Apostle Femi Lazarus has responded to Timi Dakolo amid their ongoing public feud over whether gospel artistes should charge fees for church performances.
In a recent post, Lazarus praised Dakolo as a “music legend” while maintaining his position on the need for change in how churches and musicians interact.
“My brother @timidakolo is a music legend. Give him his flowers. What a man! He genuinely carries the burdens of musicians. His concerns are real. I love you,” Lazarus wrote.
“Better structures will be built. This generation will not have a carryover of pain. Hosts will do better. Guests will do better,” he added.
This response follows a heated exchange that began when a video surfaced showing Lazarus criticizing gospel musicians who demand large payments to perform at church events.
He recounted an incident where an unnamed gospel artiste requested ₦5 million, expressing concern that ministry is becoming overly commercialized.
Timi Dakolo, known for his powerful vocals and strong opinions, swiftly fired back.
In a series of posts, he defended the right of gospel musicians to charge for their work.
He argued that creating and maintaining a successful music career involves significant financial investment, including costs for production, promotion, and sustaining livelihoods.
Dakolo also pointed out that while churches invest millions in building projects and events, they often expect musicians to perform without fair compensation.
“Stop gaslighting people who want to get paid for their craft. If you don’t want to pay guest artistes, grow your own choir and pay them well,” Dakolo said in a pointed response.
