I got yam, chicken as payment for performances – Tim Godfrey

Nigerian gospel singer Tim Godfrey has spoken out against the poor treatment of gospel artistes in the country, recalling a time when he was paid with two bars of yam and a live chicken for a performance.

In a video that went viral on Thursday, Godfrey expressed deep frustration over what he described as the disregard and lack of appreciation for gospel musicians in Nigeria.

According to him, returning to Nigeria became challenging due to how event organizers and audiences often undervalue the hard work of gospel artistes.

He said,

“Coming to Nigeria became difficult because of how artists are treated so badly. All those talks about ‘why are they charging?’ or ‘why are they collecting money?’ made me so angry. Why are people so unfair? How does it make sense that someone works so hard, and you expect them to accept two bars of yam or a live chicken as payment? How is that supposed to pay school fees or rent? That is simply unfair.”

His remarks have sparked widespread discussion online, with many Nigerians agreeing that gospel artistes deserve better financial recognition and respect for their craft.

Born in Kaduna State, Tim Godfrey began his music career in the early 2000s and rose to fame after founding Tim Godfrey and the Xtreme Crew in 2004. Their hit single “Na You Be God” propelled him into the spotlight, establishing him as one of Nigeria’s top contemporary gospel musicians.

Over the years, Godfrey has released numerous chart-topping gospel songs and collaborated with international stars, including Travis Greene on the global worship hit “Nara.” He continues to expand his influence through live worship projects and new releases that fuse traditional gospel sounds with modern Afrobeats rhythms.