Stephen Siloma a writer, mental health ambassador and photographer took to his website silomasays.com to express his opinion and disappointment that the Kenyan gospel industry has gone to the dogs.
In a long post, he shared how after attending the just concluded Groove Awards he went home with a heavy heart and left sad for the so call Kenyan gospel music industry.
Siloma wrote;
“So let’s talk about Groove. It was at first, amazing, I really loved how they did a medley of the old music, the band was on point. I first sensed something was amiss when Dr. Ofweneke joked about Timmy Tdat winning an award. I asked myself, why mention Timmy in such a ‘Christian’ event? It was not until I saw the worst where Dj Soxxy dressed like some lady (Agnes Kiunga) I saw trending recently, a dancer in Sauti Sol’s ft Nyashinski recent hit, Short N’ Sweet.”
“Can we also assume that Dj Soxxy, or any of the organizers of Groove never knew what ‘Kabla nizame six inch deep’ meant before they decided that he was to be in such a costume? Or can people tell me to stop being dramatic and take it lightly because it was ‘just another wild joke’ that we Christians can laugh at? Can someone poke me and tell me I to let people be or ‘Stop judging because am not God?” Siloma dissected the song.
And he continued;
“Kenyan Gospel industry has been reduced to showbiz. Secularism has filled the ‘Christian Ministry’ (now the entertainment industry) and it is now all about, who has the best music video, who has swag, who is trending in blogs and media, who did a collabo with who, and who is making it big in this industry. The dance styles, the wear, the fake glittering teeth and even the plaiting and styling of hair is all from the secular world. A friend just told me that it is now easier to get an erection in Church than in any other setup, why? Because modesty is now a thing of the past.”
And to let the cat out of the bag he continued;
“If Tiga Wana, Yesu Ndiye Sponsor, Odi Dance, Bwana nipe nyonyo and Flash kama pupu are our trending Gospel songs, then I do not know how such songs will draw us to Christ. I also do not know who young and upcoming artists will grow to emulate. I remember a Kenyan Christian artist telling me to write him a controversial article so that he may get popular”
Siloma posed a very pertinent question to Kenyan Gospel artistes;
“Are you writing this song to trend, to win an award, to compete with a fellow artiste, to be relevant or to be in the showbiz? Do you have a purpose with your music? What will be said about you when you die? What legacy will you leave? During the Groove Awards, there was a tribute of Angela Chibalonza whose music was played and very humbling words were said about her. It was 10 years since she died. Now ask yourself, are you here to bring people to Christ? To inspire, motivate, rebuke or give hope or are you here to have fans, become a celebrity and sign autographs?”
“Does Odi talk about Christ? Can it inspire, rebuke, teach and train in righteousness. And why is it referred in other ungodly music like Sauti Sol’s Short N’ Sweet that all it speaks about is sex? But as if that was not enough, Dj Soxxy went ahead to tell the audience to appreciate Aggie by clapping for her. Siloma mused in his post.
Siloma’s sentiment resonate those of Comedian Jalang’o who a few weeks ago expressed the same view about the secularization of the Kenyan gospel music an opinion which saw Jalang’o get at loggerheads with some gospel artist.
Do the sentiments of Siloma and Comedian Jalang’o hold any water? Well you be the judge?
