Nairobi, Kenya: A few years ago, we exclusively dropped a bombshell on a popular gospel artiste. The shelved truth about DNG’s secret drinking habit shook celebville. The entire gospel industry media platforms went on a daze and buzz, respectively.
It is one thing that the Kora award-winning gospel singer had vehemently denied only to admit after several of his drink-out photos were splashed out before the whole world. After that, DNG went full throttle secular as an events’ organiser, emcee and artiste, only to revert back to the narrow way recently. His explanation? Back in the day, he was only a young Christian whose action was dictated by the world.
“I was empty. My soul was troubled. Life was crazy, chasing after women and everything weird was vanity. It didn’t help me,” the star confessed during an exclusive interview with Pulse after he saw the light again.
“I have grown from a boy to a man. I want to do good things and preach positive lifestyle to the youth.
“At the same time, I think people should spell the difference between a godly calling and a professional career,” remarked the 254 Entertainment outfit CEO who submitted his life back to Christ on New Year’s Eve.
Many gospel acts are indeed singing about light but living in darkness. Call them the Iscariots in Team Jesus. Many have adopted rather strange ways in making impact. Drunken with fame and popularity, the industry players have chosen the Judas way.
Sex and booze
Mid last month, South African gospel sensation Sechaba Pali was arrested and remanded in police custody for eight days. Pali was released on bail of R6,000(Sh60,000). He was arrested on charges of statutory rape and allegedly fathering a child with a 14-year-old girl from Welkom, last year.
The gospel star, who is married to one Julie, has several children from previous relationships. Pali admitted having a child with the now 15-year-old but said he thought she was 17. The Grade Eleven pupil now has a three-month-old child with the star.
Closer home, such incidents have been common. Last year alone saw three girls get three different gospel artistes locked on police cells on sex-related issues, with two alleging that the gospel singers had raped them.
At the same time, even as details remained scanty, newcomer gospel singer Willy Paul and Ringtone as well as a dozen gospel deejays found themselves facing public scrutiny after incidents of clandestine affairs were reported. A gospel producer then eloped with a secular singer and within no time, two cases of two popular gospel singers’ pregnancies were confirmed — all these happened last month.
Gospel rapper Holy Dave (HD), is perhaps the latest addition to the controversy. It has been reported that HD takes alcohol, an allegation he has denied. The outgoing hip-hop act has been spotted in several hang out joints and eyebrows have been raised with some claiming that his salvation talk is merely made to boost his singing career.
“Nobody has ever found me drinking. I don’t take alcohol. The fact that I hang out in clubs with people who take alcohol does not mean I take booze” HD says.
However Holy Dave confesses that he has a small weakness with girls most of whom try to tempt him into romantic encounters. He says being popular has its own challenges and that money, women and sex are some of the challenges local gospel artistes face.
“Many times, ladies try to set us up. We get a lot of pressure from girls who are ready to do anything to get you compromising your Christian faith,” he explained.
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“Local gospel artistes have a bad image out there and I’m trying to save mine. I have heard negative stuff about Willy Paul. It’s not that good. However, people should know that we are not perfect. We are all human, and we make mistakes just like others,” added HD.
Gospel raves and clubbing
Ringtone, who many believe is more of a socialite than a gospel artiste spends more than average amount of time in night clubs; either playing pool or doing what he refers as ‘private businesses’. Just like other male gospel artistes, Ringtone too, is said to be a ‘ladies’ man, a thing he denies. “Being social has been confused to being a lover boy. I’m not what they think, “he told Pulse, defensively. According to Ringtone, the world has changed and gospel artistes have to move with the times.
“For gospel artistes, going to night clubs should not be a big issue. They go to socialise and everything that happens there is not their business.”
He added: “If I give a lady a lift in my car, from a night club, it doesn’t mean she’s my girlfriend.”
DJ Lenium, one time popular gospel DJ at the Coast dropped his hard gospel stance and is now a common face in secular joints.
“My faith is intact but I do what I’m comfortable with. At least, I do whatever I do in the open but many gospel celebrities are doing worse things in darkness. Many gospel artistes have compromised their gospel message,” he says.
Lenium, who was a member of gospel group Spansita was not the only one falling off the bandwagon as a fellow group member Simaloi got pregnant and then changed her faith.
Bantu, another Mombasa-based gospel singer who has been in the news for his drama with his ex-girlfriend says trends have changed. Bantu, defensively, says that he is not a player and alcoholic as has been depicted.
Divisions among celebs
“There is a thin line between secular and gospel celebrities. Most gospel artistes are now commercial and sex minded. They do songs that would attract gigs and big cash,” said Amani Ayila, a gospel radio presenter.
The new generation of you ‘cool’ church where young Christians have turned into gospel raves has not been received positively by many even as gospel DJ units defend the move claiming that it is a way of attracting young people to God.
The new trends have even caused a rift in the gospel showbiz fraternity as camps differ over ideas over faith related matters.
It is no longer a shock to find that different gospel camps can no longer see eye to eye. Individual gospel artistes are even pulling away from events organised by particular event organisers who are believed to be working in favour of a given class.
“The line between gospel artistes and secular artistes
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