Kenyan gospel artists must wake up

A few months ago, I wrote an article where I stated that Kenyan gospel artists were deep in slumber reason being the industry is not as vibrant as it was 5 (or so) years ago.

Also read: Are Kenyan gospel musicians asleep?

Whichever way you look at it, the gospel industry seems to be lagging behind and that is something that is giving me sleepless nights because Kenya is a very religious country.

If you look at the biggest local songs this year, you’ll realize that most of them are risqué and I doubt there is a gospel singer who can say that he or she had a hit this year. Of course, Willy Paul does not count or does he?

I miss the days when the likes of Gloria Muliro (where did she disappear to btw?), Daddy Owen, Eunice Njeri, Mercy Masika, Marion Shakoo, Esther Wahome, M.O.G etc. would serve us with hit after hit.

Gospel concerts sold out in a matter of minutes and gospel award shows such as Groove Awards were really coveted. Those were the days when the gospel industry was at the top.

I don’t really know what happened but somewhere along the way, the rain started beating us so much so that almost everything has been dominated by secular artists. From radio and TV stations to awards shows.

To be honest, I don’t have a problem with secular artists. Afterall, they are also Kenyans and at the end of the day it’s a win for local music but at times I wonder what happened to gospel musicians? Did they get too comfortable?

Not that it’s a competition between the two camps but I’d prefer a situation where we have popular secular songs and popular gospel jams. All I am saying is that it’s high time Kenyan gospel musicians woke up from their deep sleep.