A priest in Kenya has been suspended by the country's Catholic Church for rapping during his sermons, CNNreports.
During morning mass on Sundays at the St. Monica Catholic Church in southwest Kenya, Father Paul Ogalo would wear his traditional church vestments. Later, he would come out in shorts, a long T-shirt, and a red bandana on his head, while rapping into a mic in front of his congregation.
Widely known as "Father Masaa," Ogalo has told local media he raps to “bring the youth closer to the church" and as a means to spread messages against drug use. According to him, it's been a success, but it isn’t sitting well with some.
Bishop Philip Anyolo, head diocese in Migori county, where Father Ogalo serves, doesn’t see eye-to-eye with the priest, and confirmed for CNN that Ogalo has been suspended from leading the church.
“Yes, the church has taken disciplinary measure against Father Ogalo. The use of rap music is not allowed in preaching,” Bishop Anyolo said. “The priest has been given a one-year break to look into his ways before coming back to the church. We have just barred him from preaching using rap music to allow him time to change his ways.”
Anyolo added that Father Ogalo is permitted to worship in the church but cannot lead prayers. Ogalo has been fairly popular, doing many local TV and radio interviews, and was considered the new face of Kenya’s Catholic Church.
Many have taken to social media to explain why the church is so afraid of Ogalo’s method, and to share encouraging messages with Ogalo.
Wandia Njoya, a senior lecturer at a leading Christian university in Kenya called Daystar, tweeted, “We teach hip hop and the Bible at Daystar Language. It's not the priest's popularity that the church is afraid of. It's the revolutionary and African content of hip hop.”
Another Twitter user, @PaulMbure wrote, “My message to Fr Paul Ogalo, "Don't Stop! Keep bringing the youth closer to God. He will never judge you.”
