In the wake of the ongoing debate about financial expectations in the gospel music industry, Pastor Femi Lazarus has publicly acknowledged Timi Dakolo’s passionate advocacy for fair treatment of gospel musicians. Taking to Instagram on Monday,
Lazarus shared a picture of himself alongside Dakolo and Pastor Emmanuel Iren, expressing his admiration for the singer and his dedication to the well-being of artists in the gospel space.
Lazarus referred to Dakolo as a “music legend” and encouraged his followers to recognize the singer’s contributions to the industry.
“Give him his flowers,” Lazarus wrote, praising Dakolo for genuinely understanding and addressing the struggles faced by gospel musicians.
He added, “What a man! He genuinely carries the burdens of musicians. His concerns are real. I love you.”
The pastor also took the opportunity to emphasise the need for progress and improvements within the gospel music community, reassuring both event organizers and artists that future gospel events would aim to provide better support for all involved.
“Pain is real. From pulpit to the pew, the pain is real, but we will be fine. This generation will not have a carryover of pain.
“Better structures will be built. Hosts will do better. Guests will do better. We will have a better nation together,” he wrote.
The heated debate ignited by Lazarus’ recent sermon, in which he questioned the financial demands of gospel artists for performances, has stirred strong reactions from the gospel music community.
One of the most vocal critics was popular singer Timi Dakolo, who vehemently disagreed with Lazarus’ perspective and called for fair compensation for gospel musicians.
Dakolo took issue with Lazarus charging fees for his school of ministry, after the cleric criticized an unnamed gospel artist for requesting payment for a performance.
Read Also: Timi Dakolo slams Femi Lazarus For Charging $150 For ‘School of Ministry’
In response, Lazarus sought to clarify his position, drawing a clear distinction between “music ministers” and “music artists.”
He emphasized that true gospel ministers should not commercialize their ministry, arguing that those charging fees for performances are essentially treating music as a business, not a calling.
Lazarus further suggested that musicians who charge for performances should explore other means of earning a living unless they have a divine calling to pursue ministry full-time.
He also called on pastors to provide more support to their music ministers, acknowledging that many face financial struggles due to insufficient backing from their churches.
