For Dr. M.D. Herbert, lyricist, gospel singer and founder, African Mission Service Corps, song ministers should not deploy their talents primarily for financial gains. According to the Bauchi-state born cleric, music ministration should complete mission works.

He warned that gospel singer who does otherwise risks losing focus from their divine calling. Herbert, only recently came out with a 10-track, C.D. debut, entitled Perfect.

He also created a brand of music which he labelled African Confectionery. Single, but not in search, the graduate of the MUSON School of Music, Lagos, speaks on his music ministry, gospel music in Nigeria, his dream woman and the imperative for Christian faithful to rise against infidels in the last days.

Background
I was born and raised in Bauchi State; Tafawa Balewa Local Government precisely. I am of the Zwar Sayawa tribe. I graduated from MUSON School of Music, Lagos. Apart from that, I attended a number of music conservatories. In Archbishop Vining Memorial Church, Lagos, where I was a chorister, I was also into classical music

My music
After my registration at the MUSON School, the director looked at me and told me bluntly, “ it’s like you’re wasting your time here.” I believe you can do better. All you needed to do was to create more time for music in view of my deep involvement in theological works.” He also told me that my kind of music should be influenced by the my vision. Given the fact that my theological vision revolves around youths, I had to come up with something that would appeal to them. With my music, I tried to evaluate the art of worship; create the kind of aestheticism that enables me to convey my message.

Gentre
I am into what I describe as African Confectionery. It’s a kind of music in which I try to portray our cultural dignity. There is also a little bit of hip-hop, which will gives us a kind of acceptance by people in the Western world. Talking about my theological society, it’s not restricted to a cultural group or a sect. It’s universal just like the music. There is also hard rock, with indigenous flavour because I’m always conscious of my African root, and I like to promote it in my music.

Culture and faith
Going beyond the question now, true science and philosophy, harmonize with the scripture. Looking at world’s standards today, in terms of the norms and moral rectitude, you would discover that Africa is of immense moral elevation than the rest of the world. So, Africa has something which the rest of the world doesn’t. You would recall that Jesus Christ asked a question before he departed: Would I find faith when I return.
For the modern man, for instance, political nationalism is more important than life itself, likewise, faith, morality and decency. Thus, we’re trying to tell the world that African people have their sense of spiritual dignity within their culture. As it is now, Africa must reach out to the rest of the world if there must be faith on earth when Jesus returns.

My music is not commercial
My music is not just to keep body and soul together like most gospel artistes do today. My music is exclusively designed for mission’s support. If you observe, the CD is not designed for our leisure, luxury and the comfort of the gospel. Sometimes, people find it difficult to understand. In the Western world, rock gospel is in vogue, and it’s a means of reaching out to the youth. It goes a long way in hypnotizing or arresting today’s youths. The question is, how many people are creative or inspired to live up to the word of God they profess. We want to prove to the world that we mean business. Ours is a spiritual enterprise.

Playing gospel, or commercial music
Even, when we make money, it is not for selfish gains. We make money because I can’t invest in a venture without expecting something in return. If I do, I might end up destroying my own life. We see this as a kind of lucrative compensation for the ministry. Towards that, we hope to establish a marketing outfit to serve as alternative means of income. It’s not only my works that will benefit from the project, but other works that are rich in inspiration. By that we can project Africa to the rest of the world.
You see, most gospel musicians are frustrated. Some of them believe that the church owns them and this is an irony. We were called differently to serve in the Lord’s vineyard. But when you approach God, according to his word, you’ll enjoy his divine providence. Unlike the common practice in which people own commercial outfits, we want to be committed to mission and its growth.

Album’s duration
It took me almost seven years. It took me so long because I want to come out with something unique. The CD is a 10- tracker. Given my root as an indigene of Bauchi State, I reflected on the religious crisis that engulfed the state in one or two tracks in the C.D.
Nevertheless, I tried to avoid raising religious sentiment, or being emotional. I also tried not to be political. Actually, many people have been asking me to sing about religious crisis in Bauchi in 1991. I have all the documents, but I am deliberately playing it down.

Favourite track
It is entitled: Perfect. It is about the economic age. After God has created the spiritual world, he caused the material world to exist. God completed the work of creation and realized that it was good. All other things crated by God fell in place except man who went astray from the true purpose of God. The evolution theory which pre-supposes that man developed from the family of apes. Today, man has almost turned to monkey in the way he behaves.

Marriage
I have female admirers who come after me everyday but I am praying to God to give me the right person. That’s why I switch-off my phone, most of the time. People often reach me through my administrative manager. It is not good to have a figure head as a wife. I want a wife who will stand by me in the ministry. She has to be the ideal, practical wife in line with African culture. African culture stands side-by-side with scriptural norm. my ideal woman must be properly brought up. As a Christian, it takes a lot of efforts, courage and discipline, for us not to fall. We’re being pragmatic in whatever we do. Although, God gave us the freewill to do as we like, it should not be at the expense eternal damnation, which is the greatest consequence of freewill.

Preaching celibacy?
Celibacy is not a holier and higher way of practising Christianity. I am not saying that people should not marry, I’m only insisting that one can live holy life outside marriage. If you ask me to produce secular music, it’s like telling me to drink blood, or act pornography. That is what you see in secular music today. Let me tell you, what secular music breeds is sheer grief and frustration. When you listen to it from A – Z, you would discover at the end-of-the day that nothing works for you. When you watch the secular videos, it goes into your psyche and before you know it, you will begin to act on them.
Advice to other artists
I want them to be dedicated to the divine calling. Everything emanated from God and it is, to God that they’ll return. Man is on assignment in the world and it is to Him they shall render account on the day of reckoning. Apart from that, they should work harder to locate the true purpose of God for them. They’ll have to work harder because, without hardwork, dedication and diligence, nothing will work.