Hip hop sensation, Z-don Papporella turns in a performance at a church concert that shows he could have a future in the gospel genre
By Paul Dada
Imagine an American visiting Nigeria for the first time doing justice to a meal of amala and ewedu soup like a typical Yoruba would. That would qualify as an irony, though a pleasant one.
Members of the Redeemed Christian Church of God, Peculiar People’s Assembly situated at Oluwakemi Crescent, Kikelomo Estate, Akute and their guests felt pleasantly surprised when Z-Don Papporella, a notable rap artiste, performed in one of their programmes last week.
The event was a concert presented by The Peculiar Voices, the choir of that parish of the RCCG on Sunday last week.
Z-don, one of the guest artistes at the occasion, surprised not a few people that he–a secular singer–could fit seamlessly into a church setting. The young rap star thrilled the congregation with inspirational gospel songs that lifted their spirits. The occasion presented Z-don with an opportunity to display his talents in the worship of Christ and his dexterity on the guitar was all too apparent as he accompanied one of his songs at the concert with it.
He gave a rap performance, Old Africa, in which he expressed nostalgia for the time Africa was peaceful and devoid of the turbulence which the continent is now fraught with. For the church members it was a privilege to see Z-don live, and his mellifluous voice captivated his audience as he rendered acapella numbers at the event. But none of the songs Z-don sang at the occasion was as thrilling as No Shaking, a gospel song in his latest work.
As Z-don, the son of a former military administrator of Borno State performed the song, the congregation was simply electrified by the message as well as the delivery. But the positive reaction of the people at the event was not surprising as Z-don had told them earlier that some churches had adopted the song without knowing that he was the author.
A member of the concert planning committee said Z-don was invited to perform at the church so that he could be an inspiration to the choir members who are all very young.
Z-don himself told TheNEWS in a chat that he did not feel out of place featuring in the church programme. “You saw me. I felt at home. It’s my father’s house, I am a Christian. Though it was my first time of singing in a church I felt honoured. It is a misconception that secular artistes cannot sing in a church. Although people might expect only gospel artistes to feature in such a programme, there are gospel singers who sing hip-hop and rap,” he said, adding: “If I have an invitation to sing in a church again, I would honour it as long as it is for God.”
He vowed that in his next album, there will be at least two gospel songs. But Z-don was not the only artiste at the event. There was also Juju Artiste of the Year 2007, Abel Dosumu, and his Mega ’99 Band. Like Z-don, he rendered many gospel tunes and the congregation continued to yearn for more. Mega ’99’s frenzied drumming was simply irresistible and church ministers, members and visitors danced passionately.
But the performance of The Peculiar Voices, the church choir, was no less scintillating than those of Z-don and the Mega ’99 band. The Peculiar Voices served a variety of music styles. Their songs ranged from simple praise and worship to reggae, rap and African traditional rhythms. The voices of the singers blended in beautiful musical harmony while the instrumentalists played with youthful zest and energy. Among the songs performed by the choristers were Bob Fitts’ This Is The Day, Curt Carr’s Something Happens, Lakewood Church’s Everything, Jide Plus’ One Love and Lara George’s Ijoba Orun.
Nnamdi Isaac, one of the lead singers in the choir, explained what it took them to present a concert. “We had nights and nights of practice. We had to even undergo special musical training sessions to be able to achieve what we did today.” A member of the Planning Committee for the event, Mr. Kunle Omojowo also stated the painstaking efforts put into ensuring that the programme was successful.
But the event was not entirely a musical affair. The parish pastor, Ralph Molade and the programme moderator, Deacon Tayo, held sessions where they showered ministerial blessings on the choir and the participants of the programme.
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