SOUTH AFRICA: Grammy award-winning rapping gospel singer Kirk Franklin rocks the nation

Record ID: 705550

  • Title: SOUTH AFRICA: Grammy award-winning rapping gospel singer Kirk Franklin rocks the nation
  • Date: 3rd October 1999
  • Summary: (SOUNDBITE) (ENGLISH) KIRK FRANKLIN SAYING "As a black man from America, this is a black man's dream, to come to Africa and so for me to be able to come here if nothing else happens, I've already accomplished so much just by stepping on the soil."
  • Embargoed: 18th October 1999 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: JOHANNESBURG, SOUTH AFRICA
  • Country: South Africa
  • Topics: Arts / Culture / Entertainment / Showbiz
  • Reuters ID: LVA2R8D6R7Q3DV06MDQUXRZK4ZEO
  • Story Text: Grammy award-winning rapping Gospel superstar Kirk Franklin has brought his new brand of gospel-hip hop to South Africa and rocked the nation US Hip hop evangelist, Kirk Franklin has taken his message to South Africa for the first time, and in doing so shattered the usual puritanism associated with the country's Christianity.
    The Grammy Award-winning preacher-cum- musician says performing in Africa has always been his dream as the continent had served to inspire his love for music since childhood.
    During the past six years, Franklin and his retinue of singers, rappers, dancers and musicians have led gospel and spiritual music across the secular divide and firmly into the mainstream.
    His grammy-winning 1997 release, " God's Property", is the big gest gospel album ever, with 2.5 million copies sold.
    Born to a teenage mother in Riverside, Texas, Franklin was raised by an aunt and uncle who introduced him to music and the church.He was a prodigy, good enough to be offered a recording contract at 7-years of age (which his aunt and uncle turned down) and to direct his church choir at only 11.
    Kirk Franklin is an undisputed legend in gospelmusic.
    He has already broken down the barriers between gospel, Christian, hip hop and rap music and sold more than five-million records.
    He's brought a musical message of faith and hope to small towns and suburbs with an urban-influenced sound.
    However, his drive to thrust gospel music into the streets has often seen him criticised by some in the church who see his style of singing and preaching as subversive.
    Franklin says he is unfazed.
    "If the devil can change his ways, there's got to be a way to take the message of Jesus to every restaurant, club, or street and that's what it's all about.
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