Nigeria 🇳🇬: 'Is That What I’m Supposed to Use to Fend for My Family?' — Tim Godfrey Hits Back at Critics of Gospel Artistes Charging Fees

 

Popular Nigerian gospel musician, Tim Godfrey, has fiercely defended his colleagues and himself against critics who condemn gospel artistes for charging performance fees, revealing that he was once paid with tubers of yam and a live chicken as an honorarium.

Godfrey made the strong remarks in a viral video, where he passionately argued that gospel ministry and professionalism should not be mutually exclusive, and that fair compensation is essential for sustaining their work and caring for their families.

The 'Yam and Live Chicken' Honorarium

Recalling his early experiences in the music industry, the "Nara" crooner expressed his frustration with what he described as the unfair treatment and undervaluing of gospel singers in the country.

“I have collected two bars of yam as honorarium. I have collected a full, alive, living, walking, breathing chicken as honorarium,” Godfrey stated, visibly upset in the clip.

He then posed a direct and rhetorical question to the critics: “And that is what I’m going to use to pay school fees, pay house rent, buy property, buy? No! That is so unfair. That is absolutely unfair.”

Defending the Right to Professional Compensation

Godfrey’s comments came as a direct challenge to the often-held belief that gospel music, being a form of ministry, should be offered for free or with minimal compensation. He stressed that gospel musicians operate a professional enterprise that involves significant costs and responsibilities.

“What sense does it make that people work so hard, and you are saying they should take [such payments]?” he questioned. He pointed out that artistes have band members to pay and families to cater for, much like any other professional.

His remarks have sparked a heated debate online, with many Nigerians agreeing that while the message of the gospel should be free, professional gospel artistes deserve proper financial recognition for their craft, time, and investment in music production and live performances.