Churches robbing musicians?

IN one of the local Pentecostal churches this past week, a concert entitled Drummers for Jesus marked the birth of an innovative concept by young musicians in Bulawayo

Drummers for Jesus concert IN one of the local Pentecostal churches this past week, a concert entitled Drummers for Jesus marked the birth of an innovative concept by young musicians in Bulawayo which saw drummers coming together on one platform to show others that there “are drummers in the house of God and they have a voice praising the Lord with what they do and they reach out for souls as they play the drums”.

drummers

OWN CORRESPONDENT

Thus the drummers were drawn from across the pentecostal realm of churches. Guest drummer Tino, based in South Africa, also took to stage.

Having played for Zahara and other prestigious platforms such as the South African Musician Awards the 24-year-old drums man delivered his own drumming master class. But you would not have noticed him on stage because the lights do not usually beam in that direction!

Explaining the concept The show was compeered by two youngsters who spoke a little longer than would have been necessary had it not been for the fact that they took pains to explain the concept. What makes drummers for Jesus unique? “It’s not just a group of people (musicians), but they also run clinics, what is called a clinic. We are teaching young drummers who are coming up from all churches eg Zaoga, Word of Life, Harvest House. So these drummers here will be the lecturers,” explained one of the masters of ceremonies Walter Sitotombe.

After waiting with bated breath to see the unfolding of the idea, Obey Mudiwa (drummer with renowned jazz band Outfit) came on stage followed by Bhekithemba Ndlovu, Erastus “De Cul” Nleya (session drummer with Vocal Ex) and Reginald Moyo (in-house drummer at Harvest House). The four drum sets on stage throbbed with the pounding of four drummers all out to show their skill.

In the crowd sat notable musicians Jeys Marabini and his wife as well as jazz guru Hudson Simba as the crowd lapped up the drumming with whelps, screams and hollering. And the combined drums would not abate for about five minutes before it was time to allow the spotlight to fall on individual drummers.

Solo showcase First up was Obey Mudiwa who played a couple of tracks alongside his band Outfit in a set that made some wonder whether the organisers was not losing their own plot by having a full band come on.

Outfit, however, is by now a very accomplished group and as tight as a group can be. Jazz icon Simba could be seen nodding his approval for the scintillating guitar driven sound of this rising group.

Sam Siwela plays the smashing lead for the group that took the appreciative crowd through their well constructed jazz sound scape.

Yes there are traces of George Benson and blues legend BB King in this band’s music, but there is a distinct Zimbo rhythmic base.

This professional band is worthy of any global stage and they have excellence written all over them.

Still, after Outfit others followed drumming away and some handled the drums like a lion mauling its prey. Erastus Nleya whose pastor parents sat in the front seat waving joyously is one “guilty” of this “crime”.

Getting paid ? Ultimately the show was successful as a novelty idea. More than this, it was an opportunity for the drummers to come into the spotlight and show their skills.

The question that went begging for this writer was that about the level of appreciation for musicians in the Christian churches.

One of the musicians in attendance as a fan at the concert spoke on condition of anonymity when probed as to whether the musicians in church are remunerated as are the pastors, seeing as they are full time: “My brother it will get me in trouble with the pastors so don’t quote me, but this is an area of concern for musicians. They work hard and they also should be paid especially if they are full time and committed.”

This writer took time to research the Bible and discovered that in Old Testament practice, dedicated full time musicians fell under the Levitical order which supported the priestly service and thus their up keep was a temple responsibility. Somehow the churches have shied away from remunerating their Levites (the temple musicians) forcing them to join secular music bands so they can live off their talents.

The common refrain offered by some “men of God” is God will bless you. Why can’t “God will bless you” be used as rationale for not paying the pastors?

The argument is decidedly thin and one thing for sure is that the local musicians in and out of church are suffering for a lack of a musicians union.

Imagine a pentecostal church service without the musicians ! The time has perhaps come.