Kenny Saint Brown: How working with MI, Dagrin affected the church’s notion of me

BY VICTOR CHIJIOKE

Kenny Saint Brown has recalled her struggles to introduce Afro-gospel music to the church.

In a recent interview with Believers Companion, Brown revealed that working with secular artistes like MI Abaga, the late rapper Dagrin, and Terry G affected her music’s reception in the church.

The ace gospel singer, who is the younger sister of Kenny Ogungbe, co-founder of Kennis Music, said the church did not encourage her efforts to promote what is now called Afro-gospel.

She said the church failed to recognise that she was “using their platform” to convert unbelievers.

Brown cited US gospel singer Kirk Franklin’s similar struggles with resistance from within the church while referencing the part of the Bible that talked about “winning souls”.

“The only problem that I had, it was not from people outside accepting it; it was the church accepting it,” she said.

“The same problem Kirk Franklin had when he came out with Storm. They said what was this because they were so traditional and so religious. Do you get it?

“So, what worsened it for me was that I now had mainstream, rough boys. But these rough boys came from church! Terry G was the drummer to Benita Okojie back in the day. He was a church boy.

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

“The Bible says, ‘Go and be my witness first from Judea, then here, to Jerusalem, then to the uttermost part of the earth.

“That thing does not mean Australia. The uttermost part of the earth is the lost souls.”

Brown also advised gospel singers, saying they should not collaborate with secular artistes without divine instruction.

She started her music career while in school in 1979 with the choir. She released her debut album ‘Totality’ in 1998.

Brown was formerly married to singer Eddy Montana.