Nigerian pastor Femi Lazarus and singer Timi Dakolo have reconciled after a heated online debate about gospel musicians charging fees for church performances. Their dispute, which sparked widespread discussions, has now been resolved, as seen in a recent Instagram post by Pastor Lazarus.
The controversy began when Pastor Lazarus criticized the high fees charged by gospel artists for ministrations, revealing that one artist had requested ₦5 million to perform at a church event. He expressed concern that worship was becoming a commercialized performance rather than a spiritual service.
In response, Timi Dakolo defended gospel musicians, arguing that their craft requires significant financial investment, including studio sessions, production, and promotions. He pointed out that many churches are willing to pay foreign artists but often underpay local gospel singers, calling for fairness and proper compensation.
Following their disagreement, the two reconciled and shared a moment together with Pastor Emmanuel Iren. Pastor Lazarus posted a picture of the three on Instagram, acknowledging Dakolo’s contributions to music and the struggles faced by gospel artists. He captioned the post:
“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.
Better structures will be built. Pain is real.
From pulpit to the pew, the pain is real, but we will be fine.
This generation will not have a carryover of pain.
Hosts will do better. Guests will do better.
We will have a better nation together.
I don’t know how to edit my brother @pst_iren out of the picture.”
Their reconciliation highlights the need for open conversations about improving gospel music structures while ensuring fairness for artists and churches alike.
View this post on Instagram
