Who is following up on Spyro?

BY UGOCHUKWU UGWUANYI

Nah, the above question isn’t meant for fans of fast-rising Nigerian singer, Oludipe Oluwasanmi David, better known as Spyro. It is for Christian leaders and pastors who are yet to apprehend the devil’s overt and covert moves to backslide celebrities that are turning from the kingdom of darkness into light.

You see, follow up is a Christian practice where baby-believers are nurtured and mentored into being rooted in the faith. Concern over whether Spyro is exposed to this form of discipleship arose from the tone and what was left unsaid by the ‘Who’s Your Guy’ hit maker in the interview he recently granted Echo Room.

Last June, Spyro posted on Instagram that he is set to influence the Nigeria entertainment industry for God by waxing godly songs and evergreen music which will be pleasing to the ear without debasing lyrics and scenes. He categorically told all who cared to listen that: “I am here for a reason. I am GOD’S AMBASSADOR HERE and gradually we will take these grounds for Him. No rest till the kingdom of our Lord is established”.

What a bold assertion in an industry where any scintilla of the Christian faith is considered a taboo for players. As it now seems, the kingdom of darkness kinda went on overdrive to make Spyro regret his stance. This is going by the new tune being sung by the musician. In the interview referenced earlier, Spyro gave the impression that the cross was becoming too heavy for him to bear. He could have sounded more defiant and recommitted to the ‘Jesus boy’ brand.

Instead, Spyro said, “If you want to be truthful to yourself, how many media moguls support or post me when I drop songs? You see them posting other artists. Aside from the blogs that I pay, how many of them do you see post me? “Do you see these guys post things about me? Sometimes, I ask myself why, because people who
are not doing as well as I am, they post them. They talk about them. The answer is simple; once you come out and declare Christ publicly, you enter a war. It’s like the whole system is designed to drag you down.”

This doesn’t sound like someone who is doubling down on his professed conviction but someone feeling nostalgic. He seems to be missing the fanfare that comes with secular stardom. If this reading of his thoughts is too much of a stretch, how about him reminiscing that: “Who’s Your Guy was the most viewed video in 2023 in Nigeria. Did you hear about it? Did they talk about it? It wasn’t Burna, it wasn’t Wizkid, it was me. Did you hear about it? No. In Africa it was No. 2. Who talked about it? If it were one of my colleagues, it’d have been everywhere. I put money in PR. I do a lot of PR.”

Spyro better watch it because these words can dissuade the celebrity who wants to borrow a leaf from him from turning a new leaf. With such a demoralising and defeatist tone, how then can the artist achieve his ambition to influence the industry for God? Someone should have drawn the attention of the singer to 2 Corinthians 5:17, “If any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.” So he shouldn’t expect to retain the trappings of what he has publicly disavowed; they are mere crumbs left for dogs (Matthew 15:22-27)

Upon his epiphany, Spyro should have rebranded so that all things can truly be new. He could have, for instance, reverted to his original name or been more forceful in promoting his Jesus boy moniker. He shouldn’t even expect his antecedents to be the platform he would be standing on in his new assignment. He should trust God to give him the wings to fly, for faithful is He who called. The reluctance of those hitherto pushing his career to continue doing so shouldn’t come as a surprise.
Spyro even admitted being alerted to this by a senior colleague who had flipped from the industry to the faith.

Quoting Banky W, he said, “My major problem in the industry started immediately after I said Jesus Christ is Lord.’ So he told me to be sure that I was ready for this. He said when he was a ‘bad boy,’ everything was going fine, but immediately he decided to do it in a godly way, and his war in the industry started.” Spyro should actually be happy that he is being discriminated against by industry honchos since James 1:2-3 says, “Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance.”

Secular celebrities who now bear the mark of Christ must stop salivating at the perks of those still in the world. They should rather live out the scripture that says, greater is He that is in them than he that is in the world. More so, there is a thriving gospel music industry parading musical icons who can give their secular counterparts a run for their money and talents. After all, Nathaniel Bassey has been invited to minister at the United States Presidential Inaugural Prayer
Breakfast in Washington, D.C. If memory serves correct, no secular Nigerian musician has ever been invited to perform at the White House.

Showbiz is undoubtedly a very glittering industry, however the bling-bling doesn’t make it gold. Unlike the eternal glory of gospel minstrels, its allure is so fleeting that the faves of today can become yesterday’s men in an instant, with poverty to boot. Therefore, Spyro will be well advised to lay up treasures for himself where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. If he can’t see this, Church leaders and the brethren must step in to help
his faith. He should be made to understand that “no man, having put his hand to the plough, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God.”

Meanwhile, with the artist regretting that “the majority of the people that drag me and give me issues are Christians,” the Christian community must be careful not to pull Spyro and his like down with their holier-than-thou attitude. They don’t know better than God, who overlooked their imperfections and past, to call them into His vineyard. What these vessels need is accommodation and discipleship rather than ostracism. In fact, resourceful clerics with the grace should consider setting up a ministry for souls like Spyro, seeing to their proper integration into the Body and ensuring they don’t regret their decision to serve God with their talents.

Ugochukwu Ugwuanyi, a Lagos-based journalist, can be reached via @sylvesugwuanyi.