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New flavour for 'pop' contest

From right are Mark Foga, Mervaylle Foga and Wayne Thompson, bonded in over 20 years of friendship.

THE POP Festival competition this year has a unique flavour added to its line-up of singers. This time three Christians are set to revolutionise the thinking of Jamaicans through gospel music. The entry is entitled "Spiritual Society" and is performed by the group "Kõs".

According to the Festival competition co-ordinator, Michael Nicholson, the piece he refers to as a "conscious piece" is a very welcomed one. "A lot of persons gravitate to gospel music... once you go deeper than singing about the girl next door and about Jamaica as an island ... speak about what we need to do with our lives... it gets deeper and so as Jamaicans we gravitate to any music that comes with a message. The song does not preach about Christ but offers a message on how to improve one's life, and eventually Jamaica. It's message music," says Nicholson.

Bonded

Members of the group Pastors Wayne Thompson (writer), Mark Foga (composer), and Mervaylle Foga have been bonded in friendship for over 20 years. A friendship cemented by worshipping, playing, and working together for the Lord particularly in the music ministry has resulted in the quick, but sprucy two-day compilation of the entry.

No stranger to music, Mark plays just about any instrument and as a songwriter he has been performing and ministering from his early childhood locally and abroad. Wayne also plays a number of instruments, mainly the bass guitar and the flute. A soloist, Mervaylle teaches music (piano).

At present the gifted threesome is a combined gold mine of talent ready to be struck. Already there are those who recall being drawn to the church where they worship simply by the singing.

A number of factors have influenced the Christian trio's decision to enter this year's "pop festival".

Firstly the desire of Wayne's heart to address the nation for Christ birthed the lyrics in his soul. The music came a day later after discussions with Mark, who also wanted to see all Jamaica worshipping God. The task to draft Mervaylle was never a difficult one as she often sang beside her husband, Mark. She, too, always wanted the worship and praise in churches islandwide to be taken to a new dimension.

The song rendered in traditional Reggae style is a well-assembled Jamaican gift. The catchy snap-finger tune with its timely beat is well in tune with the Festival mood. But this time the entry brings us back to memories as to why Jamaica is referred to as "a Christian nation".

Wayne uses his newly emerging talent as a singer most skilfully to "dubpreach" at strategic points and then weaves into the vocal backdrop knitted by Merve and Mark.

According to Pastor Mark Foga, "this is our perspective of how God is bringing the church in Jamaica into a position of accuracy and relevance to meet the real needs of real people with a real gospel".

The group aims through their entry to influence the desire for a "Spiritual Society" on the hearts of all Jamaicans.

Pastor Thompson also explains that the song is never intended to be confined to the Festival. It is hoped that the song will be aired at all levels... "in clubs such as Asylum, Cactus and (simply) the man pan de street." Only then can the process of revolutionising Jamaica towards fellowship, prosperity begin and hence advancing the welfare of the whole human race.

The name Kõs originated from the Greek word "Kuriakõs" meaning "church" and is the revelation of manager Apostle Selvin Watson.

Both pastors are married with two children. Wayne is a chartered accountant at Deloitte & Touche, while Mark is an internal auditor at Air Jamaica.

All persons mentioned above are members of the Apostolic Worship Centre.

A. McG

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