GUYANA/BARBADOS (ANS) -- For South African activist and gospel singer, Musa Njoko, it was first stop Guyana, next stop Barbados, as she brought her powerful testimony to the Caribbean as the first Zulu gospel singer to ever minister in the region.

Njoko just before her departure from Barbados

Njoko, who is also known as Musa “Queen” Njoko, is an influential HIV activist who is one of the first women to publicly disclose her HIV-positive status in South Africa. She is a well established entrepreneur as she avidly takes on the roles of a gospel singer, fashion designer, counsellor, educator and more to lead a successful business and ministry.

“Since her diagnosis as HIV-positive in late 1993, Njoko has made a strong come back and has inspired so many through her struggle against discrimination and certain death,” Bishop Gerald A Seale, Secretary General and CEO of the Evangelical Association of the Caribbean based in Barbados, who worked with her on the Barbados part of her tour, told the ASSIST News Service (ANS).

“Over ten years later, Njoko’s ministry brought her to the beautiful Caribbean, where she first visited Guyana for the EDGE Youth Conference, Every Day God Experience.”

Bishop Seale said that Njoko was a special guest speaker in lieu of the conference’s theme for this year, “Don’t judge me, you don’t know me.”
 

Njoko ministering at The People’s Cathedral in Barbados

“On Sunday, July 18th, 2010, Njoko blessed hundreds of people with her golden, gospel voice at Central Assembly of God, in Georgetown, Guyana,” he went on to say.

“During her concert, Njoko shared her testimony of courage and steadfastness through her journey with being infected with HIV. Many have said that they witnessed that night her not only changing lives, but also changing the public perception of HIV in Georgetown.

“The remainder of her stay in Guyana consisted of an opportunity where Njoko made an appearance to two interviews that were broadcast live on Guyana television, and a day at Heavenly Light World Outreach Ministries in Albouystown where she helped co-facilitate a work on sexuality. Heavenly Light is in the heart of a ghetto community, and 45 teenagers and pastors attended the workshop all together.”

The following week, Njoko ministered at The People’s Cathedral and Abundant Life Assembly in Bridgetown, Barbados on Wednesday July 21 and Sunday, July 25, 2010.

This experience was profound for those who attended as Njoko leads an authentic African worship experience using African rhythms to enliven the performances,” said Bishop Seale. “Audiences danced and sang along with her as this petite woman opened her heart and allowed God to use her again and again.”
 

Njoko being interviewed by Marissa Boyce on Starcom Gospel Radio

He added, “During the service at The People’s Cathedral, Njoko’s testimony of how God has enabled her to rise above the adversity of HIV, AIDS, & TB was broadcast ‘live’ on Praise FM in St. Vincent to the surrounding countries of the Caribbean and streamed ‘live’ on the Internet.”

Her song, “Izethembiso”, which utilizes infectious African rhythms and speaks about the powerful promises of God that cannot be taken away, has been given more air time on radio stations than any of her other recordings.

For the duration of her stay in the Caribbean, the media continued to respond with great interest to Njoko. She was invited to be interviewed on Starcom Gospel Radio as well as 94.7 FM Radio. She appeared as a special guest on The Caribbean Broadcasting Corporation’s “Good Moring Barbados,” and newspaper publications. The Nation and Advocate also wrote of her full life’s story.

Njoko says that she feels that God has used her Caribbean visit to take her to a new level of ministry and maturity. She has vowed to return at the earliest opportunity.

Seale, who lives in Barbados, stated, “Musa has changed the atmosphere in Barbados as it relates to HIV. Her courage and her life of hard work and success have show Barbadians that HIV is a disease that can be prevented and can be controlled. She has also demonstrated in her life that HIV is not an impenetrable barrier to living life in abundance, achieving one’s goals and aspirations, and fulfilling one’s God- given destiny.”

To learn more about Musa Njoko’s ministry, visit: www.musanjoko.com/live/

EAC partnered with UNICEF Barbados, Tearfund (UK), the Barbados Evangelical Association, The People’s Cathedral and Abundant Life Assembly to make Njoko’s visit possible.

Musa Njoko’s visit to Guyana was made possible by EAC in partnership with the Guyana Evangelical Fellowship, Central Assembly of God, Heavenly Light Outreach Ministries and UNICEF Barbados.

Danielle Miskell, 23, is a 2009 graduate of Vanguard University of Southern California. Having just earned her Bachelor of Arts Degree in Communications and Journalism, she is both currently living and working in Costa Mesa, California. Since attaining her degree, she has continued to pursue journalism through pro bono ventures, among them being a field reporter for local radio program, 101.5 KOCI LPFM Newport Beach/Costa Mesa. She currently is writing for ASSIST News Service, a promoter for online music hub, LA Beet, and starting an internship with ABC7 News in the fall. Danielle can be contacted by e-mail at: danielle.miskell@gmail.com.