“The person born with a talent they are meant to use will find their greatest happiness in using it,” those are the words of the late Johann Wolfgang von Goethe, who was a German writer and statesman. And, the quote sounds almost synonymous with Christine Adhyambo’s dream and aspiration of becoming a firebrand mainstream gospel artist.

A soft-spoken lady, Adhyambo is a talented vocalist, typically one who could regularly perform with a jazz or pop music band; the opportunity never came until she stumbled on the Africa Online Vocalists (AOV) contest held virtually earlier December.

AOV is a talent-search initiative championed by Hellen Akoth Mtawali, formerly a judge at the Tusker Project Fame, an East African reality-singing competition show sponsored by Tusker Lager.

Adhyambo took part in the third season of the contest, which drew 52 participants from more than five countries, including South Sudan, Kenya, Burundi, Nigeria, and Qatar. Choosing gospel, a genre she is passionate about, Adhyambo emerged first runner up and crowned AOV International Ambassador for South Sudan.

But it did not end there. Possessing a Kenyan descent, she battled criticisms for representing South Sudan on an international platform. For record purposes, Adhyambo resides in Munuki, a suburb in the South Sudanese capital Juba where she has stayed for more than five years, which makes her legally eligible for dual citizenship.

Dale Carnegie, the author of the book How to Win Friends and Influence People, once said “Any fool can criticize, complain, and condemn – and most fools do. But it takes character and self-control to be understanding and forgiving”.

Like the words of Carnegie, Adhyambo never treated people’s criticisms with rage, she remained focused as she vows to shoulder on the turbulent responsibility to main-stream her gospel music career.

“I acknowledge my origin and identity, but that doesn’t count so much in building my career. Actually, what I did at the Africa Online Vocalists contest raised the flag of South Sudan high,” she told City Review exclusively.

The AOV accolades handed Adhyambo a huge career boost after winning song-writing award a year prior.

Unlike artists whose choice of music genre is driven by the urge for financial breakthrough, Adhyambo said her choice was dictated by the desire to uphold balance between her faith and daily life.

“I’m not driven by money in pursuit of my [gospel] music career. I do it because I want to keep a close attachment with God,” she said.

Inspired by American gospel singer Natasha Tameika “Tasha” Cobbs Leonard, Adhyambo vows to go it all alone, with or without external supports.

“I’m doing most of the things by myself for now and I will continue to work toward success whether I get support or not. Of course if someone would offer to support me I won’t have any problem but for now, my determination is the major driving force,” she said.

Adhyambo mulls on releasing a new album in January 2021. Like any other upcoming artist, a range of challenges abound. Getting her songs air-played on local radio stations, she worries, would be a daunting task as much as sourcing funds to keep her career afloat.

However, with AOV awards and the international ambassadorial status, comes a fortune as the organization connects upcoming musicians to world class producers as part of their support to promote emerging talents. This opportunity has reignited Adhyambo’s gospel music dream and aspiration.