Kenny Saint Brown has shared her problems in introducing Afro-gospel music to the church.
In a recent interview with Believers Companion, Brown discussed how working with secular artists such as MI Abaga, the late rapper Dagrin, and Terry G impacted her music’s reception in the church.
The renowned gospel singer, who is the younger sister of Kenny Ogungbe, the co-founder of Kennis Music, claimed the church did not support her efforts to promote what is now known as Afro-gospel.
She said the church failed to see that she was “using their platform” to persuade nonbelievers.
Brown highlighted US gospel singer Kirk Franklin’s same issues with internal church rejection, referring to a verse in the Bible about “winning souls”.
“The only problem that I had, it was not from people outside accepting it; it was the church accepting it,” she said.
“The same problem Kirk Franklin had when he came out with Storm. They said what was this because they were so traditional and so religious. Do you get it?
“So, what worsened it for me was that I now had mainstream, rough boys. But these rough boys came from church! Terry G was the drummer to Benita Okojie back in the day. He was a church boy.
“Who else? MI, Dagrin. If you listen to Dagrin’s punchline on that album Turnaround, it was all prayers. Do you understand? So, I was the one buying into their audience.
“The Bible says, ‘Go and be my witness first from Judea, then here, to Jerusalem, then to the uttermost part of the earth.
“That thing does not mean Australia. The uttermost part of the earth is the lost souls.”
Brown also advised gospel singers, saying they should not collaborate with secular artistes without divine instruction.
She started her music career while in school in 1979 with the choir. She released her debut album ‘Totality’ in 1998.
Brown was formerly married to singer Eddy Montana.
