Celebrated Jiti musician, Baba Harare, has announced his return to secular music after a year-long focus on gospel performances, citing financial strain and exploitation within the gospel music industry.
The artist, real name Braveman Chizvino, said the decision came after repeated challenges with professionalism and non-payment when ministering at church events.
“This might sound controversial, but it comes from my heart and from my own experience. For the past year, I have been on hiatus from secular shows and performing exclusively at gospel events. As a Christian, as someone who is part of this community, I feel I have every right to speak on this,” he said.
Baba Harare explained that while gospel music carries deep spiritual value, the financial realities for artists in the genre are often neglected.
“From a ministerial perspective, gospel concerts are powerful. They spread the Word, they win souls, and they glorify God. But from a business perspective, it is a different story, and I would not advise any upcoming artist to rely exclusively on gospel shows,” added Baba Harare.
He described a recurring experience where church organisers fail to honour agreed terms, often hiding behind spiritual justifications.
“Often, people hide under the idea that because you are ministering for the Kingdom, payment ‘should not matter.’ But let us be honest: I am not only a Christian; I am also a human being and an artist. This is my work, my livelihood, and I need to survive beyond the stage,” he said.
A recent incident highlighted his frustration, where he says he requested only US$200 for fuel after ministering at a church and was instead met with disrespect.
“Instead of being met with understanding, I was met with rudeness. Suddenly, I was no longer a ‘brother in Christ,’ but mocked and called a ‘comrade.’ This is not Kingdom behaviour. This is not how we build each other. And it’s one of the reasons the gospel industry struggles to move forward — lack of respect, lack of accountability, and non-payment of artists,” he added
The musician’s remarks have sparked conversations online, with many fellow artists echoing his sentiments.
As he returns to the Jiti stage, Baba Harare says his faith remains intact, but his experience in gospel circles has reinforced the need for churches and promoters to treat music ministry with greater professionalism.
