encounters my work through a song, a written piece, or a message I share with an audience.

QUESTION 9: Many independent artistes struggle to gain visibility and establish themselves in the music industry. What has your experience been like?

Stella Chin Akoma:

The independent music journey requires patience, determination, and a willingness to keep learning.

Creating music is only one part of the process. There is also distribution, promotion, audience engagement, branding, content creation, and the challenge of helping people discover your work.

Sometimes, you invest your time and resources in a project without seeing the results you hoped for immediately. That can be discouraging, but it also teaches you the importance of consistency and understanding the business side of creativity.

I am still learning and developing my approach.

I believe artistes must recognise that talent alone does not automatically guarantee visibility. We must also be intentional about how we present our work, connect with listeners, and build relationships with our audiences.

I want to continue growing as an independent artiste while exploring opportunities that can help my music reach more people.

For me, the journey is not just about releasing songs. It is also about building something sustainable.

QUESTION 10: What role does your faith play in your personal life and artistic decisions?

Stella Chin Akoma:

My faith is central to my life.

As a Seventh-day Adventist Christian, I believe that life is more meaningful when we recognise God as our Creator and allow our relationship with Him to influence our decisions.

My faith does not mean that I never experience questions, sadness, or difficult moments. It means that even when I face those moments, I have a spiritual foundation to which I can return.

I believe faith should influence not only what we say but also how we live, how we treat others, and how we respond to difficult circumstances.

In my creative work, I want to remain conscious of my values while allowing myself room to grow artistically.

I am still a human being with experiences to process and lessons to learn. But I want my journey to reflect a sincere desire to walk with God, even when I do not fully understand everything happening around me.

QUESTION 11: You have experienced a significant personal loss. How has that experience changed your understanding of life?

Stella Chin Akoma:

Losing my husband changed many things about how I see life.

It reminded me that we can make plans, build dreams, and imagine what tomorrow will look like, but we do not have complete control over the future.

It also taught me that grief is deeply personal. People may see you functioning, working, creating, or smiling and assume that you have completely recovered. They may not realise what you are carrying privately.

I have become more conscious of the need to treat people with compassion because we rarely know the full story behind another person's behaviour or circumstances.

I am also learning that moving forward does not mean forgetting someone you loved. It means learning how to continue living while carrying the memories, lessons, and love that remain.

There are things about grief that cannot be rushed. Everyone's journey is different.

I am taking my own journey one step at a time, trusting God and allowing myself to keep growing.

QUESTION 12: What does success mean to Stella Chin Akoma?

Stella Chin Akoma:

Success means more to me than numbers, popularity, or public recognition.

Of course, I want my music to reach a wider audience. I want people to discover my songs, connect with my messages, and appreciate the work I put into my creative projects.

But I also want to know that I am growing as a person and remaining faithful to the values that matter to me.

If my music encourages someone who is going through a difficult season, if something I write helps a person reflect more deeply on life, or if my message gives someone a reason to keep moving forward, I consider that meaningful.

I also want to build a sustainable creative career that allows me to develop my gifts, work with other talented people, and create opportunities for future projects.

For me, success is a combination of purpose, growth, meaningful impact, and the ability to keep doing the work I believe I have been called to do.

QUESTION 13: What are your ambitions for the future, both musically and beyond music?

Stella Chin Akoma:

I want to continue developing my music, expanding my audience, and exploring opportunities beyond my immediate environment.

I would love to see my songs reach listeners across different countries and cultures. Music has a unique ability to connect people who may have different backgrounds but share similar emotions and experiences.

Beyond recording, I want to continue writing, speaking, and developing creative projects that allow me to express my ideas and contribute meaningfully to the lives of others.

I am also interested in building structures that support creativity and provide opportunities for artistes and other creative professionals.

I believe the creative industry has enormous potential, but realising that potential requires vision, planning, collaboration, and persistence.

I don't expect everything to happen overnight. I am prepared to keep learning, refining my work, and taking the necessary steps towards the future I envision.

QUESTION 14: What message would you give to someone who is struggling with grief, disappointment, or a season of life they never expected?

Stella Chin Akoma:

First, I would say: please don't be too hard on yourself.

Sometimes, life takes us through experiences we would never have chosen. We may lose people we love, watch our plans change, experience disappointment, or find ourselves trying to understand a future that suddenly looks different.

You do not have to pretend that everything is fine when it isn't.

Give yourself room to process what you are experiencing. Reach out to people you trust. Allow yourself to receive support, and don't assume that you must carry every burden alone.

For those who believe in God, remember that faith does not require you to deny your pain. You can trust God and still acknowledge that something hurts.

I am also learning these lessons in my own life.

We may not always understand why certain things happen, but we can continue searching for meaning, accepting support, and taking one step at a time.

Your current season is part of your story, but it does not have to be the only thing that defines you.

QUESTION 15: Finally, what should your audience expect from Stella Chin Akoma in the coming years?

Stella Chin Akoma:

They should expect growth, creativity, and a continuing exploration of my journey through music, writing, speaking, and other projects.

I want to keep releasing music that reflects different aspects of my artistic identity. I also want to develop projects that allow me to communicate more deeply with my audience.

There is still so much I want to learn, create, and accomplish.

I don't want to rush the process simply to appear successful. I want to build with intention, improve my craft, and make decisions that support the future I am working towards.

Most importantly, I want people to understand that Stella Chin Akoma is still on a journey.

I am not presenting myself as someone who has arrived at the end of every struggle or found the answer to every question. I am a lady who is learning, creating, believing, and moving forward.

And that is part of what The Sojourner represents.

I invite everyone to follow my journey, listen to my music, read my writings, and stay connected with the projects I continue to develop.

There is more to come, and I look forward to sharing that journey with you.

CLOSING REMARKS

Stella Chin Akoma's story is a reminder that an artistic journey can be shaped by more than talent alone. Faith, personal experiences, perseverance, and the determination to continue creating can all become part of an artiste's evolving identity.

Through her music, writing, and speaking, Stella continues to explore the realities of life while seeking ways to communicate hope, meaning, and inspiration.

Her identity as The Sojourner reflects an ongoing journey rather than a finished destination: a journey of learning, creating, and finding the courage to begin again.

As she continues developing her musical and creative vision, one thing remains clear: her story is still unfolding.

JHECTA News celebrates the voices, stories, and creative journeys that deserve to be heard.