Pastor Abel Damina of Abel Damina Ministries has criticized gospel musicians, stating that they are no different from mainstream artists like Davido, Tiwa Savage, and Burna Boy.
He argued that there is no biblical foundation for gospel music ministers, adding that their lyrics lack the essence of the gospel.
Damina made these remarks while addressing his congregation, referencing a viral video of Pastor Chris Oyakhilome of Christ Embassy, who recently lamented that he had to part ways with some gospel artists because their motivation was solely financial.
“The worst of them are the ones they call music ministers. I didn’t see that in the Bible. There is no difference between them and Davido, Tiwa Savage, and Burna Boy. Their modus operandi is the same. They have agents, agencies, and managers. They have a list of things you must do. You pay, you sort things out before they come. They are the same thing. The only difference is that their lyrics are motivational,” he stated.
Damina further explained that many so-called gospel songs lack the fundamental message of the gospel. “The gospel must have the facts in it. Any song that doesn’t have those facts is not the gospel, it’s motivation. The gospel is how Christ died for our sins according to the scripture, that he was buried, and that he rose again on the third day. If those lines are not in a song, it is motivation.”
He criticized gospel musicians for prioritizing performance over ministry, alleging that their main goal is financial gain rather than spreading the gospel.
“They charge $50,000 for one night. Those of them they call A-list gospel ministers charge that kind of amount. N10 million for one night. These are businessmen using the Bible as a meal ticket. They don’t stay in teaching services, and they don’t have pastors. They don’t sit down to be taught. They are just like prostitutes. When they come and sing, immediately they finish singing, they are gone. Because as far as they are concerned, they are the bosses. The rest of you, plus your preachers, are apprentices. They are superstars,” he said.
Damina did not spare the churches that engage these musicians, blaming them for creating the culture of commercialized gospel music. “I don’t blame them. It is the churches that patronize them that are giving them that relevance.”
He further alleged that a particular ministry in Nigeria was responsible for fostering this trend but is now struggling to control it. “There’s a ministry in this country that was responsible for fertilizing, nurturing, and creating that monster. Now that ministry is regretting and looking for how to fight it, but the monster has matured. They don’t know how to destroy it. They have tried to destroy it, but some of them have left those churches because they have already established their business.”
According to him, many gospel musicians left their home churches after becoming famous because their brands outgrew the institutions that nurtured them. He also criticized pastors who initially endorsed them, only to later regret their actions.
“You created the elephant, deal with it,” he declared.
