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Gospel artistes to fly out for state-sponsored European tour


A total of 46 Kenyan gospel musicians and cultural artistes are set to leave the country Tuesday for a ten-day European tour.

The tour is meant to showcase Kenya’s culture and christian songs.

The Cultural and Gospel Music of Kenya (CGMK) group consists of a number of famous gospel artistes including Gloria Muliro, Janet Otieno, Eko Dydda, Pastor Timothy Kitui, Anastacia Mukabwa and Kayamba Africa.

The group will tour Sweden, Germany, France and Switzerland where they will stage town hall and open-air concerts.

Principal Secretary of Culture and Heritage Josephta Mukobe, while flagging off the team at the ministry’s headquarters, lauded the team for seeking to re-energize Christianity in Europe while at the same time re-awakening its interest in Kenya.

DIVERSE CULTURE

“We want the world to know that beyond athletics, Kenya has a diverse cultural heritage such as our music, our crafts, our foods, and our languages and belief systems,” said Ms Mukobe.

The PS stated that although Gospel message was brought to Africa from Europe, the latter has been witnessing dwindling numbers of worshipers forcing most church buildings to be converted into social halls and museums.

“I am therefore encouraged that you have embarked on this journey to rekindle the value of this Faith to our brethren there,” she said.

She urged the team  to observe decorum, noting that any antisocial conduct by any team member would easily be adjudged as ‘Kenyan behaviour’.

 

The group’s leader Pastor Kituyi said that the Christian-oriented group, which has been in existent for two years, is versatile and will stage folk dances and music from various Kenyan communities besides belting out gospel music.

“Our objective is to reach out to the world with Kenyan cultural and gospel music. This mission will cost about Sh23 million which has been enabled by various sponsors. We are is estimated to cost Sh20 million and has been enabled by various sponsors. We are also scheduled to tour the USA later this year,” he said.