Kayode Olusoji is a Performing Artist & Music
Business Consultant. He has a great passion and burden to see that
gospel music grows in leaps and bounds not only in Nigeria but across
the globe. One of the strategies he has adopted is to constantly do a
write up that will ginger all the stakeholders who will make things work
in the gospel music industry.
Enjoy reading one of such articles below. He titled this one ‘Who Are The True Stars?’
In our world today we celebrate the wrongs and downplay the rights.
We promote indecency, vulgarity, nudity and unedifying music to the
detriment of nourishing, decent and wholesome music. For instance, some
songs are not supposed to see the light of the day at all, yet such
songs have flooded our TV stations and Radio Stations. Those that
younger generation see as celebrity and role models are actually laying
down bad examples and leaving wrong values for our children. This is
affecting our mode of dressing and general code of conduct. Media houses
are not helping matters; our children cannot freely watch TV stations
or listen to radio stations because you cannot be sure that the musical
content will be wholesome, decent and healthy. The most pathetic thing
is that, I have attended so many parties that are been organized by
Christians, ranging from birthday parties especially for children, to
wedding ceremonies, house warming and naming ceremonies just to mention
but a few, the types of song been played by the Deejays will make you
think that you must have probably missed your way to such parties,
because they seem like wild parties. If you ask many of them, they keep
on giving flimsy excuses that we have no good and danceable Christian
songs. Meanwhile in my own opinion, gospel artists have really tried in
terms of innovations into gospel music nowadays. We have produced
different genres of gospel music just to meet these demands so as to
conciliate, mollify and placate the critics, so what is really the
issue?
Who are really the true stars? Though in our world today, many
secular artists who sing songs with unedifying lyrics are been
celebrated, they readily get endorsement from blue chips companies, they
seem to get more music contract and at times gospel artists feel
ostracized, but are they really the true stars? As an artist,
you are promoting a kingdom via your music. It is either the Kingdom of
Light or the Kingdom of Darkness. Star shines, so if you are truly the
light of the world, then you are the STAR. No matter how thick the
darkness is, a little glow or radiance of light will send the darkness
parking. Light will always triumph over darkness so gospel artists are
the true STARS. No wonder, the greatest man in history, Jesus Christ,
said in the Holy Scriptures that we should let our light shine so much
before men, that they may see our good works and glorify our Father who
is in heaven. He also said that we are cities set upon a hill and we
cannot be hidden. We are actually the light of the world and that means
that without us the world will be in darkness. We are the salt of the
earth, without us the earth will be tasteless. He said it is improper
for us to light our candle and put it under a bushel. So don’t be
intimidated by the gross darkness that has covered the earth and the
people via ignoble and reprehensible music. Let us arise and shine for
our light has come and the glory of the Lord has risen upon us. God
promised us that our sun will not go down and our moon will not withdraw
itself. He promised to be our everlasting light. Therefore, let us
light our candle and don’t allow anyone or anything to quench the flame
of your fire, no, not even mammon.
There are so many territories that belong to the Kingdom of Light but
it seems darkness has taken over. We need to take back those
territories which the enemies have stolen. As gospel artists, this is
not the time to sit on the fence, lower our standard, or run to the
other side. Like Joshua of old, it is time to fight and take back those
lost territories. We have several Christian CEOs in Blue Chip companies
who cannot defend their faith by insisting on the kind of music that
must be played or the caliber of musicians that must be invited for
their corporate events. In any case, we can take a stand. Let us take
over our media houses and play healthy songs. Let us flood the internet
with wholesome lyrics. Let churches rise up with Record Labels and sign
up gospel artists. Let those in government propagate and promulgate laws
that will terminate that cankerous disease called piracy. Let us buy
over blue chip companies and make gospel artists brand ambassadors. Let
Christians stop patronizing and subscribing to unedifying music. Let the
menace of playing unwholesome music stop in our birthday parties,
naming ceremonies, and all kind of functions. Let us train and educate
our children on the type of songs to listen to and the type of music
videos to watch. It is a won battle already, we only need to take our
positions and possess our possessions. Light will always triumph over
darkness. Right from the creation of the earth, when God called forth
light, darkness instantly disappeared. Let there be more financial
support from churches and Christian organizations so that we can
continue to produce quality music and quality musical videos. Let us
open world class musical studios with the best equipment. Let us build
world class concert halls with the best equipment. Let us not rest on
our oars, until the TRUE STARS begin to shine.
Gospel artists, you are the light of the world, let your stars
continue to shine even in the midst of darkness, until all iota of
darkness in our nation, in our continent and all over the world
disappear.
Kayode Olusoji