The Church Did Not Encourage My Efforts to Promote Afro-Gospel—Kenny Saint Brown

The renowned gospel singer, who is the younger sister of Kenny Ogungbe, the co-founder of Kennis Music, claimed the church did not support her efforts to promote what is now known as Afro-gospel.

Kenny Saint Brown, an acclaimed gospel musician, has revealed the difficulties she encountered while in Nigeria.

According to her, her efforts to introduce Afro-gospel music to the church were not well received.
She was recently interviewed by Believers Companion.

Brown said that collaborating with secular artists such as MI Abaga, the late rapper Dagrin, and Terry G influenced how her music was received in the church.

The renowned gospel singer, who is the younger sister of Kenny Ogungbe, the co-founder of Kennis Music, claimed the church did not support her efforts to promote what is now known as Afro-gospel.

The Church Did Not Encourage My Efforts to Promote Afro-Gospel—Kenny Saint Brown

She said the church failed to see that she was "using their platform" to persuade nonbelievers.

Brown highlighted US gospel singer Kirk Franklin's same issues with internal church rejection, referring to a verse in the Bible about "winning souls".

"The only problem that I had, it was not from people outside accepting it; it was the church accepting it," she told me.

"The same problem Kirk Franklin encountered when releasing Storm. They asked what this was because they were so traditional and pious. Are you getting it?

"So, what made things worse for me was that I now had mainstream, rough boys. But these tough youths come from the church! Terry G was the drummer for Benita Okojie back in the day. He was a church boy.

The Church Did Not Encourage My Efforts to Promote Afro-Gospel—Kenny Saint Brown

“Who else? MI: Dagrin. If you listen to Dagrin's punchline from the album Turnaround, it was all prayers. Do you understand? So I was the one that bought into their audience.


"The Bible says, 'Go and be my witness first in Judea, then here, to Jerusalem, then to the furthest portion of the earth.

"That thing does not refer to Australia. The lost souls are the farthest reaches of the world.

Brown also warned gospel performers not to collaborate with secular artists without spiritual guidance.