Music of Thursday, 23 October 2008

Source: ghanamusic.com

Gospel musicians criticized for ‘indecent dressing’

Some Ghanaians have criticized gospel musicians for what they term ‘indecent dressing in public” for public performances.


In an interview with The Statesman, some people, especially Christians, were of the view that the way and manner some gospel artistes dress tarnishes their image and the gospel ministry as well.


One member of the Presbyterian Church of Ghana at Lapas, a suburb of Accra, who wanted to remain anonymous, expressed, “In fact, I really pity these gospel artistes, especially the young ones, concerning the way they dress.


And at the end of the day, they call themselves children of God. The dirtiest part is how the women expose half of their breasts, and I sometimes wonder whom they are showing the breasts to.”


Others even mentioned some top gospel musicians to buttress their claims but this paper is concealing the names for now.


In view of the concerns raised, The Statesman interviewed some key gospel musicians for their responses.


O J, a gospel artiste, underscored, “It is a very shameful behavior which some of us men have raised some concerns about but the situation remains the same.


The Bible says we should not cause one to stumble through our dressing, yet our ladies are doing it; we the men with nothing on our chests even cover them but some of our ladies do not.


When I sit back and watch the television, I feel so bad to see some female gospel artistes, including married ones, showing to the general public some parts of their bodies which they ought not to have shown.”


Kwaku Gyasi on the other hand, did not see any thing wrong in the way the ladies dress and appear on the stage and in video clips.


Kwabena Kwabena on his part, maintained, “Indeed, one is entitled to what one wears but when it comes to gospel musicians, they have to show a little decency in the way they dress.


This clearly tells you that some of these musicians are just singing for money but not doing God’s work.


When I watch some of our gospel musicians on television, I often ask myself, ‘are these people singing to praise God or singing to raise money?” It is quite appalling.”