Dr Paul Enenche Criticises Afrobeats, Calls for Youth Gospel Music

Senior Pastor Dr Paul Enenche of Lagos‑based Dunamis International Gospel Centre spoke sharply to his congregation during the church’s Mid‑Year Worship concert, condemning the popular Afrobeats genre as lacking lyrical depth and harmful to young listeners. “Afrobeats musicians sing rubbish,” he said, adding that many of them “smoking Indian hemp while they are singing and influencing the youths in negative ways.” Enenche warned that the music’s content could steer young people toward poor choices and urged gospel musicians to produce more youth‑oriented songs that “say something that youth is hearing” rather than “the garbage that worldly musicians sing.”

The pastor called on gospel artists to “continue to sing more songs that appeal to youths to counter what I described as the negative effect of Afrobeats on young people.” He announced a “youth fire night” to be held on 25 September, directing young music ministers, including Prinx Emmanuel, to clear their calendars for the event. “It is better to have music that is saying something that youth is hearing than the garbage that worldly musicians sing,” Enenche said, stressing that a positive musical alternative would prevent youths from following a destructive path.

Enenche further explained that the church’s gospel music should be “word‑loaded” to disciple listeners, showing them “steps to take, how to stay away from negative friends, how to make the right decisions and so on.” He expressed confidence that, over time, more energetic gospel music would emerge, providing a “positive replacement for such garbage” and guiding young people toward constructive living.

The pastor’s remarks have sparked debate among church members and the broader Nigerian music community. While some applaud the call for higher lyrical standards, others question whether the critique unfairly targets a genre that has become a cultural staple for many youths. The upcoming youth fire night on 25 September will likely serve as a platform for gospel musicians to showcase new material aimed at addressing the concerns raised by Dr Enenche.

As the church prepares for the event, it remains to be seen how gospel artists will respond to the call for more substantive, youth‑focused music. The conversation around the influence of popular music on young people continues to evolve, with Dunamis International Gospel Centre positioning itself at the forefront of the dialogue.