Gospel artist Webi (Benjamin Webi) recently won all three African Gospel Awards he was nominated from DSTV's One Gospel TV Awards in South Africa. He bagged Best Gospel R&B Artist, Best Gospel R&B Song for "The Place" (watch the video here) as well as Live Gospel Performance of the Year. Read the interview by Shirley Genga of the East African Standard who interviewed Webi for the Pulse Magazine publication that will be published tomorrow.

Pulse: Tells us how you got nominated for the One Gospel Awards?
W: My nomination was a surprise because I did not submit my videos for the awards. It was by chance because when DStv unveiled One Gospel on Channel 331 — which plays Christian music from allover Africa - we were asked to submit music for airplay. I sent my music to South Africa not expecting much but viewers seem to love my music especially Outside My Window which was a hit. One Gospel shot two videos of my songs from my album and nine from my live performances for free. Because of the many requests I was nominated for Best R&B Artiste, Best R&B Song and Best Live Performance.

P: Did you expect to win against gospel heavy weights from across Africa?
W: I was a little intimidated at first because I was pitted against the likes of Nigerian popular singer T.Y Bello — Kora nominee — and Marlon Van from South Africa. But after Africa voted between August and October 31, I shocked when I realised I was just as popular because the results showed I was doing well.

P: Did you expect to win all the three awards you were nominated for?
W: Yes, when I was going to South Africa I knew I was going to collect the awards. The voting process was transparent from beginning to end.

P: What does winning these awards mean to you?
W: It means that people of Africa appreciate my talent and that is not only overwhelming but also very humbling. After all the hard work I have put into my music it was a blessing to know that others appreciated it. Also winning the award gave me the opportunity to go to South Africa and network. I made some contacts with distributors from countries like Nigeria and South Africa.

P: What kind of response do you get from your fans outside Kenya?
W: I get very good response, especially from Uganda, South Africa and Nigeria. They send me email on Facebook. Some even call or text me on my business number, which I leave on Facebook.

P: Do you think winning these awards will compromise your faith?
W: It will not get into my head although winning these awards feels as good winning Kora Award. I cannot afford to forget God and all the struggles that brought me to this place in my life.

P: What do you think of DNG, he probably thought like you did once?
W: No comment! He is my boy.

Webi

P: Do you ever perform in clubs or places not deemed as Christian enough and if not what do you think of Christian’s musicians who do?
W:I have performed at Club Diamond and the response I got was very good. I performed there twice in two weeks. I do not have a problem performing in the so-called ‘not Christian enough places’ because I strongly believe that God’s message is not just for the saved alone. As a Christian musician if one decides to perform at such places like clubs they should do it for the purpose of spreading God’s message and not for their own selfish reasons.

P: How long have you been in music and what genre of music do you specialise in?
W:I have been performing for four years now. I even have an album which was released three years ago.My music is mainly Christian R&B.

P: What is your album called and who produced it?
W: It’s Outside My Window and it contains 12-tracks produced by Steve Ominde and Ben Gitau of Soul Child Records.

P: Did your album sell?
W: No it did not, I guess people did not get it. At one point I was so frustrated I almost quit after the album failed to sell but I did not give up because I believed that music is what I was born to do. I continued to perform at weddings, churches and anywhere I was called to perform.

P: What else do you do apart from music?
W: All I do is music. When I’m not singing, I teach guitar and piano at Joy Music and Creative Arts. I have a degree in Sales and Marketing but music is my first love.

P: Do you think Kenya is finally ready for your kind of music?
W: Kenyans are finally ready for my music because I get so many offers now to sing in churches, schools, weddings more than ever before

P: What can we expect from your next album?
The same kind of gospel R& B and love songs, which can be played at weddings.