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In Newtonian physics, ‘Free-fall acceleration’ occurs when an object falls under the sole influence of gravity. And Kenya’s gospel music is on ‘free-fall acceleration’ as it’s increasingly becoming hard to differentiate contemporary Kenyan gospel from secular music.
Worse is the presence of gospel music cartels that call the shots, dictating what will be played in radio and television stations by disc and video jockeys.
There are two factions: artistes who have decided to go it alone and those who subscribe to various DJ camps and their attendant TV shows.
Among the camps are four outfits: System Unit run by DJ Mo, Genius Republic under DJ Sadic, K-Crew lead by DJ Moz and ‘The Switch’ by DJ Soxxy.
The four camps run their own cliques of artistes and once an artiste subscribes to a specific stable, their music is in turn placed on high rotation within their television and radio shows.
So powerful are these camps that they decide which artistes get invites to perform at national shows and awards. They also determine stage fees and who performs for free. These cartels comprising music producers, disc and video jockeys use their networks within print and electronic media circles to push their agenda.
Gospel singer and songwriter Rufftone (Roy Smith Mwatia) describes the current situation as urgently needing God’s intervention.
“I am aware there are groups (cartels) out there but the Bible tells me that woe unto you if you will make one from the flock go to hell, it is better to be chained and thrown deep into the sea,” said Rufftone, clarifying that, “I do not belong to any of the groups of this world, I only belong to the group of Christ Jesus who called me.
All these clans and brands will be taken away. Today we are enjoying the fruits of serving Jesus but very soon, secular music will overtake the gospel simply because we have failed Jesus.”
DJ Mo who runs System Unit claims that the groups are not camps per se but companies.
“I do not call them camps, I call them companies and I am not apologetic in any way for saying that,” DJ Mo said, adding that, “Watu pia wanatafuta doo and we run companies just like any other brand out there.
We have Ogopa DJs, Spin Cycle and every other stable, why is it an issue if we in the gospel industry too come up with something of our own? The only difference is that when it comes to the gospel arena, you will notice that we play 90 percent local content.”
DJ Mo further distanced himself from talk about DJs owning artistes.
“I do not own any artiste at all. Maybe the only artiste that I can lay claim to is my wife. I was the first to ever play Willy Paul’s song and look at Bahati’s breakthrough hit Mama, in the video, he dons a System Unit T-Shirt. So, when you see me pushing certain music, it is all because of talent development.”
But Ringtone, the musician turned politician blames the ‘cartel of DJs for running down the local gospel industry.’
“The people who have failed the industry most are veteran gospel DJs because they have an opportunity to whip gospel artistes to a certain direction but since they have their own differences and direction they have chosen to fight their own battles,” said Ringtone, attributing the state of affairs to financial insecurity.
“In as much as you are born again, you have a landlord, a girlfriend, boyfriend, parents and various responsibilities. Everyone wants to make ends meet and as a result the industry has subconsciously been subjected into certain frustrations.
The only reason artistes get massive airplay and attention from all corners is because no one expects them to behave like that. If they were secular artistes, no one would have even known them today,” said Rufftone.
Kimdanny, a contemporary gospel artiste on the throes of making a break says that, “Were it not for secular shows, most of Kenyan Gospel Artistes would not even have started their musical careers.”
Another artiste who requested anonymity laughed off the association with God stating that, there is nothing Godly about Kenyan gospel music if any. “How do you explain when modern day Gospel artistes even charge their upcoming counterparts collaboration fee yet I thought we are singing to praise God?
