Yet again impelled by the folly to write, precisely to interrogate, embrace or dispel; the recent views by gospel artists to be included in the constructive process of building the bridges initiative, a proposal which by their thinking, would be useful if changes hyped therein would incorporate the voices and thoughts of its intended beneficiaries.
Further clinging onto a notion that any well meaning government, amid her a quest to offer service to citizens, would prioritize on civic education to maximize on public involvement.
Chiefly, to give room for diverse views to be infused and where necessary, considered and accommodated through dialogue as would be anticipated.
Notwithstanding, a “democratic” government would find it vital to learn from the histories of her success apart from drawing lessons from her failures.
From the BBI it is evident that the ethnocentric Kenya desperately needs to revolutionize her economy, though, she would first confine her conduct to assume a model of transparent and honest communication, devoid of malice, coercions, treachery or bribery mentalities that at best saw people line others up for sale during slave trade.
The social pillar being the nerve center of patriotism, and albeit addressed in the vision 2030, still tends to lag behind as compared to economic and political interests. Infact, most musicians in as much as are never told, have often been collectively stereotyped as casual failures with no major contribution to induce in the society.
First, by the media who ask artists questions on their careers away from music or whichever art they purse. But simply put, whenever gospel music plays, ears must try to filter what the celestial musicians say.
Hence citing a divine mandate or duty to nurture and watch over God’s creation recently, the musicians interestingly reasoned out from the biblical scripture that the Kingdom of God suffers violence and that to same it yields.
Led by Mc Angel, alias John Paul Santana, the niwewe hit brewer once a parking boy; now a gifted brand activator whose light shone in the previous years when he did activations for households such as Nescafe, Persil, Sun King Solar and Maisha radio. Doors that to his perspective, God himself opened when he volunteered his skills, time and energy in the Safaricom’s bring Zack home of 2012.
Consequently, living to debunk a social trend that a singer, poet, dancer or actor cannot flourish when producing conscious art, or work which simply vibrate egregious energies of positive and acceptable morals.
John Paul Santana, who compares his life to that of the deputy president William Ruto, is said to have not long ago auctioned his sound system to find the means to produce a song for the deputy president entitled Wakenya na Ruto.
Having moulded himself from the streets, he subscribes to the existence of a world of possibilities, therefore JP uses music as a tool to preach God’s word. Needless to add that whatever intellectual property given by creatives, goes a long way in weaving the social fabric that anchors the morals of any given society.
In developed countries for instance, the music industry is treated with utmost consideration owing to its ability to identify, market states and to its competitive nature to generate revenue like other industries. A fact that Kenya is yet to grapple with despite having a national anthem and in spite of the social erosion soaring at an arlaming rate. Generally, Kenya is yet to fully embrace and unfree her musicians despite knowing first hand, of the power that lays in music to heal and reconcile. Or the power in to destroy.
To draw an example is during the 2007 post election violence, when Erick Wainaina’s Daima kenya reminded a fighting nation about her patriotism. The euphoria reminded internally displaced persons their way home.
So, music and her conveyors must never be underrated for their immense ability to cause revolution “overnight”,
That is to further assert that musicians like John Paul Santana ought not be ignored, especially over this time when the internet raises children.
Alike Mr. Santana, gospel artists such as Papa Tomaso and Morgaziz Raziz have incessantly worked for the kingdom of Christ beyond religious inclination, bounded by the common denominator of the Christ christians serve.
Whereas Papa Tomaso has escalated his quest of passing crucial points of enlightment to fellow singers, Morgaziz Raziz has escalated his events in various churches, literally building a church without walls. Something that has seen him develop a soft spot for the youth.
- Influential blogger now claims he is the father of Karen Nyamu’s baby
- President Uhuru under pressure to publicly take the first covid-19 vaccine to dispel fear
- Kisumu County to start production of Electric Motorbikes
- Section of Kenyans disappointed by bill seeking to criminalize pornography
Yet, someone out of ignorance still would wonder why gospel artists would be interested in politics. I don’t know either, but in the mysticism maintained by the celestial musicians, the kingdom of God suffers violence and the violent shall take it by force.
Perhaps that is the information that the singers need us to comprehend.
As I pen off, it would be unjust to not share the link of Wakenya na Ruto as melodiously expressed by John Paul Santana. Was it worthwhile for the artist to auction his sound system to produce it ?
RELATED STORY: Grandmother stories: connecting with our Wisdom, Heritage & Identity
