The church, a nursery for secular musicians

The simple definition of a church is ‘house of prayer’. Lately the church’s characterization has broadened to as far as playing a nursery school for most moving talents. It feels bad, training a servant how to do work and when done with knowing-how, he leaves to work for the neighbor. It’s ironic but factual that today’s renowned secular and gospel musicians bare something in common, the same trainer. Meddy, one of Rwanda’s famed artists today, is no beginner as in superstar status. The ‘Inkora mutima’ singer has been doing music since babyhood, that time singing bass in his Sunday School choir. He found his way to the mass choir as a zealous teen which paved him way to where he stands now -sharing the hearts of most Rwandans with his super ‘Amayobera’ debut album. Last night, I was listening to a music play of one of the many radios in town and local singer The Ben came in with a gospel single. I could pick a few words like ‘….sinareka agacyiza.. .’(to mean I can’t do away with salvation) At least I had no doubt it was Ben because I never mistaken his magical voice. I was not aware though that The ‘Uzaza Ryari’ star once performed on the church pulpit; thanks to gifted choir directors who showed him way music-wise. And have you ever wondered why Tom Close stays in R’nB power like an undisputed king yet the industry presents potential competitors day to day? This R’nB wonder-boy says that it is his early prayers from church which still uphold him. He attributes his success as a secular artist to the experience he picked from the pulpit. “In church we learnt piano keys, made practice by coincidence and became what we are today,” says Tom. The 23 year old, did not imagine however that he could one day be a secular artists earning some bread music non Godly. Just like Tom and his brethren, world-class stars like the Winans, Rihanna, Brandy and Mario started their journey to stardom from church. Though just a few American kiddos fix time for Sunday School, these celebrities by coincidence were chanced to attend those ‘music nurseries’. Perhaps they wouldn’t be celebrities today or live as big spenders had it not been for the church. They owe thanks to their pastors and choir leaders. There is the second group of famed artists the likes of homeboy Mann Martin and African-American Faith Evans. They carried on as gospels stars until lately when they gave up and also ‘diversified’ (did both secular and gosple). Mann Martin in his latest singles ‘Yari Wowe’ does not sing about Jesus. Such artists take the process of turning secular on a slower pace up to when they picked the pace of their fellow secular artists. Mann Martin defends his reason of turning round as a way of earning more bucks. Very few gospel musicians earn their worth in music because their potential fans take talents to be more of ministry. The writer thus comes up with a remark that the church does more of nurturing musicians and hands the perfecting task to the secular artists. Music fans also owe thanks to mother Cathedrals and churches of their model artists for the nursing part prayed in upbringing of the music today. And gospel music fans, revise you mindset on why a singer should mount that podium to entertain you-never just for minister but also to reaping. Ends

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The church, a nursery for secular musicians