- Nigerian artiste Timi Dakolo responded to Apostle Femi Lazarus' statement on gospel ministers charging for performances
- Dakolo argued that gospel ministers deserve to be paid for their work, highlighting the costs of studio sessions, production, and promotion
- Dakolo's response sparked discussion among netizens, with some supporting his views and others opposing them
Nigerian artiste Timi Dakolo has weighed in on Apostle Femi Lazarus' statement regarding gospel ministers charging for their services.
Earlier, Apostle Femi Lazarus criticised the growing commercialisation of worship meetings in Nigeria and Africa, stating that many have become more about performance than genuine worship.
He acknowledged that gospel ministers often justify charging fees to cover expenses such as instrumentalists and crew members. However, he emphasised that this mindset stems from a life outside Christ.
"The question of how a minister will pay the drummer, keyboardist, guitarist, and others if they do not charge, is a question from someone who doesn't know God. We are so far from the presence, that we do not know the supplies needed.
“The life we are called to ministry is the life of daily supply. If we are all ministers we will look up to God. If you charge money, what you do is performance and God only responds to your hunger, not the anointing on your head."
However, Timi Dakolo disagreed with Apostle Lazarus' stance. He argued that gospel ministers deserve to be paid for their work, highlighting the costs of studio sessions, production, and promotion.
"My dear Christians, a quote/conversation can sound intelligent and deep yet untrue. Just like everyone else. You deserve the very best things life has to offer. You should be paid what you deserve.
“Studio sessions, production and promotion cost a lot. You have a family to feed, you have rent to pay, and you have more songs to put out. We should stop all these attacks on people's work.”
He highlighted the responsibilities attached to music and beyond spiritual, expressed its artistic nature, stating,
“As much as it is spiritual, music is an art. If you can't pay people, Use your choir members and pay the amount you could have given the guest artist...
“Ministry needs music and music needs ministry. It takes at least 10 years and chains hours to be an elite musician. Develop your Musicians and singers in your church and pay them well. Leave all these belittling alone."
Dakolo's response sparked a lively discussion among netizens, with some supporting his views and others opposing them.
In an attempt to explain his view, he commented,
" First off, I am not a gospel musician. I am a Christian who does music, I have been in choir for years, and have seen it all.
“Singing your heart and trekking home. Everybody tasking each other to go home. Yet You people invite Foreign artist and pay them in dollars and fly them and their whole Crew down, Best hotels and logistics.
“Now that the people have learn and understood their value, gaslighting has started, Many choir members struggle to feed and have a decent place to sleep. Many can't afford choir uniforms.”
He went on,
“Gospel musicians are definitely not the problem, They are not one's building schools and charging fees their members can't pay.
“If you invite Don moen, u can't even think of giving Him 5m. We like to undervalue our own. Treat them small, What's with the mentality of Fly but not so high.
“You people should stop. As much as music and worship is spiritual. It is art too, the chord progression, the synchronization, harmony and sweet melody IS ART, Took years of practice to learn and THAT IS WHAT YOU ARE PAYING FOR VALUE, The music ministry is not a lesser ministry than another.”
Directly addressing Apostle Lazarus, he stated,
“Oga preach Jesus and Jesus alone, Value people and their craft, even inside church no be everybody dey collect the same salary. If you divide money for choir members instead of guest, them go sing their heart out, All these was said in love.”
Netizens weigh in on Timi Dakolo's response
Here are some reactions below,
@skincarebylh commented: “There is no how you will go and minister anywhere and leave empty handed, what pastor is saying is that putting a specific price on your ministration and demanding the kind of cars for you and your team to be picked up @ the airport and order orishirish is very wrong. If you want to do business do circular music it's veru simple. Gospel artist have taken it out of hand, and it must be said. They can make money from monetizing their social media platforms and that's fine but this order part that of some churches can't afford you it not acceptable.”
@uncle_koke commented: “When did we start having gospel musicians? Cox in the past we didt have them, is a recent thread.”
@monmartt_kidsth commented: “Timi is protecting his business...seriously understandable.
Imagine a minister being paid to talk about salvation.....God cannot be mocked.”
@royalline_kennel_official commented: “A minister be it pastor, teacher, prophet, singers or instrumentalist should have a job. The job fetches money and removes the church business mindset from them.”
@robinproducer commented: "Use your choir members and pay the amount you could have given the guest artist.”
@yhur_mentor commented: “Pastors tell their members to pay tithes, seeds and offerings, and we are told that those money are for God and God's work, which is fine. Now this pastors pay themselves salaries from this money been paid to the church. Simply because a pastor needs to eat and survive right? That's same thing for gospel artist, If you say they should come sing for you free, how will they also eat? How will they transport themselves back home? I support Timi Dakolo on this 100%.”
@kallowin properties_limited commented: “There is no church a music minister will go to that they aren't giving honorarium, These Ministers should stop putting a price tag on themselves like secular musicians already! If you serve God diligent, He will always make a way for you!”
@jisolabrandboss commented: “Gospel Music is no longer gospel music, it is a solid business and that is why I find it confusing.”
@droghenerumeogolo commented: “The work of God requires sacrifice. When money becomes a priority before you can always perform. It is now business and services rendered. This applies to Pastors as well.”
@denesanbill commented: “The gospel is not a venture for making money to enrich oneself, if you want to go into the business of music don't come under the disguise of a gospel musician, you can be a circular or inspirational musician and still call God in your music and people will pay the money you charge, it's simple.”
“Pay gospel artistes”: Netizens defend Moses Bliss for allegedly charging N7 million per performance
Meanwhile, TheRadar earlier reported that Nigerians defended gospel singer Moses Bliss, who came under fire on social media for allegedly charging N7 million as a performance fee.
While some dragged the gospel singer for not ministering for a lower price, others defended him, claiming he has bills to pay like secular artistes.