Emmanuel Dickson – My Truth

Emmanuel Dickson
My Truth
Harmon3 Records (release date: September 26, 2025)

By Robert M. Marovich

Emmanuel Dickson is a gospel artist from Lagos, Nigeria, but those expecting African beats and other musical touches on his debut album, My Truth, will discover it to be thoroughly saturated with the melodies, style, and arrangements of American P&W and contemporary gospel.

Not surprising: Dickson’s inspirations include Kirk Franklin and Donald Lawrence, and their influence is felt here as if they are directing the recording. For example, “Finally Free,” which is based in part on John 8:36, features perky Kirk Frankin-esque keyboard triplets and sassy singing from the background vocalists. Dickson even delivers spoken interjections like Franklin, as Jaddah offers a lovely soprano vocal. On the other hand, the conversational “Knowing You” gives listeners a chance to hear Dickson’s calm, introspective singing, complete with acoustic guitar accompaniment. The title track emerges seamlessly from “Knowing You” and closes the album. In this sermonette, Dickson offers his truth: “I am loved by God and that will always be enough.”

The female vocalists really sell the album. Jaddah features on “I Believe,” a gentle declaration of faith that borrows liberally from CCM balladry. “Already Done” is a hypnotically contemplative P&W piece with a beautiful vocal duet between Ohizua and Rume. Rume’s dynamic singing on “Table for Me” is one of the album’s highpoints. The song’s lyrics blend the message of Psalm 23:5 (“You prepare a table for me in the midst of my enemies”) with a reprise of the declaration from John 8:36 of “if the Son sets you free, you are free indeed.”

“I’m Yours” has a modern gospel rhythm, as does “The Affirmation,” though the latter is too derivative of modern gospel in arrangement and lyric to stand out among the other tracks.

All told, My Truth offers musical variety, simple messages of faith, bright singing, and authentic energy.

Four of Five Stars

Picks: “Already Done,” “I Believe,” “Table For Me”