Have you ever thought about how many Gen Zers will actively scroll their phones looking for “Abide With Me” on Spotify? Yeah, not many. But if that same hymn is flipped into an Afro Gospel track, it suddenly becomes accessible, even trendy. YouTube shorts? TikTok praise breaks? Insta worship reels? It’s game on!

The effect of reinvention can never be overemphasized. Afro Gospel hymn remakes can go viral and plant seeds in places traditional formats never could. It also challenges artists to be creative, skillful, and intentional—honoring both past and present. And this is why I feel some of our old hymns should be refined. 

Hymns are timeless, no doubt! They carry theology, history, and emotional weight. But in their traditional forms, they sometimes feel like black-and-white TV in an era of 4K HDR. So, is doing away with hymnals the best option? No! Afro Gospel artists aren’t erasing the hymns—they’re colorizing them, syncing them with the sound of today’s culture while preserving their depth.

Read Also: Faith, Beats, and Purpose: Why More Young People Are Turning to Afro-Gospel

Again, note the choice of word: refined, not redefined. 

This kind of creativity requires more than talent—it requires reverent innovation. You can’t just slap a beat on “Nearer My God to Thee” and call it a remix. It takes musical sensitivity and spiritual understanding to keep the soul of hymn intact while giving it wings.

I, personally, have five (5) favourite hymns that I look forward to their reinvention. I’d like to see and hear how excellently creative our Afro gospel artists can be. Does this sound like a challenge? Maybe, maybe not. But let’s get right into my favourite hymns: 

1. Rock of Ages, Cleft for Me

Have you tried to picture how this hymn is going to be if turned to an Afro Jazz? Imagine going from:

“Rock of Ages, cleft for me,

let me hide myself in thee;

let the water and the blood,

from thy wounded side which flowed,

be of sin the double cure;

save from wrath and make me pure.”

to:

“I dey stuck with You my God

Rock wey stand gidigba

He no leave my side; washed my sins away

You saved me, con heal me too

What else will I do if no be to dey Your side?”

Or, you have:

“I’m locked in, I’m rocked in (uh!)

Saved by the blood, I’m boxed in (yeah!)

Wrath cancelled, grace active (woo!)

Sin got no power, I’m reactive (fire!)

You cleaned me deep, made me brand new,

Rock of Ages, I’m stuck with You.”

At this point, I think the spark in me is spreading already. Singers always do anyway, but before I’d raise my shoulder, let’s get back to the crux of the matter: while the creativity will be exciting, the sobriety is going to be intact as well. So, it’s a win-win situation!

2. All Hail The Power of Jesus’ Name

Ask me “which of the stanzas of this song would you pick for revamping by Afro gospel artists?” and I will mention these two:

“All hail the power of Jesus’ name!

Let angels prostrate.

Bring forth the royal diadem,

and crown him Lord of all.

Bring forth the royal diadem,

and crown him Lord of all!

Let every tongue and every tribe

responsive to his call,

to him all majesty ascribe,

and crown him Lord of all.

To him all majesty ascribe,

and crown him Lord of all!”

They embody the essence of understanding God’s sovereignty, and unity in uniqueness of amplifying such wholesome truth — the diversities and the musical instruments will do a lot. 

3. The Comforter Has Come

This is my best hymnal of all time. For every time I sing it, I feel the passion, the joy, and the assurance in my soul about the ministry of the Holy Spirit. 

And it will make much sense for a song like this to be reinvented in a language that Gen Zs–who are superficial with relationships, be able to relate and trust that God’s Spirit is a friend of theirs, and He can also send people with the same nature to do life together. 

4. Draw Me Nearer

Now imagine “Draw Me Nearer” with a bouncy Afrobeat groove–talking drums, soft synths, maybe a sweet sax solo can accompany sliding in. Instead of slow organ vibes, we get rhythmic shaker-praise, while the chorus hits like a worship party: “Draw me nearer, nearer blessed Lord”–but with call-and-response vibe! 

The message stays the same: intimacy with Jesus. But the delivery? It will clap! Afrobeat breathes fresh joy into the longing, turning solemn yearning into vibrant surrender, and honestly, I’m all here for it. 

5. Take My Life, Let It Be

The hymn is, no doubt, a consecration song; however, bringing it on the Afrobeat wouldn’t be a bad idea. Just like Gaise Baba refined “I Have Decided To Follow Jesus” into “No Turning Back II” with Lawrence Oyor, this can also be a global anthem that helps reach the young wider audience, while the core message is still preserved. 

Whether solemn or fast-paced, every generation should find the hymns relatable in their own language–and this is what I hope the Afro gospel artists will look into.