The Gospel disco

With gospel music taking over and a new breed of Christians who shirk fundamental Christian customs, here comes the gospel disco age, writes Matilda Nzioki

On a typical Friday night some five years ago, James, a youthful Christian — whose conscience did not get all mixed up in a miasma of worldly joys — would stroll from the office to the then nearby Tropez Club to hit one for the road. Not his friend John, a staunch Christian.

Turning a blind eye to the so-called worldly deceptions; alcohol, romantic liaisons and every thing bad, John would dash to his humble abode where he would meditate over the word and marinate in a world of praise and worship.

Fast forward to 2012 and John now, still strong in his faith has joined the bandwagon of young Christians engulfed in the new gospel craze; John hits the gospel rave club on Friday evening where he enjoys Christian contemporary groove till the break of dawn.

In fact, he is spoilt for choice as to which disco rave to attend as this exhilarating phenomenal takes over the city.

Jokes aside, in a generation where the nightlife, clubbing and the church are quickly becoming intertwined into a seamless beat of melodic lifestyle, it is not uncommon to see a plastered bunch of youth hit out of the club at 6am, have fries and chicken at their favourite fast-foods café, and then hit the church.

The average club deejay nowadays plays several gospel hits in the wee hours to nudge revellers into the right mood for church.

Gospel discos were unheard of in the 1990s. An experimental gospel gig was introduced at the then popular joint ZigZag, in Nairobi. It received huge public condemnation and fizzled out with the same hype.

HOLY DAVE’S RAVE

However, the emergence of ‘rebel’ Christian youth and pastors organising gospel night gigs (forget keshas) changed all that. The most remembered of these is the Mad Love Lounge.

Founder Chiko Nkhoma together with rapper Holy Dave and other organisers launched it around October 2007 at Barizi Restaurant in Yaya Centre, to be a weekly event, before it became a monthly afternoon gig described as ‘an event where young Christians can convene to sample positive entertainment.’

“In this era, a young Christian cannot say that they can’t have fun because every Friday night, there is a gospel disco going on,” commented DJ Mo.

“The raves are more pronounced now because there is more demand and supply of gospel entertainers,” explains Astar.

Three months ago, one of Kenya’s legendary discotheques Mamba International Discotheque in Mombasa was bought off and transformed into a gospel music centre. Renowned charismatic preacher Pastor Lai led the dedication and sanctification of the former wild nightclub, now renamed Mamba Gospel Music Centre.

The new facility’s CEO John Kameta said that a state-of-the-art sound system will be installed and it will be a place for Christians to dance ‘until their clothes fall off, as David did in the book of Second Samuel 16:4.’

“Most churches do not give Christians the opportunity to dance during praise and worship. Some have less that 30 minutes of praise,” John Kameta told Pulse, adding that there will be no preaching, just dancing and chilling.

The gospel disco in Mombasa is open from Fridays 12pm, Saturdays 10am and Sundays 9am, in order to ensure that Christians who leave church and want to dance more go to the centre. It is just one of many.

Ultimate Hangout Zone at Petma Restaurant by DJs Soxxy and Johni Celeb

Located along Kimathi Street, it targets a more mature crowd and usually starts at 7pm (Fridays).

“We target young adults, who want a place to dance or chat with some music on the background, or even come on a date,” explained Soxxy.

The weekly show has a different theme every other Friday; like dance night, comical and karaoke among others.

Fans are usually on their feet as early as 9pm. DJ Soxxy emcees and hypes the crowd, as Johni Celeb mixes the music. Gospel celebrities crown the show.

Chillage At The Village’at Village Market’s. Superbowl Rink by K-Krew

An uptown gospel gig that has been around for over a year now. It’s quite engaging, granted that it draws in sports fans as well. The groups of friends battle it out on the bowling lane. Others are on the other side of the joint, shooting pool, while others are busy on the foosball table.

The fans don’t appear worried by the open adjacent bar, as they enjoy their soft drinks and groove to the beats; which is perhaps why the advertising posters always indicate ‘strictly over 21’.

The boogying takes place every last Friday of the month and also has various themes on different months, with an entrance fee of Sh350.

CrossConnekt at Timers Restaurant by System Unit

It takes place at the usual Sunday jam session hours.

“We started this gig because we thought there are many young people around and instead of letting them end up in Florida 2000 or other secular jam sessions, it’s better to give them the same concept of an event, just in a gospel setting,” explained DJ Mo.

A talented young chick, DJ Tabbz, of System Unit warms up the crowd before the main man, DJ Mo, takes on the decks and seats are left bare as Alemba emcees.

Unlike the secular jam, there is no boy-girl grinding while dancing, rather grooving in crowds and trying to out do each other with the moves.

However, the latest dance styles that are being concurrently pulled at F2 are on full swing here.

Club 3:16 by DJ Sadic

This one is more performance-oriented and has a pastor ministering the night event as well as board games, pool table and PlayStation to wind down the night.

Mwapi by Astar

Mwapi (Music with a positive influence) by Astar has been held at the Lutheran Plaza every first Saturday night of the month for a year and only hosts 60 people.

 “Christians are not boring. For entertainment, they don’t want to just sit at home and watch movies. There is clean wholesome entertainment, an alternative solution to clubbing,” explains Astar.

Club Katika by DJ Sparxx

Hosted at Abongoz restaurant also located at Lutheran plaza right next to the University Way roundabout, this gospel rave was launched early last year. It takes place every first Friday of the month from 7pm till late. Organiser Sparxx says the target is Pulsers over 25 years. The setting is the typical one of a club: there is a deejay, and people hang out and dance as they interact.