Why is the Kenyan gospel industry such a mess?

Although I’m not a staunch Christian, I must admit that sometimes I get bothered when I see some of the things that are going on in the Kenyan gospel industry.  I’m sure many of you who are reading this are perturbed s well.

Also read: Gengetone gospel should not become a thing!

In the past few months, a new genre of music that many people refer to as gospel gengetone has gained traction and to be honest, it is one of the things that really worries me.

I knew things had gotten out of hand when Linet Munyali, alias Size 8, released a song with Masterpiece titled High Bila Ndom. For a woman who is a role model to hundreds of thousands, that was a new low.

The gospel industry is also riddled with many scandals. From Bahati’s dramatic fall outs with artists who are singed to his label to the sex scandal involving DK Kwenye Beat and Hopekid to the countless pregnancy scandals.

I don’t really know what happened but it seems somewhere along the way, gospel artists forgot that their main role is to spread God’s word. It like the fame and money got into their tiny heads.

I wish that the gospel industry could be as it was in the early 2010s. Every secular artists wanted to become a gospel musician because they were good examples to others and the industry was very vibrant.

Outrageous scandals involving gospel musicians – something that has become the norm today – were almost unheard of back then and neither were did they have to pull stunts before releasing new music. It was just good vibes.

I think it is time for the players in the gospel industry re-evaluate themselves.They should go back and see where the rain started beating them before it’s too late.

And no, I did not say that all the gospel artists have lost their ways, the likes of; Mercy Masika, Alice Kimanzi, Pitson, Guardian Angel and Gloria Muliro still make good music and it’s my hope that they will be steadfast in the faith.

Watch Kererembe by Bahati, Mejja and Madtraxx below.