Rwandan gospel choir Comfort People Ministries has stepped into Afrobeat music with its new style, ‘NewAfro’, in the release of its first single in an upcoming album. Their latest venture, a delightful fusion of cultural and musical influences, has set the stage for this musical metamorphosis with the release of its inaugural anthem, My Prayer, introducing the NewAfro style to Rwanda’s gospel scene. ALSO READ: The two biggest losses of Rwanda’s gospel music Produced by J-3:16 Records, the enchanting NewAfro track features a celebrated Nigerian gospel rapper Kinq Jamez. Talking to The New Times, Jean Damascene Ndayishimiye, the choir’s president, revealed the inspiration behind venturing into the ‘NewAfro’ style. ALSO READ: Live recordings: Trendy or evolution of the gospel music industry? “Our production team of Anthony E Sullivan from the USA, Eleazar A Varney from Liberia, and myself came up with a new way of making Afrobeat music by using our new technique that we had experimented hence making our first NewAfro song,” he said. Ndayishimiye further added that they wanted to do music that represents African Afrobeat. Since the song represented African music, they decided that it features an African face on it hence working with Nigerian rapper Kinq Jamez. 'My Prayer' is not just another song; it's a testament to the innovation and passion that the producers have poured into crafting this new form of African music. While making the song and album, the producers devised a unique approach to Afrobeat music. This innovative twist in their musical style is what gave birth to the 'NewAfro’ album, promising an exciting experience for gospel music fans. As they ventured into this uncharted territory, the path to perfection was far from smooth. Behind the scenes, the video-making process presented its own set of challenges. From weather challenges that threatened to derail the shooting to navigating the complexities of working with a drone operator who lacked the necessary licenses resulting to the reshooting of the whole video, Comfort People Ministries encountered obstacles that would have deterred the faint-hearted. ALSO READ: First gospel club launched in all-star acapella worship night The choir filmed in multiple locations, including Rwanda, Nigeria, and the USA, but their unwavering commitment ensured that they persevered. The result is a stunning masterpiece that spans three continents.
