Ongo [Music]

The Devil Doesn't Have All the Good Music

ARUA
'Tis so sweet to trust in JESUS!

GOD is great! HE created music for happiness (Job 38:7) before HE laid the earth's foundation. The paramount purpose of music should be to worship GOD, nothing else. Jubal (son of Lamech) is the first musician mentioned in the Bible (Genesis 4:21); he played stringed instruments and pipes. Meanwhile, King David formalised the use of music in worship services of Israel. His son - the wise King Solomon wrote 1,005 songs (1st Kings 4:32). According to Joseph Nsubuga (former Devil agent), a church choir that is "one" or united together can cause the glory of GOD to descend to an earthly altar. That is what the Devil strives to prevent by causing conflicts among choir members. It was Carman's four year old song "Serve the LORD" from The Absolute Best album that made me re-evaluate my life on Tuesday 2nd December 1997 and try to find GOD plus truth in the Bible by myself. I kept wondering why I was messed up (irritable, disrespectful, horny, hateful, hypocritical, covetous, etc) and the world too (with thefts; drunkardness; fights; prostitution; Roman Catholics removed the 2nd Commandment from their Bible, prayed to dead saints plus changed the Sabbath Day to Sunday; etc). Music can convert souls; it's not an ordinary art.

At the turn of the millenium, Hillsong from Sydney (Australia) stood out for me as a Gospel music powerhouse. Despite all the accusations spoken against musicians (Technically, everyone is a sinner), I never let defamation influence my judgement of good songs especially the ones that give me goosepimples plus make me want to worship GOD eg from Eschatos Bride to Darlene Zschech, Reuben Morgan, David Ware, Taya Smith, Brooke Ligertwood, CeCe Winans, Yolanda Adams, Deitrick Haddon, Wilson Bugembe, Anglican Youth Praise, Rachel Namubiru, Brian Lubega, Matt Redman, Kari Jobe, Fiona Mukasa, Judith Babirye, J-Hope Band in West Nile, Gospel Armour, T.I.G. (Trust in GOD), the list is endless. Others sing for commercial reasons, but if their songs move your soul to worship GOD in truth, you can take that! Lena Price left clubbing because of soul hunters and decided to sing for JESUS. I asked a friend in the choir at Victory City Church Ntinda which group sings best and she mentioned Bethel Music in America. You can add Red Rocks Worship, Elevation Worship, Planetshakers, Housefires, JESUS Culture, etc. The Collective UG which meets monthly also has some great non-denominational Gospel sessions. Miracle Centre Cathedral's Proclaim Music has really grown despite everything exposed against their church leader. Even JESUS was accused of getting power from Beelzebub (Prince of the devils). Agape Christian Fellowship Arua is serious too.

Larry Norman asked in one of his songs that "Why should the Devil have all the good music?" because he didn't believe GOD disliked Rock & Roll. During performances, Larry preached between his rock songs, many of which were about JESUS (whom he referred to as The Rock). He tried to reclaim rock music for the Messiah who saved him at five. JCTV (JESUS Christ Television) has a volatile knack for playing Christian Rock. Hiphop/ Rap, R&B plus reggae are also not considered holy genres but some artistes use them for modern Gospel to reach the youth faster than ancient hymns. Secular musicians who have turned from worldly music to Gospel include Ma$e (American), Bamboo (Kenyan), Grace Osei - formerly Irene Logan (Liberian-born Ghanaian), Chidinma Ekile (Nigerian), Desire Luzinda (Ugandan), etc. Others do crossovers like Dionne Warwick (Whitney Houston's cousin who won six Grammys); one foot in secular, the other in Gospel. In 2008, I predicted that "Anfukula" by Grace Nakimera would be the Best Video at the Pearl of Africa Music (PAM) Awards and it happened exactly as I felt it. She had amazing grace on her and a decade later when she turned around to sing only Gospel, I was happy for Nakimera who said, "After finding the Lord, am contented that this is the right path for me." Dressing half naked is Satan's will for musicians to make people lust and commit adultery in their hearts (Matthew 5:28). What's wrong with hiding your breasts and thighs while singing? Even angels (sons of GOD) were attracted by beautiful hair; you might as well cover it while praying. The first wet dream I saw in my life (at 17 years old) was Toni Braxton; I loved her music because it reminded me of the first girl I loved like myself. Some musicians dress skimpily as a stunt to attract fans, but end up summoning spirit spouses into the lives of their admirers like witchcraft through the eyes. Even if the hardworking plus lyrically-rich lovebird Sheebah Karungi wore a gomesi, hijab or long dress like Adele, her songs would still sound nice but I wish she sang Gospel though professes to be Muslim. Is singing about love misuse of music; how come Song of Songs is in the Bible? The Devil doesn't have all the good music; just more skin (sex appeal), vulgarity, blasphemy, unrighteousness, materialism, idolatry and contempt.

During a Sunday 15th December 2024 radio interview on Voice of Life (100.9 FM in Arua), Gospel musician Alice Drijaru Asedri revealed that she was offered sende angiri [a lot of money] to sing songs without the name of JESUS so that they can be played and promoted on American stations. Drijaru refused to sing lies about love (eg I miss you; Because of you, I don't sleep; no appetite; etc) since GOD gave her the gift: YESU fe mani ongo 'di ki ni. Aziri-a, ma ma laria, o'du koria, ongo ni lu imu orobi-a [Translated from Lugbara: JESUS gave me these songs. In other times, am resting, sleeping, music just comes in a dream]. In Heaven, Satan was Ongo ma Drile [Head of Music] before being thrown down and he brings the challenge of resentment, hatred, no love, awoko [anger], asi onzi [bad heart] plus competition among West Nile Gospel musicians. You have to be a Prisoner of JESUS and do things differently from the world. The Bible shows that Lucifer was anointed as a guardian cherub (Ezekiel 28:14) and every precious stone adorned him; cherubs protected the entrance to Eden, the Garden of GOD. That's probably why the Serpent could tempt Eve. The Red Dragon does not need external instruments to sing; Satan can produce any compelling sound. The success of various musicians is actually attributed to the Devil's aid eg Michael Jackson (whose song "Stranger in Moscow [1997]" can be quite soothing when feeling rejected); Jose Chameleone (his very repulsive song "Kipepeo" is considered the Devil's Anthem by ex-Satanist Allan Kasirye); Robert Johnson (legendary American Bluesman who disappeared from public view and returned with unbelievable talent); Mowzey Radio (who sang with Weasel in the Goodlyfe Crew and made 22 Gospel songs before he would be killed); Beyonce (who has a church mass where her songs are played); etc. Musicians who have confessed that they sold their souls to the Devil include Kanye West (though he also released an album entitled "JESUS is King"); Alien Skin (who rattled the Ugandan music industry by praising the Devil instead of GOD for releasing him from bondage); Katy Perry (who features briefly at the end of my Favourite Song entitled "Goodbye For Now" by P.O.D. - a Christian nu metal band based in California); Eminem ("Say Goodbye to Hollywood"); etc. No matter what you have sang before, sing for JESUS now, give your heart to Him like Bebe Cool says in "Kanyimbe" alongside Crystal Fabulous, Tickie Tah and Luther T (Produced by Legend P, Delite Studio). Imagine explicit musicians like Jay-Z or Rick Ross sang only Gospel! In the near future, Artificial Music (AM) might challenge the Devil's prowess plus use secular beats to sync lyrics that worship only GOD; not money, cars nor any other thing. Sing the praises of the LORD, enthroned in Zion; proclaim among the nations what HE has done (Psalm 9:11)! JESUS is the Way!