The controversial cleric and founder of the Salvation Proclaimers Anointed Church, popularly known as SPAC Nation, Pastor Tobi Adegboyega, has said that popular musician David Adeleke, popularly known as Davido, is a gospel artiste.
Adegboyega said this on the Off The Record podcast and he explained why he said so.
According to him, the term “gospel” simply means “good news,” and he believes Davido embodies this through his music.
The cleric was trying to defend himself against the criticism of being secular musicians to perform at his recent birthday celebration rather than gospel artistes.
He explained that Davido is his friend and he offered to perform free of charge for him.
“Gospel means good news. Everyone there is a gospel artiste. Davido is a gospel artiste. Have you heard: ‘Because I stand strong?” he said.
He stressed that everyone he had in the room were his friends. “What I had then was my friends—friends who are there through thick and thin. Davido told me: ‘I just want to be there and perform for one hour.’ They’re my friends. I didn’t pay any of them. They love me, and I will give my friends platforms.”
Adegboyega criticized gospel artists who, according to him, were quick to judge his choices rather than build relationships.
“If gospel artists aren’t my friends and are instead joining the bandwagon to criticize me by asking, ‘Is that a church?’ What should I do? Drag them with a rope?
“It’s my friends that will be there. Everyone in that room was my friend. Zlatan is like a son to me; his kids are my kids, and his parents are in my house. So should I now say, ‘Well, because you are not gospel artists, let me go and look for some gospel artists who are criticizing me and force them to sing?’
He said his friends would always take centre stage at his events.
“My friends will always sing at my events, and the next one will be bigger because my circle of friends keeps growing.”
