GENRE: Nigeria Gospel Music - Origin, Best Artists, Latest Music, New Trends
17 September 2020
Photo Courtesy, Sinach Instagram
By Kenneth Kiplagat
Gospel music is a genre in the Christian music umbrella speaking about the Word of Jesus Christ and his mission on earth. The theme surrounds the works and ultimately salvation of mankind from sin and a call to a close relationship to God through Jesus Christ.
Earliest forms of Christian music, recorded and sang from the psalms were stylistically hymnals and spirituals. These sacred songs were often repeated in a call and response fashion while churches relied on hand clapping and foot stomping as rhythmic accompaniment respectively.
The Nigerian Gospel Industry Origin and transformation
Christian music in Nigeria was introduced around the 16th century by Portuguese catholic missionaries through rudimentary forms of liturgical music during the early evangelism in kingdoms between 1485 and 1600 which evolved to later congregational singing.
The pioneers of Nigerian variant of choral music, were the Reverend Ransome-Kuti (grand-father of Fela Anikulapo-Kuti), who began experimenting with the fusion of choral music such as ‘Egbe awon angeli’, ‘Oyigi yigi olorun wa’, ‘Jesu oba alaanu’with Yoruba language and melodic structures in the 1890s. Another notable contribute being composer Ikoli Harcourt-Whyte.
Influence of the American gospel scene in the 90s grew a crop of musicians such as singers Kingsley Ike, Onos Brisibe, Sam Okposo, Broda Martyns, Ese Agese the further modelled the Nigerian sound in Nigeria to where it is now.
Top Gospel Artists Nigeria from 2000
Sinach is notably one whose sound has gone beyong Nigeria and Africa, Her song "I Know Who I Am" making the best of the airwaves. Among other notable artists are Mercy Chinwo, Frank Edwards, Nathaniel Bassey, Tope Alabi, Tim Godfrey and Ada Ehi.
Latest Music in Nigeria Gospel scene
Sinach: Peace in the storm
Mercy Chinwo - Na You Dey Reign
Ada Ehi - Settled
Ebezina - Tim Godfrey
"The expansion of the evangelical movement and Pentecostal activity in Nigeria continues to paint gospel music as crucial pillar of the Nigerian music industry"Music in Africa.
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