Mercy Masika with Gidi and Ghost in the Radio Jambo studio. |
Gidi and Ghost were privileged to host popular Gospel musician Mercy Masika on Friday during the Waliobobea segment of the Radio Jambo Breakfast Show, Gidi Na Ghost Asubuhi.
Famous for the songs Mwema and Nikupendeze, Masika talked about what inspired her to do Gospel music, why she, surprisingly loves her Nikupendeze song more than Mwema, her relationship with the Music Copyright Society of Kenya (MCSK), her musical breakthrough, her music being played in discos and her lack of interest in football.
The following are excerpts from her interview with Gidi and Ghost.
On why she ventured into Gospel music: It is because I love Jesus Christ. To me music is just an overflow of what is in a person's heart and my heart filled with the Gospel of God.
On when she started music and how her journey has been: I started singing in my childhood. I started singing in the church choir together with my mother and sisters. Our father was a pastor and we used to travel with to where he preached and we would sing all of us. On my musical journey, there are times I really doubted if it was really my calling because a breakthrough was taking too long to come for me despite the fact that I was releasing many songs. I would sing and make people happy but there was nothing that I was gaining. I had to do other things as well to keep myself going until my breakthrough.
On the success of her songs and them being played in discos: I think people just started loving my songs and I have no idea how they even got to be club-bangers. There was a time I was sleeping at a hotel in Nakuru and I heard my song Mwema being played at a nearby disco on repeat and I was asking myself "what are they listening to?". I can just say it is God work and grace. I am happy that discos play my songs because it is exactly what God wants; that people should know the Gospel.
Mercy Masika's song Mwema is so popular among Kenyans.
On the popularity of Mwema and her favourite song: I know Mwema is popular but my favourite song is Nikupendeze.
Despite the popularity of her Mwema song, Mercy Masika rates Nikupendeze as her favourite among her musical works.
On secular trends taking shape in the Gospel industry: I will start be saying that I think we can take pride in witnessing the rise of the popularity of Gospel music in Kenya. Becaause of that we have all sorts of Gospel musicians and just like in the First Church, there were people who preaching the true Gospel and others were giving false teachings. There is wheat and chaff everywhere and it is only God who can separate. Also people should be able to discern which Gospel songs uplift and which ones do not and from there they can make a good decision.
On her husband being her manager: We have a very good flow and it is great working with him.
On news laws which seek to regulate how churches operate: I believe Kenyan is founded on the Gospel and controlling would not help because the law will see us become like countries which have refused God. I see no need of controlling what is good but I understand that they want weed out bad elements.
On MCSK underpaying musicians: MCSK are yet to pay me since Mwema but before it they paid me well so I can not complain.
Her advice to upcoming Gospel musicians: Do your best and never give up. If you do your best, God will bless you.
On how she tackles piracy: My husband and I realised that we are losing a lot of revenue through piracy because in most places we visit we find people selling our songs without authorization from us. To cope with that, we also started pirating my songs and employing people to take them around the country and sell then we split the income later. We just have to beat the pirates at their own game.
On when she will release her next song: I plan to release a new song in April this year.
On whether she follows football: I have no interest in football and I am glad that my husband is also not interested in the sport. I am the type who prayed who for a man who does not follow football.