Kirk Franklin to Spread the Gospel in Kenya, Nairobi

By: Tonya Woods

When Kirk Franklin teamed up with the likes of R. Kelly, Salt-N-Pepa and Mary J. Blige, some may have said the 37-year-old gospel singer went too far in the secular genre even for gospel music.  Despite criticisms, Franklin has maintained his status as one of the most successful gospel singers in the country, inspiring those in the United States as well as other singers abroad.

“Kirk Franklin is a great musician who has managed to do what we call a crossover,” said Rufftone, a leading gospel musician from Kenya.  He says Franklin’s style and courage to reach a secular audience through unconventional measures is an inspiration to him.

It’s that courage that has afforded Franklin the opportunity to perform in Kenya and the rest of East Africa during the Extreme Weekend, a youth event sponsored by the Nairobi Lighthouse Church.

Franklin will stage three shows: the first at Bomas of Kenya, Nairobi on October 11, and Moi International Sports Centre also in Nairobi on October 13 and 14.  With Franklin highlighting the event, it is expected to be one of the biggest occasions in the country.

Franklin has garnered national success as a platinum-selling artist with five Grammys.  He released his first album titled Kirk Franklin and the Family in 1993.  Most famous for blending gospel with hip hop and R&B, he is known as the leader in contemporary gospel.

            Sources cited www.AllAfrica.com and Wikipedia