If you have explored the club night life in major cities of East Africa, there was a season were, at around midnight or just thereafter, after people have had their second to third round of drinks, the DJ will throw in a popular gospel song. The clubbing night takes a whole new dimension at this moment. For the very religious, this can be a very confusing state of affairs. I also wonder, what would Jesus do if he somehow went to socialize with the so called "sinners" to tell them about the good news and only to find them seriously grinding to gospel songs in the middle of the night?
In this article, I share my encounters with the happily boozed and gospely tuned clubbers. Such a phenomenal experience, I must say.
One of the famous gospel songs that used to be a club banger is "I know who I am" by Sinach. First of all, that title is incredibly powerful. Secondly, when singing to it, it prompts one to confess something that is fundamentally supernatural and powerful. If sang with great conviction, that it registers in the subconscious, the levels of self awareness will significantly be on a high. Let alone we still don't know , where we came from when we were born and when we die, where we will go. The fact remains that the song is so powerful that it awakens the unknown in us.
Now, imagine this powerful song which also has amazing beats being played at a night club to a people high and happy on booze. For some, boozing is an outlet and escape from some harsh realities of life. For many, music is another phenomenal universal language that unexplainably taps into their happy feelings. So, lets call booze and music a double dose of feeling happy.
I have seen the most genuine expressions of joy and confessions through singing, of the mighty works of God, by happily boozed gospel music dancers in night clubs.
The fact that some people are boozing to forget their harsh life realities, another harsh reality for many is that their relationship with God is enstranged and built on the foundation of fear and strict rules of engagement. But this changes in the night clubs, when a gospel song is played; People seem to be in a space of abundance freedom, free of worries and happy.
On hearing the song by Sinach, "church mode" is automatically activated albeit in a club setting. Those with drinks at hand, will put them down for this special moment.
"...We are a chosen generation
We've been called forth to show His excellence..."
The singing of the song's lyrics and the obvious intimate connection with the words of the song by the boozed is out of this world. There don't seem to be inhibitors to how the clubbers connect with their God.
"...I know who God says I am, what He says I am
Where He says I'm at, I know who I am
I'm working in power, I'm working miracles
I live a life of favour, for I know who I am..."
Singing is done at the top of the voice, no fear of being judged, united by the cause, no one appears to be stealing the show from the choir by singing louder or being judged for singing off tune.
Another gospel club banger then is the swahili song "Mkono wa Bwana" by Zabron Singers.
"Tumeuona mkono wako bwana na matendo yako ni makuu mno, umetutoa mbali, ukatushika mkono..."
The key message in this song is seeing/witnessing the able and might of the hand of God. Now imagine a genuine acknowledgement of seeing the might of the hand of God by the boozed. The dancing is not a scene to be missed, even if one is staggering the dancing is simply not just physical, it is deeply emotional. That kind of dancing where even moving your limbs won't do justice to the feelings the music bring, so you just close your eyes to connect with the music and dance in spirit. There's a part in the song which goes like
"...chini, chini, chini hata juu"
meaning "lower, lower, lower to higher"
..."
Here is when people seek personal space on the dance floor to put their faith into serious action. Some will go low with a clean intention, never to be seen again and only come back up with the help of the congregation.
For others whose tolerance for booze is exceptional, this is when the best dance moves come out to celebrate who they know they are, what he says they are and the miracle they are manifesting to continue living the life of favour.
I think even in spirituality, people need an uninhibited space and moment to be genuine and true about themselves and their feelings.
This happily boozed and gospely tuned in the night club, is one I have found phenomenal because the transition to spirituality comes so natural, its not like being woken up to go to a church service after boozing all night.
I think the ingenuity that goes into the soulful singing and dancing to gospel tunes while boozed gets to the subconscious of many and I pray they get closer to God and manifest the lyrics.
If you think, the Catholic Church services are boring, I have news for you! Who would have thought a Catholic Church song "Uninyunyizie Maji" would make it to the night clubs playlists?
"Uninyunyizie Maji" literally meaning "sprinkle me with water" did hit the night clubs. I leave it to individuals in the night club to decide the kind of water being referred to. But again how the boozed find solitude in this equally powerful song, which in essence is requesting God to cleanse us, is a phenomenal worth understanding. The song sings...
"...unioshe nitakate, niwe mweupe kabisa" meaning..."
"Wash me clean, I be totally clean as white".
Back in the village we used to go for a night church service "vigil" before Christmas day. A drunk villager will stagger his way to church and sit outside under a banana tree, as the congregation sings to songs of praises to God, one in particular had the following lyrics
"..ntukugonza, ntukugonza..." meaning "...we love you, we love you..."
The drunk will do a remix of it and sing along saying
"...mbakubeiya, mbakubeiya..." meaning "...they are lying to you, they are lying to you..."
It was upon you to maintain a straight face not to burst out into laughter at Church. But maybe the drunk wasn't too far from the truth. For some going to Church has become an obligation and fear to be judged if they don't attend church services.
