Singer Timi Dakolo has fired back at Apostle Femi Lazarus’ criticism of gospel musicians who charge for their services. Dakolo took to social media to question Lazarus’ definition of a gospel artist versus a performer.
Dakolo argued that Lazarus’ stance implies that anyone who charges for their services is not a true gospel minister. However, he pointed out the hypocrisy in Lazarus’ criticism, highlighting that the apostle charges for his own school of ministry, where he teaches and preaches about Jesus.
Dakolo calculated that Lazarus likely earns a significant amount of money from his school, asking whether this is not also a form of “selling the Gift and revelation freely given” to him. Dakolo wrote, “Sir, you are charging as low as 150 dollars per person for your school of ministry… Teaching and preaching Jesus. Probably having as much as 1000 students… Let’s do the maths.”
He further emphasized the costs associated with music creation, production, and promotion, stating, “Most of you don’t know how much a producer charges, then the marketing, the promotion. The amount of hours it takes to finish a song.”
Dakolo’s response has sparked a heated debate on the role of gospel musicians and the ethics of charging for their services.
