CABU GAH DIARIES: Bahati’s New Song Is Out. But Why Are Gospel Artistes Increasingly Referring To The Almighty God As Their ‘Lover’?? It’s Unacceptable!
Bahati,the electrifying gospel music heartthrob has dropped yet another one of those samey gospel anthems of his. Its titled “Lover”. An obvious reference to The Almighty. I heard it. And cringed.
But before delving into the beefs,allow me to say that I totally and wholly love the song. Absolutely! If Bahati’s aim was to exhilarate and send us scampering to the dancefloors,he’s succeeded. To the hilt.
Though it isn’t really a departure from any of the past Bahati songs,it still manages to,somehow,excite and entertain so much. Its brilliantly sang. And I particularly love the part he says “L.O.V.E”. Lord,its orgasmic! Plus that video,euphoric.
Praise aside,let’s now shift focus to Bahati’s very uninformed tendency to,over and over,reduce God to some kind of romantic figure he shares some rendezvous with by repeatedly calling Him “Lover”. Or “Mpenzi”.
This trend was started by Bahati’s gospel music contemporary,Willy Paul. Sometimes back in 2013,Willy Paul did the hit “MPENZI”…an obvious reference to The Lord Almighty. We forgave him….
He then followed it up with the controversial “Missi” a song in which he sings somewhat carnal praises to God telling Him (God) that “Nimekumiss sana…Kukupenda ndio nataka kufanya…”
“Ungekuwa Kabinti ningecheza Love song…Huku na kule ningekufuata wewe…Mwokozi wee….Ungekuwa mtoto ningekutoa neppi …kila siku kubadili mapampers…”
That song,that very poorly written and stupidly thought out song,created quite a controversy back then…with major Gospel DJs,many of who unashamedly suck up to Willy Paul,categorically refusing to play the sacrilegious song.
I couldn’t understand how a songwriter would be so bereft of imagery that he had to reduce God to such shameless,basic day-to-day pursuits.
But then again,Willy Paul has consistently shown his daftness. And its not a wonder. Really.
And as if by cue,Bahati picked up these irreligious songwriting tips from Willy Paul and started doing all these secular-oriented ‘Gospel’ songs ostensibly in ‘praise’ of The Almighty God.
As if saying “You are my Lover…” to God is not already disrespectful enough,Bahati follows that same stupid Willy Paul stunt by singing,“Ungekuwa Wimbo ningekucheza sana…Ungekuwa zeze ningekucheza sana…”
God is the Supreme Being. The Maker Of The Universe…The Custodian Of Life. And The Origin Of Existence and it baffles me how someone can so casually call such a Omnipotent Being a “Lover”.
Traditionally, the names ‘Lover’ and ‘Mpenzi’ are almost always used to refer to one’s sexual partner. In almost all World societies.
I am yet to meet a normal African man who calls his own earthly father ‘Mpenzi’. Or even his mother. I am yet to meet a woman who calls her biological dad her ‘Lover’. It’s unheard of! And it would be taboo if any young woman ever walked around calling her father “Mpenzi”. A man who would save his mom as ‘Lover‘ in his phone book would be deemed straight out insane.
90%-if not 100%- of the people who use these words in reference to anyone,the people being addressed must always be having some sort of sexual relationship with the user of those words.
But Bahati and his on-and-off nemesis Willy Paul seem to have totally missed the memo. And have been,for years now,shamelessly using these libido-inducing slang words in reference to Their Creator,an asexual God.
Its impious. And absolutely tasteless.
But then again,Bahati must be in a race to keep up with his Tanzanian godfather Diamond Platnumz who has proved to be quite the maestro of Bongo love songs. And since Bahati’s songs are also very heavily Bongo-esque,Bahati must be under great pressure to assign the genre it’s millenia-old homage-Love songs.
Bahati also must be aware that it is somewhat unacceptable for a Gospel artiste to sing for his girlfriend and,trapped in such a tight corner,Bahati must now be trying to channel his love song skills towards God…assuming that God is a girl.
But these boys are going about it totally wrongly. It’s perfectly Ok to praise the Lord God and express your spiritual love for Him. Oh yes,even assign him a few sweet names but Lover?? Really!!? Mpenzi?? Seriously!!?
A God as supreme and Almighty as the God I assume Bahati worships in truth and in spirit is surely NOT the being to call Mpenzi. He’s surely not the kind of Being to so casually call ‘Lover’. Because He isn’t. And will NEVER be.
Surely,there must be better names to assign to Jehovah God other than these secular,worldly and informal names normally reserved for a member of the opposite sex-or same sex these days-with whom you’re engaging in nocturnal bedroom games.
God is beyond some titles. Or analogies. Way beyond.
And in as much as we wish to pretend that we ‘love’ God and wish to establish an everlasting communion with Him,we must learn to first respect His very Holy status and desist from reducing Him from the Almighty God to some ebullient teenage girl at a High School prom.
Praise Him all You can! But find better words to refer to the Immortal Being responsible for Your breathe.
Its NOT funny. Neither is it flattering.
There’s too much secularism that is slowly creeping into our ‘Gospel’ music industry. And it starts with these Bongo wannabes. Look,You can secularize your dance styles,your genres,your themes and even your music videos but at least let the Names You call God remain respectable. And pious.
If You cannot call Your own mother ‘Mpenzi Wangu’,why do You think its Ok to call Yawheh so?? If I cannot call my earthly father,Mr. Peter Gachie,’My Lover’,why would I find it fit to assign such a tawdry title to the Maker of Humanity?!
Some respect please!
Come On! Even the Devil is not that stupid!
