Have you had the chance to listen to controversial releases by Chris Embarambamba, ‘Niko Uchi’ and Pastor William Getumbe ‘Yesu Ninyandue’ ? These songs are causing such a stir on social media and in the gospel music industry and therefore, I will recommend that you don’t.
On 29th February, 2024, the Kenya Film and Classification Board ( KFCB) through its Media Monitoring Department released a press statement regarding these hits by Embarambamba and Getumbe and ordered removal of the controversial songs from streaming platforms.
The Board says that these songs which are purported gospel invites ridicule to the Christian religion and contains nudity and vulgarity. The attention of KFCB has also been drawn to these artists’ dancing styles which are violent and presents imitable behaviour which is copied by minors hence can be dangerous and disastrous.
‘’ The Board appeal to parents , caregivers, and guardians to pay attention and to keenly monitor the content children under their care access on social media networks, broadcast channels and other platforms, and be more vigilant as their children stay home during the mid-term break. In cases where children have access to the internet and smart devices, parents / guardians must exercise responsibility to ensure that minors do not access inappropriate content.’’ It adds.
It has further issued a demand letter to both artists and instructions on how to pull down inappropriate materials from their social media platforms. And failure to comply with this these terms will result in a legal action under Films and stage Play Act, Cap 222 of the laws of Kenya.
In response to this ongoing controversy, many gospel artists have chosen to create music that reflects their personal faith and values. They have issued concerns about their compatibility with Christian values, especially for younger listeners .For them, music success isn’t merely measured by popularity and a wide audience , but by remaining true to their spiritual journey of faith and redemption.
Nevertheless, it’s clear that the Kenyan Gospel industry is a crossroad where artists have to choose between pursuing fame and staying faithful to their calling, crafting melodies that bless and inspire. Only time will tell which path prevails in this dynamic musical landscape.