When Broadcast Music Inc. (BMI) decided to pay tribute to its influential stalwarts in its Christian cohort, it was only fitting that Sinach and her inspirational song ‘Way Maker’ receive the top spot. The song, released in 2015, became an instant mega-hit catapulting Sinach to the top of the music world regardless of genre. ‘Way Maker,’ written by Sinach and published by Capitol Christian Music Group (CCMG), was granted the Most Popular Christian Song of the Year award by BMI in a virtual event on Monday, August 2, 2021. The Song of the Year award is the US-based organization’s highest accolade. Sinach penned ‘Way Maker’ on August 15, 2015, while on a flight from the US to Nigeria. The singer/songwriter who hails from Ebonyi State, Eastern Nigeria, shared with Vanguard that “At that time the Lord was taking me through processes, taking me through another level of ministry, and I wasn’t quick to catch up. I was reluctant because I was comfortable where I was.
Finally, the Lord said, no, it’s time to go. I was wasting time, and the Lord telling me that he is the way maker, that he has already made a way for me where I was headed. And he is a promise keeper; he can do this.” Accolades This isn’t Way Maker’s first significant award. The song has a long successful history, including the 2020 Dove Award for Song of the Year, making Sinach the first Nigerian Christian artist to win the award. It has also been covered by over sixty globally acclaimed Christian artists such as Michael W. Smith, Leeland, Christafari, Passion Worship Bank, Maranda Curtis, Darlene Zschech Mandisa, and Bethel Music. In May 2020, Sinach became the first African artist to rise to the top of the Billboard Christian Songwriters chart. ‘Way Maker’ also holds the top spot on the list of Top 100 songs ranked by Christian Copyright Licensing International (CCLI), based on use in churches. In addition, ‘Way Maker’ has been translated into over fifty languages. The Leeland and Smith versions of the song entered the Billboard marking the first time in history that two versions of the same song resided together at the top of the chart. Its visuals are currently the second most-watched Nigerian music video on YouTube. ‘Way Maker’ is presently the most streamed gospel song on YouTube with over 178 million streams.
It also has a whopping 4.40 million streams on Audiomack. In March 2019, it became the third Nigerian video to garner 100 million views on YouTube behind Davido’s ‘Fall’ and Yemi Alade’s ‘Johnny.’ The Power of Song ‘Way Maker’ is genuinely deserving of this promising title as it is more than a song. In 2020, as the COVID-19 pandemic took its toll, ‘Way Maker’ served as a hope giver for millions. When it wasn’t giving hope, it was the battle cry that accompanied 2020 protests against systematic racial police brutality in the wake of the murder of George Floyd by US police officers. “In 1996, the Lord told me something. He said I am going to make you an example of my grace and favor. I said, ‘Yes, Lord.’ I wrote it down. It has been beyond my imagination. I am grateful to God for what he is doing with ‘Way Maker’ around the world. I like to appreciate my husband for always being there for me and the body of Christ that has given voice to this song,” shared Sinach.
The Artist Osinachi Kalu Okoro Egbu, known professionally as Sinach, is a Nigerian singer, songwriter, and senior worship leader at Loveworld. Sinach hails from Ebonyi State, Eastern Nigeria, and is the second daughter of seven children. She started singing for family and friends in 1989 as a hobby while working as a staff and choir member in Christ Embassy, now Loveworld. She attended the University of Port Harcourt, Rivers State, Nigeria, where she majored in Physics. Sinach has performed and headlined concerts in over fifty countries and has released nine studio albums with several other hit songs, including ‘I Know Who I Am,’ ‘Great Are You, Lord,’ ‘Rejoice,’ ‘He Did It Again,’ ‘Precious Jesus’, ‘The Name of Jesus’, ‘This Is My Season,’ ‘Awesome God,’ ‘For This,’ ‘I Stand Amazed,’ ‘Simply Devoted’ and ‘Jesus Is Alive.
