Seyi Shay is a Nigerian singer and songwriter
Nigerian singer and songwriter Seyi Shay has revealed that she stopped attending her former church after a church leader criticised the use of modern gospel songs during praise and worship.
In a series of posts shared on her Instagram story, Seyi Shay explained, “One leader like that at my former church said something like ‘we need to stop singing all these new age gospel songs in praise and worship and go back to singing hymns and only songs that are direct scripture.’ Guess what, I stopped going to that church. Periodt,” she wrote.
Defending her decision to stop attending the church, the singer argued that many old hymns have painful historical roots, especially in the context of slavery and the oppression of Black people.
She expressed discomfort with singing songs that may have been written by slave owners.
“I don’t know how or why you would feel blessed and happy by singing some of the songs that slave owners wrote and forced them to sing and pass down through generations while beating and torturing your ancestors, makes no sense. Do your research! Ignorance is not Godly!!!” she said.
In a follow-up post, Seyi Shay clarified that her comments were not aimed at all old hymns, but at those specifically tied to slavery and oppression.
“Not all hymns were written by slave owners ooo! But a lot of them were. In some cases, you’re better off making up your own praise and worship songs/hymns (based on scripture if you prefer),” she added.
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AK/EB
