Gospel music from hell?

The line between gospel and secular music has been blurring over time on the Kenyan entertainment scene that one can no longer notice their difference. As a senior pastor in a Nairobi church joked recently, when it comes to modern gospel and secular music, the difference is the same. EAIF senior reporter ODUOR JAGERO explores this gospel – secular debate, and delivers a damning verdict for ‘modern’ gospel music lovers.

By ODUOR JAGERO
Published October 18, 2009

A crowd of christians enjoying music from their favorite artists

When a ‘Christian music star’ takes the microphone, the audience bursts in hero worship of the musician instead of God. Daddy Owen, a famous – almost infamous – Christian star, has introduced a genre called Kapungala, fusing ‘Kapuka’ and ‘Lingala’, in which he claims to be ‘the King’. Recently, at Nairobi Pentecostal Church, as he launched his ‘Kapungala album’; hundreds of worshipers cried, and grooved in what seemed like a Jua Kali [local popular secular musician launch] concert at Carnivore grounds. They yelled, and screamed as Owen, wiggled his waist to the beats imported from ‘bowels of hell’, to quote the anti-contemporary gospel music, Pastor Papa Mpiana.

When Kirk Franklin came to Kenya, instead of getting a ‘holy spot’ for the concert, the organizers picked Carnivore grounds, where revelers had been dancing, and boozing the previous night. In this concert, Chit-Chat, a Christian Band headed by the fiery Astar, charmed the crowd with a song entitled, “I like your shoes, ” whose lyrics don’t mention God. And before they left the scene, another hip hop artist, Juliani, mounted the stage. In a feat, Juliani and his spin-master, engaged the crowd in a quick and moving beats. He spins his dreadlocks, jumping and gyrating on stage, sending the crowd into a frenzy, before his famous track “Mtaa Mentality”, picks the cue. Again his lyrics mention no God, majoring on comic, rhyme, and rhythm.

“The penetration of alternative secular music, also known as contemporary Christian music, seems to be taking control of the church,” says Pastor Mpiana of Chrisco Church. He adds that most of the so called Christian music are all secular, and pays homage to the underworld. According to some church leaders and pastors, it appears that Gospel music has degenerated into fun and entertainment, rather than a tool for spreading God’s message. But Owen says that times have changed. It’s impossible, he says, to reach the youth using boring hymns, which the aggrieved pastors approve of.

Juliani gyrating on stage

“Times have changed,” says Owen. “The youth want to have their message packaged differently. To them it must be fun, before they get the message. So we are going with the times.” It appears that most of the gospel musicians are keen on first establishing what sells, before running with it.

“And that is where the problem lies,” says Pastor Francis Awando, a Nairobi-based pastor. “Our gospel musicians are focusing on what is going to sell, and sound good. In a way, content comes after. To most of them, it’s business first, and not ministry instead of vice versa.” Pastor Mpiana, who has worked with young Christians for along time, while researching on the influence of music, says that music is as dangerous as it is helpful.

“The only tool that can penetrate someone’s unconsciousness without his knowledge is music. Therefore, the number one tool that the devil uses is music. So to capture Christians through music, he must give them something mild – something that is “good”. They call it contemporary Christian music, or gospel.”

“Ever wondered why the so called gospel music is taking over from secular music in Kenya?” asks Pastor Ken Aringo, Kenyan director of Global Youth Ministry. He quips, “Because the difference is the same.”

Running a series dubbed Sexaggerated, Aringo mused, “Everything music is sex related. sexy car, sexy computer, sexy this, sexy that, and Christians are caught up in the black monster.” He is planning another series titled, “The Truth behind Hip-Hop culture.”  “You cannot have hip hop gospel because, hip hop is one religion, and Christianity another; you can’t have two religions complimenting each other. Hip hop cannot be twisted to suit Christians”.

Daddy Owen recieving a trophy of best male artist in Nairobi recently

Mpiana agrees, “You cannot sanctify the source of anything. Hip hop is demonic, formed on rebellion, and it remains that. Juliana is not amused by this opinion, “Everything in this world is God’s, and we have the right as Christians, to use anything to glorify his name. Saying that hip hop beats are demonic is like saying that, one should not buy a kitchen knife, because some use it to kill.”

But according to Owen, what matters are the lyrics, which accompany the beats. He reminds the pastors that, there is nothing like gospel beats, or a genre of music such as praise and worship. He says, “Every music comes from a genre. It doesn’t matter whether you pick a reggae tune, hip hop or rock. Beats and keys are just what make music.”

He argues that a key ‘C’ in a Jay Z’s “Got Yoself a Gun” track is the same ‘C’ in a Don Moen’s “Above All song.” “It’s all complicated and confusing. But the controversy does not only lie with the pastors. The consumers also hold divergent views.

Raphael Odera, a diehard fan of Juliani says that, all music is good, and it’s the motive of a singer that matters. “When someone sings to praise God, then why not? He should not be judged. For me, gospel musicians are trying. All they need is our love and backing.”

But Sellina Onyango disagrees, “The bible tells us to exhort each, with songs and hymns. There is no mention of reggae, hip hop, pop and R & B. There must be a difference. And the point is that difference, is not being articulated by gospel musicians.”

Chit-Chat, a gospel band in Kenya performing during Kirk Franklin show

It all boils down to what constitutes gospel music. Wikipedia defines gospel music as, “music that is written to express either personal, or a communal belief; regarding Christian life, as well as (in terms of the varying music styles) to give a Christian alternative, to mainstream secular music.”

The key appears to be “regarding Christian life.” The definition does not insist on mentioning of God, as prerequisite. But some say it all depends on the words, while some argue that it starts from beats, dance, and then lyrics. If the dance is ‘secular’ then the lyrics must be viewed with suspicion.

Mpiana says that gospel music must have glorification of God and Jesus infused in its lyrics. “If you shut out the name of Christ, then you have no reason calling it gospel music,” says Mpiana. Some argue that, it’s one’s motive, while some argue that a song by a professing Christian qualifies to be called gospel music.

Pastors and church leaders cling to their guns, while the musicians refuse to let go of their opinion.

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