By Clemence Tashaya
EENHANA – The subject of what constitute or defines gospel music is one that attracts a lot of debate, with many defining gospel music in their own terms, both as a concept, including as only applying to humans who practice the Christianity faith.
A recording gospel artist from Ohangwena region, Risto Mushongo, in his second latest album titled, Time to Change, seeks to define gospel believing the Namibian society is Christian society and only non-believers are doing the wrong things in the society. “My second CD album has eleven tracks and I am defining gospel and in the title track Haleluya I am praising the Lord through preaching the Bible in lyrical and musical form with the aim of acknowledging God as a Creator of the universe and the only authority who sustain every manner of existence,” he says
He says gospel music speaks to the human spirit by reminding people of their duty to worship and serve him through performing works of charity and other good deeds to fellow humans. The musician released his second album last week and its now selling across the country. He says he is ready to turn the world to trusting in God alone through whatever challenges people may be facing in today’s world.
Other songs from the album includes Eli Eli, Hompa nina wiza which is composed in the Rukwangali language, Praise the Lord,Songile, Let me run, Tumwimbileni, Jabule, MuKriste. Risto says gospel it is any form of music, composed for entertainment and can be sold for profit, targeting a specific market but serving to praise God or preach the gospel of goodwill towards men and how they can practice their faith through observing socio-cultural values and norms of behaviour that bind them together.“One of the identifying marks of gospel music is that it speaks the same language of praise and teaches about Christ through varying interpretations of the Bible. I am, however, persuaded that it is inappropriate to categorise gospel music as essentially church music, because church music by its nature cannot be commercialised and cannot be composed for entertainment purposes,” adds Risto.
He further notes that like angelic music, where heavenly angels cover their faces with their wings and bowing in complete submission and reverence as they praise and worship God (Isaiah 6: 2-3, Revelations 5: 11 – 14), church music is also performed by members of a church or singing groups in any atmosphere of serious praise and worship.
Gospel music, however, can be described as any form of light entertainment that constantly reminds sinners or people that there is God in heaven who expects his people to change their ways and live him in love and peace towards each other. Being sold for profit in record shops, concerts or being used for purpose of entertainment cannot be anything to discredit gospel music, since gospel artists by virtue of being human, can naturally be expected to gain some income from their own artistic works.
Over and above, Risto explains that there is no single definition of gospel music since it can be defined from a variety of angles depending on people’s socio-cultural backgrounds and experiences. “What defines gospel music to one church or culture can be different from how it is defined in other churches or cultures,” he claims.The album is now available in Eenhana, Walvis Bay, Rundu, Oshakati, Windhoek and its going for N $ 120.