Olufunmi Olajoyegbe is that angelic voice that broke into the Nigerian music scene a couple of years ago. This soft yet firm mother of two tells Lolade SOWOOLU in this interview, why she has been away from the music scene for so long. She also explains the sensitive nature of being a gospel artiste and the challenges therein.
Where have you been?
I’ve been in Lagos and I’ve been very busy. I spend more of my time ministering in Churches and concerts. I haven’t brought out a new album for a while and I have so much pressure from people to do so. Our last revival held September 17 in Parkview Estate, Ikoyi. I’m also Vice president of SPAN – Society for Performance Arts of Nigeria. The president is Sarah Boulor, so all that has kept me busy.
When did you start gathering Christians in Performing Arts in a fellowship?
It’s called Get into God fellowship and we started in 2004. We’re not a church. We keep in touch, support and encourage each other. We have major events too throughout the year.
What’s happening to music?
By next year (2011) I’ll have something new. I’ve lots of recorded songs. It’s just to put them together. I think I need to make that a priority.
Is it because you found other passions that your music is taking a back seat?
I wouldn’t say so. Music is still something I love to do. It’s just that bringing out an album or video doesn’t define the totality of music for me.
Yes, that’s what makes you visible on a social level, so to speak. But I’ve been ministering consistently in Churches. I’m just doing what I believe God has called me to do and that’s where my greatest joy in life comes from. I see myself first of all as a gospel minister, not a gospel singer. I see gospel music as part of my ministry.
At what point of your life did you encounter God?
I first gave my life when I was 11 years old. I lived in the presence of God for three years. I was in a missionary school in Ethiopia, but I was born here in Nigeria. I walked very close to God as a child. They said I began to preach at about 7 years old. Somewhere along the line I backslided and came back to Nigeria. In 1988, I gave my heart to God again. Since then I would not say I have always gotten it right but I’ve always held on to the fact that God is the most important part of my life and holding on to that has taken me through the hard times and to find value in my life.
Have there been times that you felt tempted to compromise on God?
I have this powerful knowing that God is never wrong. There’s been times that I felt like giving up on different things- a music project, a friendship or times when you just feel overwhelmed by one thing or the other. I’ve found that keeping your eyes on Christ will bring you out finer and stronger than you were before. It’s like putting gold through the fire. It’s representative of every human being who has a relationship with God.
Was your last album a commercial success?
It depends on what you define as commercial success. Money wise, I wouldn’t say yes. I’m yet to meet anybody in Nigeria whose album has been a ‘money’ success. But a success in terms of testimonies from people who’s listened, I’d say yes. God by his grace used the album to touch hearts. I have three albums in all.
What is your take on the way gospel music is positioned in the music industry. Is gospel well represented?
Things can always be better than they are. There are lot of excellent gospel artistes on the scene now. Gospel is very different from secular.
You can’t handle gospel same way you would secular. And it’s the same way abroad. Gospel artistes abroad don’t make as much money as the secular artistes. You’ll always have to consider that divine element. God could call you to go to some remote lace to go and minister. It’s a totally different platform but there’s still a lot of room because gospel is gaining ground.
We need to work together. We need to have a forum where we can discuss, plan, identify the challenges we face in the industry and begin to devise solutions to make sure we can reach more people and make a living off our career.
What I see happen is that a lot of people are gospel artistes for a while and then because they can’t live off it, they become secular. I don’t believe they have to be that way. I’d just say it (doing gospel) will not be as easy as the world (secular) because there are so many shortcuts you cannot take as a gospel artistes. You just have to be strong.
Who are some of the people you have worked with in the past and coming works?
I’ll start with the past. I’ve worked with TY, we did a song and video together, Bouqui, Mike Aremu, and quite a number of artistes. For my new works, you have Evans, he’s a talented singer, songwriter and minister. There’s Wale Adenuga, Chima, try back-up singers and some more I don’t remember now.
Are there chances of working with a secular artiste?
I don’t know. I’ve not really considered that. It’d be something I’d have to pray about. You know there are some areas where the lines are grey and you just need the leading of the Lord to know what God wants you to do. I never say no outrightly because I don’t know what God’s doing but I know God will never lead me into something that’s not going to bear good fruit.
Any particular health habit? Do you do anything deliberately to keep this figure?
I don’t really put on weight. I don’t do anything deliberately but there are things I love to do. I love Salsa, I love dancing. Even in my bedroom, I dance Hip Hop (laughter). I love dancing and that keeps the weight off. God has blessed me with certain things by way of instruction, for instance, the Lord told me not to take pork sometimes backs. And I find that if I eat pork, I have trouble with indigestion. so I don’t touch it.
Medically, they say port isn’t good for you too. I love sweet things but I can’t take a lot of sugar, I react to it. That’s another good thing for me.
Then I don’t have a very large appetite so I don’t eat a lot and I tend to like food that are healthy anyway. So I guess God has blessed me with liking things that are good for me. I love cakes and ice cream but I don’t take them often, when I do, I burn it off with the Salsa.
Are you likely to release a Hip Hop track.
I don’t know; we’ll see what God does.
Tell me a bit about family
I’m married, I have two teenage boys – 19 and 16 years old. And we’re a happy family.
You seem to soft spoken that one can’t imagine you rebuking a child?
Trust me, I can I can be very strict.