Nigerian gospel singer, Tim Godfrey, has criticised the way gospel artistes are treated in the country, recalling how he once received bars of yams and a live chicken as payment for his performance.

The singer made the remarks in a video that started trending on Thursday, expressing frustration over what he described as the unfair treatment of gospel singers in Nigeria.

According to him, returning to Nigeria became difficult because of the way event organisers and audiences undervalue the efforts of gospel artistes.

He said, “Coming to Nigeria became difficult because of how artists are being treated so badly. All of those stories of ‘why are they charging,’ ‘why are they collecting money,’ ‘why are they doing this,’ it got me so, so mad. I said, why are people wicked? What sense does it make that people work so hard and you are saying they should take… I have collected two bars of yam as honorarium. I have collected a full, alive, living, walking, breathing chicken as honorarium. And that is what I’m going to use to pay school fees, pay house rent, buy property, buy… No! That is so unfair.”

His comments have stirred conversations online, with many Nigerians agreeing that gospel artistes deserve better financial treatment and respect for their craft.

Born in Kaduna State, Godfrey began his music journey in the early 2000s and gained national recognition after forming the gospel group Tim Godfrey and the Xtreme Crew in 2004. Their breakout single Na You Be God brought him into the limelight, earning him a place among Nigeria’s leading contemporary gospel acts.

Over the years, he has released several chart-topping gospel hits and collaborated with international stars, including Travis Greene on the popular worship song Nara. More recently, Godfrey has continued to push his sound globally with new releases and live worship projects that blend traditional gospel with modern Afrobeats influences.