Gospel performers must present themselves appropriately, according to Mavis Asante

Mavis Asante, who is now a reverend preacher, made an ardent call for gospel singers to dress modestly, emphasizing that the soul of the genre lay not only in its melodies and lyrics but also in how artists present themselves to the audience.

The singer best known for her hit song Obaatan thinks that gospel performers' clothing should reflect the spiritual values they sing about in order to encourage a sense of spiritual connection.

Gospel musicians are spiritual ambassadors and a channel for heavenly inspiration, not just performers.

The vehicle used to deliver the message should be precious just as the message itself is.

The goal of wearing modestly is to demonstrate our respect for and humility toward the message we are trying to portray, not to stifle our individuality.

"I disagree with those who argue that we should place more emphasis on the substance rather than the look. Do not invite anyone to peer into your heart. We are unable to enter your body, open your heart, and look inside. I'll define you depending on how you come across online," she said in a recent interview with Graphic Showbiz.

She clarified that her demand for modesty goes beyond a personal conviction to a larger responsibility for influencing the beliefs and standards of gospel music fans.

She said that in order to remind gospel musicians of their sacred obligation to approach their profession with a deeper sense of discipline, she would continue to stimulate a larger dialogue within the gospel music community.

"Self-expression or creativity are not incompatible with modesty. Instead, it motivates us to come up with fresh, relevant approaches to spreading our message without the use of flamboyant clothes.

She emphasized the difficulties gospel musicians experience and their need for support as she pleaded with fans and followers to remember the artists' humanity and remember them in their prayers.