LAGOS, Nigeria — Popular gospel singer Panam Percy Paul don open up say he reject one big record deal wey worth £24 million in 1995 because dem wan make am no mention ‘Jesus’ for e songs. For interview wey him do with Pastor Emmanuel Iren, Paul explain say di three-year contract, wey be about N7 billion at dat time, get terms wey go against hin faith.
Di record label suggest make e use other terms like ‘Righteous One’ or ‘Greatest Lover’ instead of di name Jesus. Paul talk say, “Di catch was, ‘Can you reduce di number of times you call di name Jesus in your songs?’” He add say, “One of dem even talk say, ‘You no need to mention Jesus, you fit call Him other names!’ I dey shock, so I tell dem, ‘You fit keep di money while I dey keep di name!’”
Paul also criticise di way gospel music don dey commercialise well well, talk say how record labels and marketers dey influence di creative direction of artists now. “Today, di extreme be say di music ministry don turn to music industry,” he talk. “Di industry dey dictate to di ministers wetin dem go do, how dem go sing, and when dem go sing.”
Di singer give example, say na di marketers for Alaba wey encourage di musicians to add tongues to their songs. E emphasize say di essence of gospel music dey suffer because of di pressure from di industry wey wan make profit. “Gospel music suppose carry di message of Christ, but wahala be say, di industry dey push for commercial gain instead,” Paul conclude.
As fans dey talk about dis revelation, some pundits dey wonder wetin dis go mean for di future of gospel music for Nigeria. Di conversation about authenticity and faith in music don dey hot for a while, and dis case don bring am back to di forefront.
