This archive report was first published on 25 June 2021.
Kenyan singer Kevin Bahati has faced intense scrutiny over his recent music releases, with many accusing him of abandoning his gospel roots for worldly music. However, in a recent statement, Bahati clarified that he has never changed his artistic direction.
"DEAR GOD!!!.... I have Seen People Send & Tag Me to this Video. But Because Father You Know My Heart & Reasons You Know this is Still Me; this are still are My Words and You Know I Have Never Changed," Bahati said in a video that has resurfaced online.
Bahati's clarification comes at a time when netizens had resurfaced his speech at the Groove Awards, where he stated that he would never abandon God. He emphasized that his music is for God, not for the industry, and that he has separated himself from the gospel industry for a while.
"The gospel ni Christ and I have Christ in my heart and believe in God and God is the reason I’m at the top, I cannot leave Christ, that’s the most important, it’s not the gospel industry. The Gospel Industry I rotten…but that’s story for another day," Bahati said in a previous interview.
His statement echoes those of fellow gospel artist Willy Paul, who recently revealed that he ditched the gospel music industry for secular music due to too much hatred and hypocrisy in the gospel world.
Willy Paul pointed out that he was tired of the denial of airplay by fellow artists and DJs, who claimed his songs were not good enough. He also expressed his frustration with the lack of support and the favoritism that existed in the gospel industry.
