The switch of the Gospel: What pushes it?

The pbadage to gospel by many secular artists was perceived as a desperate search for relevance. BONIFACE NYAGA looks at these famous conversions, the reactions they sparked and the unpublished stories.

In the recent past, secular heavyweights like Collo, Lady B, Size 8, Wahu, Circute, Amani and Sabina Stadler have all jumped on the gospel train. Under the glaring headlines that often accompany these conversions, there is an unprecedented story of what is really going on behind the scenes.

While many praised them for their movement, some see it as the efforts of "washed out" artists who seek relevance and financial gain.

The numbers do not lie, and they all pointed to the commercial success of gospel music in Kenya. In fact, the sector is doing so well that evangelical industry professionals from Malawi, the United States and even Germany have come to Kenya to study it.

On cats and on performance contracts, gospel artists sign their names in history. The question that remains unresolved in the minds of everyone is why so many lay artists are turning to the gospel; Are they really looking for God or just cashing in the hype? Has the success of the evangelical industry led to unforeseen consequences, such as the attraction of all "bad" types of people?

"This negative perception comes from the fact that gospel music is doing well. So when you change, everyone thinks you are looking for money. Mine was a personal decision, I needed to change my life. I was saved in 2007, when "Juala" was a great success, and I lost money because of my change. If I was really after the money, it would not have taken me 10 years to release a song, "Circute, formerly of" Jo-el and Circut ", says

The leader of The secular game became a pastor, Victor Gerald Wagana, was a major force in his days.His single "Juala" was controversial as well as popular for its graphic content.The news of his change hit the airwaves a few years ago and was received With absolute shock, he has since become a pastor and has recently released a piece of gospel, "Miracle", under his brand name: Circuit Justes.

"The gospel industry is divided into two, ministers of the gospel and gospel artists, "he admits." There are many who do it for money and I suppose that it becomes of more and more difficult to separate the real from the fake. I can guarantee most artists who have changed, I know them personally.

Size 8, whose pbadage to the Gospel in 2013 broke the Internet, argues that time has justified it against its skeptics. Was not commercially motivated as she was already the best-selling female artist in East Africa.

At the time of her change, she had lucrative endorsements, multiple bookings and various broadcasts It was a major challenge to change a brand that was already widely accepted by fans and sponsors, and many experts advised against it.

"J & # 39; had to refuse a national tour with a beer company when I was saved. Over the years, I left many contracts on the table because they were in conflict with my faith. The skepticism is actually nothing new, people doubted the Apostle Paul when he was converting, they doubted me and they doubted the next artist who would make the change. "

To deepen her faith, Size 8 is currently undergoing a Bible in Theology.It insists that her change was real, arguing that she was a lay artist for only three years while she was a student. she remained in the gospel of the gospel for six years.

Although she admits that the evangelical fraternity has some rotten apples, she argues that the Bible is full of unsavory characters that were used By God, in his opinion, denigrating is neither productive nor Christian, but rather advocates mentoring to guide them to the fold.

As the founding father of Kenyan music and practicing pastor, Pete Odera traveled with many local and international celebrities in their walk of faith.Although he can not name them because they come to him with confidence, he admits that there is many lay artists who are d He attributes this to the fact that many talented Christians who returned during the day had to make secular music to make ends meet.

At the time, gospel music was not a viable career and the church was not receptive to their style of music, so they came into the mainstream. He argues that the new wave of commercial success in the gospel industry has encouraged many to return to their roots, because they can now make a living by doing what they like. .

"If my walls were talking, they would tell a story and a half, you would not believe people who shed tears on my carpet.I had local and global stars who came to see me in private , looking for answers, "I have known Wahu since the age of five, I have prayed with her in the hospital wards and I have seen the transition first hand.It was coming at our church long before she's making the announcement, so it was not just a sudden decision. "

However, he worries about young gospel artists who appear to be more gullible to the hype. Many of them came to the golden age of gospel music and did not appreciate its roots or the struggle it took to go that far.

Amani is the last of a long list of celebrities to join the evangelical fraternity; leaving behind a 15-year legacy of success. With only a unique gospel to her name, she now builds her repertoire from scratch. She is however imperturbable in her belief and sees her music more as a mission and not as a career.

"As a public figure, people follow each of my movements and interpret things according to their experiences and backgrounds, I respect people's opinions, and they all have the right to doubt my intentions, but at the end of the day it was a personal decision.I am happier now and I have more peace.Spity is a very personal thing that replaces any gain or loss commercially. " , she says.

The intention is a hard thing to judge, and many will continue to pontificate the engine of these conversions.With the state of affairs in the industry of the company. Gospel, there is good reason to doubt this new wave of salvation.In the end, however, time is the only qualified judge and jury that will separate the real pretenders.

SOME OF THE DISPLACEMENTS TO THIS DAY

1. Collo

Collins Majale, the "Bazokizo "hitmaker, caused chills among his fans with his decision to take a new direction after a long silence. He thrives in the gospel scene with his first song that attracts a lot of attention and, as the lyrics say, he has to be saved to live a better life.

2. Mr. Googz

He turned to gospel music in 2005 after being separated from his lay friend and fellow musician Vinnie Banton in 2004. Vinnie Banton will later join the camp. gospel but has not yet published a gospel song. Mr. Googz now runs a church in Kiambu County.

3. Lady B

His softened voice used to honor legends such as Nonini's success in his secular days. She finally abandoned the secular world to focus on ministry and gospel music in 2016. She is a single mother to a gorgeous girl and rides high with some top spiritual songs.

Wahu

She made her gospel debut in late 2017, shortly after her husband, Nameless, was hospitalized. The mother of two became praying after her husband was transported to the intensive care unit and later released after a few days. She has up to two edifying gospel songs one that tells this experience.

7. DNG

The self-appointed man number one was a budding gospel artist before giving up his faith and joining the secular world. He was rumored to have returned to his beliefs.

9. Marya

The mother-in-law once told her about fighting postpartum depression after delivering her child. The tube producer "Chokoza" then made the decision to join the world of the gospel and gave up its ties with secular music in late 2017.

10. Cece Sagini

Cece began her career as a gospel singer, but began to embrace secular music. She has converted back to Christianity and is believed that she never looks back since. She warmed hearts when she married in 2017.

GEORGE D. MWENDWA