Meet the Grooving Gospel millionaires

 Bahati won Male Artiste of the Year at the Groove Awards 2015  Photo:Courtesy

Now basking in the glowing light of showbiz fame and fortune, a rather humble Bahati reminisces, his memory going back ten years, when his mother - then his only known parent - died.

He was nine, an orphan, who by grace had survived the journey from his native Makueni home to find ‘refuge’ in Nairobi’s Mathare slum. Ambitious as one would be, the dream of becoming a millionaire seemed far-fetched, let alone becoming Kenya’s most celebrated male singer for two years, back-to-back. He might not be taking home Sh1 million from his wins at the Groove Awards last Saturday, the amount he received from Safaricom last year, but there is no debating the grooming that Groove has gifted this young talent with, placing him on a pedestal like it has dozens of other gospel frontrunners.

Like many of his counterparts, Bahati has since moved from Mathare slum to the uptown Karen gardens. He drove into the Groove Awards ceremony in his new Mercedes Benz like a boss and was suitably glorified. Groove Awards, the most prestigious music awards show in the land, was the same event that like Bahati, was disregarded by many in its infancy ten years ago. At that time, a handful of gospel artistes met after overnight prayers at Nairobi Cinema to begin a movement that is now the springboard for an industry thriving in a showbiz windfall.

Forget the old-timers who would do anything to see the contemporary gospel industry die, as all they want is to see the new breed of artistes sing renditions of the pioneers’ songs, reproducing modern versions of tunes by Munishi and The Kassangas (a great era indeed, but one that is in the past).

No, we are neither making that comparison here, nor are we getting drawn into the prosperity-gospel debate. This is the moving story of a group of young people who refused to take the then lucrative secular route, and instead started the gospel music revolution in churches where they were later to be excommunicated. When Groove Awards was launched ten years ago, gospel artistes were struggling. They used to attend keshas till morning as they didn’t have transport home. The thought of living in posh estates seemed like a pipe dream. It was a bunch of single men and women so misunderstood. People called them career-lacking wannabe stars and mainstream rebels who were bad examples for other youth. No one wanted to be associated with the Groove Awards or the artistes themselves, not the church and certainly not anyone in the corporate world.

“I recall all that and I believe that God intentionally made it hard for gospel artistes so that they would never forget how far He brought them from,” Rufftone, one of the pioneer Groove Awards winners told Pulse. “At some point, Kevin Mulei went to KICC to confirm the Groove Awards venue only to find out that the premises had been given to Jua Cali who was launching his album. We had to squeeze ourselves in a car park near Kenya Re for the Groove event,” recalls the celebrated gospel singer who has since cemented his music ministry, besides recently marrying fellow gospel singer, Krystal.

After the embarrassment, the Groove Awards were moved to the then Tin Tin restaurant where the entire sound system was ferried in an old, hired pick up. Today, Mo Sound, the Groove sound and production stable, is the biggest sound company in East and Central Africa.

Anyone in gospel music then was seen as being backward because secular music was dominant, a far cry from what is happening today, when gospel artistes are the cream of the crop. “It was a very humble beginning so that God would be glorified. The thing is that our vision was clear; Groove was a tool to unite gospel artistes and to propel the gospel forward through this unity. We are now celebrating God’s doing and He alone can take all the glory,” says Kevin Mulei, the Groove CEO who is also one of the most successful young businessmen in Kenya right today.

“Back then, Kevin had one pair of open shoes that he wore for both official and casual wear. We had no cars at all. I recall how we all walked from Ngara to town one morning after our group - then called Gospel Artiste Pamoja (GAP)-  had attended Evangelist Teresia Wairimu’s kesha. It was then that God gave us a revelation that he would prosper gospel artistes.

“The new crop of artistes should not forget how far God has brought us for his own glory. The same God who brought us this far can take us back ten years or prosper us further, depending on the way we carry the ministry,” Rufftone adds, recalling the likes of Esther Wahome and Henrie Mutuku as forerunners who set the stage for the current windfall gospel artistes are enjoying.

Today, gospel artistes are able to afford quality video recordings and host worthy gigs that sustain their living. Corporates are also throwing in millions. Gospel artistes are also making more cash through endorsements and call-back tunes thanks to their popular hits. Gospel singer Gloria Muliro for example is one of the highest paid artistes when it comes to the Music Copyright Society of Kenya’s royalties. Besides, gauging from radio and TV shows, which translate into even more cash, gospel artistes are truly some of the best paid performers in Kenya. In fact, the gospel industry itself has turned so lucrative that more secular artistes are getting ‘converted’.

A joke was made when gospel artistes were invited to visit the President at State House three days before the Groove Awards ceremony. They went in the Groove bus and as they were about to drive back, everyone was forced to put their car keys on a plate for prayers. Most of the car keys were a testimony that gospel stars are now driving state-of-the art cars. “As much as we are not trying to say that we are glorifying material wealth, it was really a joy to find that most gospel artistes own cars and can run their businesses comfortably. That is a good thing. We don’t serve a poor God. Besides, God calls for blessings and prosperity upon his children,” a source who was part of the State House visit told Pulse.

Many gospel artistes such as Jimmy Gait, who confesses to his humble upbringing in Limuru, are now running mega businesses. DJ Mo of System Unit has one of the biggest entertainment stables in the country, while others such as Rufftone, Emmy Kosgei and Henrie Mutuku run their own ministries. Many have created jobs after working on TV and in radio and becoming household names and role models to millions of youth who believe there is nothing wrong with being a gospel artiste as perception had it back then. “Kenyan gospel artistes have become international ministers of the word. There is no place they haven’t been to. This is a testimony that God is at work,” says Esther Wahome who has been to over sixteen countries besides ministering before a number of presidents. “All they have to do is remain focused on their calling. It is easy to let pride come in and you forget that the initial call...the very call...the big call is to preach Christ, and Him alone. That is the gospel we live for,” she concludes.

“As gospel artistes, our biggest call is to win souls and that is part of what Groove’s vision is. We nurture talent and equip artistes for this very purpose,” Kevin added revealing that this message was one reason why the team invited Octopizzo to present an award during Groove.

“Octopizzo is very inspiring. He was very clear that he is a Christian. He is the only person who could come out and challenge gospel artistes to stop winning fans but souls. That was outstanding. He ministered,” he concluded.