By: Sophie Opondo
Posted on Friday, January 24, 2020
Shifting camps from secular to gospel has always been a controversial topic. People wonder whether the move is financial or spirit-led. Singers making these huge leaps are never spared by people and at times even the church.
Amani, Collo, Lady Bee, Size 8 and very recently Wahu are among the few musicians who have publicly talked about their salvation and released gospel songs that have been considered hits. Despite the very public change and singing gospel music, people still question the validity of these songs. Most often than not contemporary gospel seemed to be considered as too worldly for the church. On the other hand artistes keep saying that they are trying to meet their fans’ at the level of their understanding.
Lady Bee, Collo, Amani, music producer Teddy B, Life Coach Robert Burale and Pastor Mr. T were guests at Switch TV to unpack this issue, given they were once secular artistes. They were interviewed by Miss Tamima on her show Real Talk with Tamima.
The bashing...
Cross over artistes are always bashed as people doubt they have fully left their past behind. Singer Amani previously known for hits such as Bad boy and Kiboko changu revealed that she let the world know she was saved two years after making that decision. She is not the only singer who got born again and kept it a secret for years. Size 8, Wahu and Collo did the same.
Most people presumed these singers went public, immediately hurried to the studio and started churning out gospel songs while in essence that is far from the truth. As their fans are processing the transition, at times the church is the place where they receive hostility. Very few people talk about it.
Winning souls…
Should gospel music be mellow or trendy? What about the beats? What qualifies music as gospel? Is it the mention of Jesus or reference to scripture? The Gospel scene has its fair share of struggles on which songs should be considered gospel. Robert Burale said that there is a difference between being a gospel artiste and gospel minister. There are singers who minister to their audience and there are others who want to impact their fans and win souls to Christ but they are not ministering to the people. That is where the question comes in, is it gospel music or is it joyful noise?
The truth always defends itself just as true gospel music speaks for itself. Not everyone can sing worship songs, there are others who evangelize the word. Mr.T said it best; the industry is about sales and ministry is about winning souls.