Back in Uganda they were hot, but LIMIT X had to pay their dues in the UK. Keith Hammond and Tessa Hadfield met the funky Afro-gospellers.

Limit X

Afro-rock is one of those wonderfully vague phrases in which the music industry abound. Anybody with even the haziest knowledge of the music of the vast African continent would realise that Africa has produced a folk musical heritage of head-spinning diversity while the 'Africa meets the West' fusion can today encapsulate everything from South African township jazz to Afro-reggae Gospel music from Africa is equally varied.

From South African church choirs to Ghanaian hi-life rhythms, African gospel brings the message of Christ in many musical forms while, inspired as it is by many African countries' genuine Holy Spirit revival, often possessing a profound ministry dimension. Now African gospel is beginning to have an international impact and no more so than in Britain where Limit X were voted at the DMI 1992 Gospel Awards 'Best British New Artist' (an accurate enough category as although originally hailing from Uganda the five-piece Limit X are now all based permanently in London, England). For an African-origin gospel band to gain such acclaim within Britain's gospel scene, dominated as it is by Caribbean Christians, says much for the appeal of Limit X's music. A wonderfully turbulent rhythmic brew it mixes elements of US dancefloor funk to Ugandan street rhythms while never losing sight that it is the Mighty God Lord Jesus Christ not the tin pot god of dancefloor lust that is being celebrated in the lyrics.

Cross Rhythms caught up with the band at Kensington Temple. We were pretty humbled that the members of Limit X were once in a team called the New Wave Band which was the biggest in their home country of Uganda and that they even had their own national television show for one hour every weekend. How come Limit X are house sharing in Croydon when they would probably be hosting Uganda's version of the Terry Wogan Show by now? The answer to that question lies first in Limit X's burning desire to be the best band the world has ever seen, but second and more importantly, their desire to reach out to the youth of today with the Gospel in an authentic way, uncompromised by those who think Christian music can only ever be a cheap copy of secular music.

For those who find this a paradox, that wanting to achieve musical integrity cannot go hand in hand with a desire to evangelise maybe we should mention that every day between 4am and 5am Limit X get up to pray and this is what brings both of these things together. Dennis Sempebwa, leader of Limit X, explained it thus, "To make an evangelistic impact within secular music and ultimately to affect peoples' lives with the love of Christ you have to be serious, and more than that, you have to search out exactly what and how God wants you to serve him, and finally, when you do, be the best that you possibly can, stay close and listen to what God has to say and remember where the gifts and talents came from.

We try to do this with Limit X. Back in Uganda all of Limit X were youth leaders and worship leaders in their church. The group came to Britain in 1989 though they still have a burden for their homeland and financially support an orphanage in Uganda with a view to eventually running it completely. Said Dennis, "Another of our aims is to earn enough money from our music to finance other works within our country. The money for an average house in this country would finance a whole hospital in Uganda." Although famous in Uganda Limit X felt God calling them to England to do a work here. In Britain things were far from easy. They had to get part-time jobs to finance their gigging.

But recently Limit X have been able to become full-time. All of the band play keyboards and sing excellently which makes their acappella renditions stunning. We were delighted to be treated to a Take Six-esque version of "Go Tell It On The Mountain" {we shall keep that dictation tape in a very safe place).

The Limit X line-up is Dennis Sempebwa, 25, Issac Ruccibigango, 25, who the band describe as their chief negotiator, Paul Serukenya, 23, the sensitive member of the band and Paul Muteb, 24, the quietest who also happens to know more about the Winans than the Winans. Limit X are now firmly established on Britain's black gospel circuit where their African street rhythms, energetic dance routines, rap and acappella. Although shocking staider audiences the band have found a clamorous reception with youth.

Limit X have set up their own production company, Four Parts Productions, through which they produce various African artists and have some production work for Sony in the pipeline. Limit X are also manic songwriters writing for others, for in their own words "we couldn't possibly use all the material we have written. Possibly the band's most amazing achievement is to have survived let alone win Channel 4's 291 Club - anyone who has watched any of those programmes will understand exactly what we mean. As well as gospel shows Limit X often play in clubs in and around London including 'The Orange', 'Xenons' and 'Moonlighting'. The band are now managed by Keith Harris, more renowned for managing Stevie Wonder, and he is in the process of negotiating a record contract with one of the major secular record labels.

As far as recorded material goes Limit X have one demo album which they financed themselves which can be obtained from Red Records in Brixton or Dual Edge Records, and two singles, both of which have just been released on Genial Wave Records and can be obtained from local specialist dance shops. If you want to keep reaching out to the youth you have to keep up with the new styles," commented Dennis. That typifies what Limit X are aiming to achieve. They are currently working on the material for that big secular deal album which will contain rhythms which are totally new and a message which is much more far reaching and which pinpoints specific problem areas young people face. God's got quite a plan for these brothers.