“I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.” [2 Timothy 4:7] Writing to Timothy, the Apostle Paul was able to look back on his ministry and declare satisfaction that he had finished his course.
Paul’s statement of completion is a goal for several Christian music ministers in Uganda. Notably, while some had a foundation upon which they kicked off their race, many others are still stuck and struggling with no foundation upon which they can deliver music that teaches, uplifts and inspires listeners.
This incident prompted award winning gospel musician Jalia Nasejje alias Zabuli to announce a talent search competition this year labelled ‘Can You Praise’ with an aim of introducing participants to the core values of intentional Christian music ministry.
“When my career in music began, I did not know where to start or even go, but I trusted the one who called me. 5 years ago my music ministry manifested. I wish there was some sort of academy where I would have gone to teach me about intensional serving where its not just the art of the talent, but the extra effort you have to add to it to shine brighter and serve better,” Zabuli says.
Raised in a dysfunctional family, Zabuli’s father, who was a muslim, strongly fought to have his children adapt to the faith.
She believes the race this new generation of gospel ministers is called to run will include several unavoidable challenges that will demand the highest level of biblical fidelity and theological courage, matched to keen cultural sensitivity and a deep love for human beings caught in the maelstrom of late modernity.
“For majority of the fresh, young and talented individuals, I know for a fact that they are struggling – even those at the top are struggling in one way or the other since every new stage they get to, they have to learn how to maintain focus on God,” she says.
Zabuli says God asked her to run a music talent search, where the winner gets a money prize, and “I also get an opportunity to help mentor them in that year such that they can do better with someone helping them in the field they are aspiring to be in,” she narrates.
“I cried out to God to teach me a way I can do something for new talent. Not that I have so much, but because I have learnt a thing or two in the past 5 years, and it’s all I have to share with you and hope it can help give you a foundation where God can make a difference for you and the people he has called you to,” she explains.
Over 50 participants turned up when live competitions started earlier in January at Hotel Eliana in Ntinda, a Kampala suburd. Zabuli’s panel of judges included musicians; Dreign Tony, John Marie Sengendo and Andrea Presson.
According to Zabuli, the event will be held annually, and her desire is to see Christians from all across the country following the proceedings live, hear the stories of the contestants, and support the cause.
“The microphone is a symbol of power when it is held,” the ‘Mwana wamulodi’ hit maker believes.
She says it is a tool one can either use to build or break using, create or destroy, encourage or discourage, preach life or destruction. She says that all this depends on the “spirit working in the person holding”.
“As a Christian artiste, I would give even my own life if it means rooting a generation with wisdom and platforms that will expand the gospel preaching through music,” Zabuli says with emphasis.
“If I don’t, if we don’t, what will our children listen to if we don’t help the next generation understand what God meant when He gave us the microphone as artistes to preach to his people through the musical art,” she explains.
“We need the younger ones to be filled with all he has taught us and blessed us with, such that we can go back home empty for we emptied ourselves and availed this wisdom for a greater later generation which transformed the next generation after us,” she says.
