The recent gospel music category of the BET Awards have gotten many people talking — especially within the gospel community. From our previous post, we shared Deitrick Haddon’s view that the gospel music industry “needs a reset.” Now, another gospel voice is weighing in: Dabo Williams.

The Nigerian gospel artist Dabo Williams made a strong case, placing some of the blame squarely on the Christian community itself. According to him:

" It’s not a joke — me personally will blame it on The Christian community! And here is my WHY!!!"

Dabo Williams, who’s been a part of organizing gospel award ceremonies and events, points out several key issues:

1️⃣ Some clergy demonize Awards:
In the past and even more recently, church leaders view award ceremonies as “vanity” — this, in turn, discourages gospel artists from nominating their own work for consideration. They’re worried about their credibility in the church and the perception that they’re chasing earthly accolades instead of focusing on their ministry.

2️⃣ Artists barely submit or promote their work:
Few gospel artists submit their songs for consideration, and even when they do get nominated, they’re not enthusiastic about sharing their nominees or asking their fans to vote. This signals a lack of interest or understanding of the role these ceremonies can play in growing their reach and honoring their creativity.

3️⃣ Artists avoid award ceremonies:
Dabo Williams also explained that many gospel artists avoid honoring invitations, especially when they’re not scheduled to perform. This happens even after organizers invest large amounts of money to celebrate their contributions. They ignore messages, invitations, or simply do not show up.

> So tell me, why wouldn’t they fill that space with something else and pollute it? — Dabo Williams asks.

Clearly, there’s a growing concern within the gospel community about its own role in the growing visibility — or lack thereof — of gospel artists. It’s a wake-up call: if gospel artists want their space to flourish, they need to show up, celebrate their own, and appreciate the platforms made available to them.