US-based Nigerian gospel singer Lara George has criticised churches that refuse to fairly compensate local gospel artists for their performances.
Taking to social media, George criticized the double standard in many churches, highlighting how they readily pay large sums to bring in foreign artists while local talent is often left unpaid or underpaid.
She challenged her followers to reflect on the disparity, asking how they would feel if they learned that their favorite international gospel artist charged $100,000 for a performance at a church event.
George also questioned the lavish lifestyles of some pastors, asking if their wealth came from the sale of their books and CDs, or from tithes and offerings from their congregation.
She wrote on Facebook: “If you found out that your favorite non-Naija Gospel artiste charges $100k USD to sing songs of praise and worship, would they appear less spiritual to you because they do so? Or did you all think that they sing for free?
“If you discovered that many of your favorite ‘pulpit persons’ who act as though paying the Naija artiste is an unthinkable thing, are actually paying the non-Naija artiste those so-called ‘high sums of money’, would your view of the ‘pulpit person’ change?
“Have you ever asked whether it is the ‘pulpit-person’s’ tapes and cds that are affording them the lavish lifestyles they live with private jets here and there? Or is that lifestyle from tithes and offerings????
“A Gospel artiste is indeed a professional. A professional artiste. Is there such a thing as a professional pastor?
“Dear ‘pastor’, What’s your source of livelihood exactly? If we stop the tithes and offerings, will that ministry also retire??? I can’t stand either bullies or hypocrisy!”
