Kenyan gospel rapper: Our Europe tour is not state-sponsored

The rapper left the country yesterday alongside Gloria Muliro, Janet Otieno, Pastor Timothy Kitui, Anastacia Mukabwa, Kayamba Africa, Keep It Real and I Am Blessed, among others.

The musicians will perform in town halls and open-air concerts in Germany, Sweden, France and Switzerland under the collective tag Cultural and Gospel Music of Kenya (CGMK).

Eko Dydda's remarks come after the Atheists In Kenya (AIK) association this week released a statement threatening to petition Parliament to probe the ministry over the misappropriation of 23 million Kenyan shillings ($ 228 000) of taxpayers' money on grounds that the tour only favoured Christians.

“By sponsoring 46 Christian gospel musicians to tour and excluding artists from other faiths, the state has given undue privilege to Christians and discriminated other religious identities. This flies in the face of Article 27,” the statement, signed by AIK president Harrison Mumia, reads.

Article 27 of the Kenyan Constitution states that “the state shall not discriminate directly or indirectly against any person on any ground, including race, sex, pregnancy, marital status, health status, ethnic or social origin, colour, age, disability, religion, conscience, belief, culture, dress, language or birth”.

Details about the tour surfaced on Tuesday in a Nairobi News article with the headline Gospel artistes to fly out for state-sponsored European tour.

Speaking to Music In Africa before his departure, Eko Dydda said the article's headline was inaccurate.  

“As a CGMK member I would like to make it known that we have not been sponsored by the government. We tried bringing them on board but they told us at the last minute that they had no funds. They only gave us T-shirts," he said.

“This actually disorganised the schedule of our trip because we were expected to perform in Dortmund, Germany, today. Our tour has been sponsored by Buraje International Company, so the public should not be misled into believing that the government has given us financial support."

The rapper said the principal secretary of culture and heritage, Josephta Mukobe, endorsed the group on Monday because the tour would promote Kenya as a tourist destination.

Eko Dydda also supports the AIK's right to question the financing of the tour. “If someone was given money then there should be proof. It is bad for the public, who are also our fans, to assume that we are pocketing their money, especially if we end up doing something substandard or not performing in all the said places.

“Apart from spreading gospel music, some of our members will stage our traditional music and dances. We will also display food and educate the locals on our cultural beliefs.”

The rapper said Mukobe's endorsement may have played a part in the creation of the scandal.