2 weeks ago
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As the notes of praise echoed across the East Lawn of King’s House on Emancipation Day, one of the night’s most electrifying performances came from rising gospel star – Prince Saj.
Fresh off the stage, The Gleaner caught up with the young artiste whose mission is clear: to win as many lives as he can for Jesus Christ.
“People can call my musical delivery whatever they want. Whether yuh waa call it reggae, waa call it dancehall, pop or contemporary,” he said. “I’m just delivering the Word. I don’t put it in a box. It’s something that God has led me to do, and that is what I’m doing. I’m doing exactly what I was called to do.”
“I don’t classify my music as a style,” the 25-year-old shared. “It’s just gospel. I’m just doing what God wants me to do and singing what he wants me to sing.”
Living testimony of transformation
Now six years into his walk with Christ, Prince Saj is a living testimony of transformation. Before finding faith, he says he had tried almost everything to fill a growing void – but peace always eluded him.
“A lot of things happened leading up to the point of me giving my life to Christ. I tried everything and basically realised that no matter what I try, I still never had peace, still feeling unsettled, still feeling alone,” he recalled. “Then someone ministered to me about Jesus. Honestly, I didn’t want to believe in anything or anyone called Jesus Christ at the time, but I started praying. And in praying more, I started to feel that peace. I started to feel that sense of purpose.”
His spiritual shift was soon followed by a musical one. With a God-given gift for performance, Prince Saj redirected his talent from self-expression to divine purpose.
“I always had the musical gift, but even when I would perform, it still wouldn’t feel like I’m doing what I’m supposed to do. But in giving my life to God, in singing and using my gift to glorify him, I now have a purpose because the purpose and the goal is to win souls for Him.”
At More Than This Jamaica, Prince Saj delivered tracks like Adonai with full force, turning the lawns into holy ground. His performance was met with thundering applause.
“Sometimes I don’t really watch the crowd,” he admitted. “I just deliver how God would want me to deliver. But I saw that many people were enjoying it, and that’s a good feeling. Seeing even the leaders of the country and ministers applauding was a wonderful feeling. Because indeed, we want Jamaica to have that godly mentality.”
Sharing a stage with CeCe Winans, gospel royalty and the most awarded female gospel artiste in history, was a dream for him.
“I feel magnificent. It’s an awesome feeling. This is every minister’s dream,” Prince Saj said, visibly moved. “To start out writing songs, and transitioning into being on a stage like this, sharing the stage with some of the biggest stars. Great!”
With more than 15,000 present at More Than This Jamaica, we asked about the potential of gospel events to bring out large crowds seen in secular events.
“I think some gospel events might bring out more people. At an event like this, there are thousands of people here. And in my personal opinion, I think gospel events have the ability to bring out even more persons, but at this moment, it’s not,” he explained.
“I think that gospel music is not really being pushed as it should. We need more support. More people behind it. Even more media outlets pushing the gospel.”
He also highlighted that gospel artistes have their part to play.
“We, the artistes, have a responsibility to produce good songs and give good performances that people would really want to come and watch. We can’t just do mediocre songs and put on mediocre performances and expect people to enjoy it,” he said pointedly. “We have to give them a full show and have them enjoy it and make sure that they feel good. Once the material is good, the people will definitely love it.”
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