On Saturday night I got to attend the biggest gospel event of the year that is the Groove awards despite the rain,cold and traffic jam that took me almost an hour to get to the Kasarani Safaricom stadium from Utalii a distance that would have taken me no less than 15 minutes on a normal kinda day with easy flowing traffic.
So I get there later than intended to with a friend called Anita,take pictures,lots of pictures and wait for the event to begin,which also had to start later than scheduled.
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| Yours truly at Groove awards |
As the VIP guests continued to trickle in I noticed an array of gospel artists as well as secular artists like the likes of Eric Omondi,Jaguar,Mayonde just to name a few taking their seats.
The event was in full gear after a couple of more minutes of waiting.Awesome performances,the winners of the night are awarded,photos are being taken,heartfelt acceptance speeches,fashion statements,dance,laughter and cheers took over the night.
Admist all this the most amazing and surprising thing was secular artist Octopizzo going up on stage to give out an award alongside gospel musician Allan Aaron.The Something for you hitmaker then revealed something that we all did not know about his days as a 'fundi' who built the Nairobi Chapel along Ngong' road.He also went on to say that the fact that he is not a gospel artist does not mean he is not a christian because he is a catholic by faith but also goes to other churches.
This has stuck with me since that day and it got me thinking that this was a smart move by the Groove awards organising panel contrary to what other people think that he should have never been invited or that he is a secular artist thus he was not welcome at a gospel awards event.
You would ask me why I think so and my answer is damn well straight forward,the gospel is not for those who claim to be saved alone! He is a christian despite what he does for a living.He has his relationship with God that neither of us know about but the most important thing is that in the end we worship the same God,so who are you to judge?
Infact,our salvation or allegience to God is not only in proclaiming with the word of mouth that we are saved and sitting in a far off corner pointing fingers that so and so is doing this and that but should also include doing good and bringing more and more people closer to Him who created everyone.
I am not big on scriptures but know that the Bible says that the Kingdom of God is not for the righteous but for the sinners and that you who have seen the light should take on the challenge and make them see the light too.
If I am to judge him for what he does like these so called gospel artists are doing,I would take into account the music he sings which brings food home to his family,he plays football to fund a water project in Kibera,he has a project with the UNHCR at Daadab,he has made something out of himself from a poverty stricken boy back in Kibera slums and he inspired many with his little speech at the awards all which are good things and if he has the bad,he is only human.Not even half of you who are so quick to say that it was a gospel event have done half of the things he has done.
So if anything you who are so self righteous and condemning Octopizzo for being there should see this as an opportunity get closer to him in order to make him see the light.
This is not a to agree or disagree situation but the reality of what the world has turned into,discrimination and condemnation all over because of being different,what we do,what we eat,what we dress in and even who we invite to events! Like seriously? Can't we just all accept each other,love one another and live happily?
Octopizzo and other secular artists being there also shows their that they stand in solidarity with their fellow artists regardless of the labels put on them,their support and appreciation for the gospel music.So if you ask me again why I am in full support of this controversial issue I will say this is a great stride in uniting Kenyans putting aside the work that we do or religious affiliations.
The condemning bandwagon led by the likes of gospel artiste Mr.tee and others should get this right because you are out there misleading poor Kenyans with your ideologies,shame you on for judging others so harshly and stop this whole hulabaloo on social media.
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