Guyanese gospel artiste Samuel Medas, a week ago, won the new artiste of the year award at the Caribbean Gospel Music Marlin Awards in Nassau, Bahamas and was last Thursday honoured by Gizmos & Gadgets.
As he received the honour from the local gadget store 28-year-old was surrounded by family and friends, other artistes in the gospel arena including Shawn English and Kester D, employees of store and members of the media.
The ecstatic Samuel still to come to terms with his latest achievement shared his experience as an artiste through smiles.
“I used to live in Uitvlugt and people used to be playing music all around. I fell in love with music before I fell in love with Jesus,” he shared. The artiste said he hopes his music brings hope to his fans.
Concerning “nay-sayers” Samuel said he was told in the past to not to pursue music, especially with no copyright among other things but for him “nay-sayers is a frequency I learned to tune out.”
Among his inspirations are Eddie Neblett and Bob Marley.
“I dedicate my award to my support team: my family [parents and siblings], wife, friends, especially my youngest brother who is my biggest fan, he copies everything.”
Kester D in support of his friend said, “Guyanese music is there but we don’t have the support here like the Americans would go all out for theirs….” He added that Guyana needs a gospel radio station.
In addition, Pastor Kwame Wilson of Kaneville Full Gospel Church, had this to say: “I don’t believe there’s [any] difference between our Guyanese artistes and the foreign artistes; [however] Guyanese are too foreign-minded. I believe Guyanese is on par with the Caribbean and the …world. All we need are the resources; give us the resources…. All musicians in Guyana should be honoured and supported.”
Speaking on behalf of the owners of Gizmos and Gadgets, Melissa Davi said, “Mr Ravi Mangar and Varsha Mangar strongly believe in the community and once they heard of Samuel they jumped on board. They are into establishing anything positive the Guyanese community wants to do.”
Samuel, after the presentation ceremony said, “I feel greatly honoured. It’s the biggest thing for me and Guyana as the first nominated and the first to win at the Marlin Awards which has been around for twenty years.”
Samuel was nominated in seven categories at last year’s Marlin Awards. He also was awarded the Best Male Gospel Artiste in Guyana last year.
To date he has produced three albums—‘Heart to Heart,’ ‘This Peculiar Journey’ and ‘Ink of Intimacy’ and is currently working on another.
Samuel is currently on tour and recently came back from visiting Berbice. He is yet to visit Linden, Bartica, Essequibo Coast and the West Coast, his home.
