Entertainment: Contemporary gospel music

It bores the magazine reader’s eyes when hot entertainment news stories don’t have fine pictures on them. It even does more damage than just boring, if the picture does not reflect the news; Or if the picture has some controversy, in the reader’s eyes. Talk about the news of gospel musicians in a live charity concert, but with their nude pictures on it! It would be shocking. Thanks to today’s gospel artists coz they never go nude – at least for local musicians and even world-class celebs. But, it is not bikini shots that make gospel artists ‘nude’. A thigh-high mini dress would look okay on regional singer Juliana Kanyomozi but not on Judith Babirye. Tinted dread rocks like afro-beat singer Rafiki’s would also confuse fans of gospel artist Theo Uwiringiyimana if he dared wore them. In late 1980’s and early 90’s, American stars like Candi Staton and ‘Winans Family’ introduced contemporary gospel music. It had a tone that was different from the common worship hymns. Their dress fashion also matched the then secular rap stars, with baggy jeans, heavy bangles and trendy hairstyles. By mid 2000s, some local gospel artists adopted the African-American contemporary gospel music and style; though some went further than just singing. Just like local gospel reggae star Ezra repeatedly defends his nights in discotheques. He says being a Christian should not forbid him from visiting clubs. What about Mann Martin of the “Urukumbuzi” fame who maintains his devotion to church going but sings completely secular music and works more with secular stars. Pastor Marvin Winans of the ‘Winans Family’ defended this new trend of music as intent to pull even youths to church. Sure, contemporary music and style make gospel music even catchier; as long as the singers still maintain their church values as they grow modern. Ends