Gospel is not just music — it is a sacred conversation between you and Jesus Christ. It is a way to pour your emotions into beautiful harmonies directed toward the Lord, and he is always listening, no matter what season you are experiencing. A testimony of faith is reverberated as every chord is struck and every note hit, and that is especially evident in the life of Guimel Sibingo, assistant professor of journalism at Point Loma Nazarene University.
Sibingo was born in Angola and moved to Portugal at the age of 3. She graduated from PLNU in 2014 with two degrees in communication and philosophy/theology.
No stranger to music, it made an early appearance in her life through her family.
“Both my sister and I are singers, so we’ve always been involved in singing at church,” she said. “We were with churches that were smaller in nature and were involved in worship, but also larger churches with bigger production.”
Blessed with an aptitude for singing, Sibingo said she realized that harmonies came easily to her. She pushed herself into the immersion of various styles of singing, but a few beacons of inspiration stuck out to her.
“I really learned how to sing from Darlene Zschech from Hillsong,” she said. “In the early years, she’s this powerful soprano, powerhouse singer. And Beyoncé. I lived in an environment where my mom encouraged me to listen to Christian music, but I also listened to Beyoncé and Destiny’s Child.”
Zschech, a former pastor of Hillsong Church, is known for her expressive, moving vocal style in the realm of gospel music. She provides this intimate, spiritual moment for listeners worshiping alongside her in church, as well as for those listening to one of the countless albums she has published.
Beyoncé is another woman who has influenced Sibingo in a profoundly positive manner, where she said her rich, multi-octave spanning range captivated her musical imagination and further inspired her artistry.
“A lot of people just like her music and like the hype, but to me, I have been a fan of her since I was 15 years old,” she said. “It was her and Oprah — two powerful Black women who were doing really incredible things, and me as a child watching them and being inspired by them at how independent and competent they were.”
Drawing strength from these icons, Sibingo’s style emerged with her own blend of gospel roots and contemporary influences to create a sound uniquely hers.
“I loved watching them make things happen, and as a woman in the workplace, that is something myself and a lot of women can identify with.”
Similar to Zschech and Beyoncé, Sibingo has had her own share of large-scale performances thanks to her God-given talent.
Sibingo was involved in many gospel choirs, but one that she was with had the opportunity to sing at the MEO Arena for Portugal-based artist Richie Campbell, in front of more than 20,000 people.
Traditional Portuguese melodies intertwined with electrifying blends of R&B and reggae, Campbell is an artist that many people gravitate to — and Sibingo had the pleasure of opening for him.
“He wanted a choir to open for him, and we sang for like one minute, but it was still cool to be on this side of the stage and see all of the people there who were there to see him.”
Outside of performing, Sibingo enjoys seeing her favorite artists on stage. From Kendrick Lamar to Switchfoot to J-Hope, concerts are something that brings her immense joy.
“God sent me this thing [musical bands] to help me find joy in everyday life,” she said.
Sibingo is a multi-faceted, talented individual in terms of the arts. Her musical ability is awe-inspiring, and the years of practice and dedication to her craft emerged from her local church. She continues to immerse herself in gospel music by participating in some of PLNU’s own chapel services.
“I was involved with Hillsong Portugal, which is one of the biggest churches there,” she said. “I was a part of that church for four years and involved in all aspects of production. From Christmas shows to Easter shows, and I was part of the worship team where we had four services a week.”
The real beauty in Sibingo’s music is not found solely in her soul-stirring harmonies but in the magnitude of her faith that breathes life into every note.
“I love singing for Jesus; it’s one of my favorite things to do,” she said. “Anything that allows me to serve the body of Christ in that way has always been one of my passions.”
Chloe Kennedy 
Olivia Roberts