Pitson: Kenyan gospel music is not dead

Singer, songwriter and preacher Pitson this week said Kenyan gospel music is still alive despite the challenges it has faced in recent years.

Speaking after welcoming ‘Nina Siri’ star Israel Mbonyi to the country, Pitson acknowledged that Kenyan gospel artistes need to do better and many have not lived up to expectations.

“I want to start by apologising to Kenyans because it’s true that the gospel industry was somewhere in this nation and we got so many opportunities but some artistes did not live up to that testimony.

“I want to assure you that Gospel music is not dead in Kenya. Gospel music cannot die. There is a change in the sound…you will see a lot of live performances, church groups releasing music as opposed to individuals," Pitson said. 

He assured the nation that the narrative would change in the next one or two years and Kenyan gospel artistes would regain their rightful place.

On using clout to push gospel songs, Pitson said it was a shame that some musicians had resorted to that as it does not align with the values in the gospel space.

He said gospel songs should be inspired by the Holy Spirit and anything else outside that is not right.

"Gospel music na Kiki hazifai kumix. Gospel music inapushiwa na roho mtakatifu,anatupa lyrics na kama anataka iende mbali itaenda. Mungu anaezainua anyone wakati wake ukifika. Nitawahimiza gospel artistes haswa wale wanaochipuka wasifanye kiki, gospel sio ya kiki," he said.

Pitson will be among artistes who will join Mbonyi later today at Ulinzi Sports Complex for the Africa Worship Experience.

Speaking after arriving in the country, Mbonyi said his song ‘Nina Siri’ was revealed to him in a dream, twice.

He said his team helped him to write the song and that he accepted to be used by God to spread the gospel.

"On April 18th I had a dream of someone singing 'Nina siri, the voice also said 'Waambie wanaolia' and that is when I knew it was a lyric song for me and would make a good song. My team helps me write Swahili songs. I speak Congolese Swahili which is not fluent," he said.