Entertainment

Choristers-TurnedMusic Artistes Exposed

Published

12 years ago

February 13, 2015

A recent investigation has
revealed some of the top Nigerian artistes who started from the church either as singers in choir, praise leaders or drummers before moving over to secular music much later in their lives. They include the following.
Peter and Paul Okoye (P Square)
This singing duo disclosed that their mother, Josephine Okoye influenced their music career later in life. She used to be a member of a choir and when they were growing up, she took them to rehearsals and they watched her as she sang with the choir, so they got the music disposition from her.
Later she became a pastor in her ministry called “Friends of Jesus Catholic Prayer Ministry and when she started her ministry, they were her choir, her choristers.
Olubankole Wellington (Banky W)
This great entertainer and top artiste disclosed that everybody who knew him knew that he sang.
He said he started singing at an earlier stage. I was always singing in school or church choir.
Michael Collins Ajere (Don Jazzy)
In an interview, Don Jazzy made it known to the public that he started singing at the church choir.
Amanyi Oche Gabriel Terry G.)
Terry G as he is popularly known revealed that he came from a Christian background. His dad was an elder in church, while his mother was a deaconess and at one time she used to be a choir mistress. I used to go all the time to the church with my mom. I already knew how to sing, so I ended up in the choir. Quickly I started developing interest in musical, I picked up the drums, graduated to key boards and even played bass guitter”, he said.
Oladapo Daniel Oyebanjo (D Banj)
The Koko master needs no introduction since the name has become a house-hold name. He said during his younger days he learnt how to play harmonica, that was where the love for music grew.
He disclosed that he joined the choir and played every instrument he could lay his hands. At any opportunity he got, he tried to express himself through music.
J-Martings
He also mentioned in an interview that he started singing at the church. “Actually my mum was a choir mistress, so I think the seven of us caught the singing bug from her. From singing, I took to playing musical instruments and got into production while I was in school in Onitsha.
Enetimi Alfred Odom (Timaya)
The ‘Ukwu’ singer who spoke on his musical journey, said he started from church before starting up as a back up for Eedris Abdukareem for three years before exploring his musical career.
Ayodeji Ibrahim Balogun (Wizkid)
The dude who started his music career at a young age is not left out. He started when he was eleven years at the church and from then on, he has been in love with music. He dropped an album in church, performed in church and went from church to church for performance”, I am thankful to God for where I am now”, he stated.
Iyanya Onoyom Mbuk (Iyanya)
It was gathered that Iyanya used to sing in his church choir and was the choirmaster for the children’s choir at the age of five, he later started rapping even back than he was rapping, he was in the choir.
Oluwatobi Wande (Wandecoal)
Wandecoal like most great musicians started singing in the teenage choir in church where he was with a group member, Chuddy K. He got his breakthrough in the Nigerian Entertainment industry as a dancer. He continued improving on his vocal skill and got signed to Don Jazzy’s Mo Hits Records in 2006. He featured on D’banj’s Rundown’, ‘Funk You Up’ album and on singles like Loke, Tonosible and Why Me’
Dare Art Alade
Dare Art Alade revealed that it all started when he was about eight in the children’s choir of his church. While he was at CMS Grammer School, he led the choir, they would perform at functions, he was also a member of the choir of Cathedral Church of Christ and capped it up by studying music at University of Lagos. Some of his friends came together and they formed a singing group called “Chorde Webs”.
Aituaje Iruobe (Waje)
As a young and gifted singer, she once sang gospel tunes to the delight of the late Archbishop Benson Idahosa of the Word of Faith Church Benin. While at the University of Nigeria Nsukka, where she had a degree in social work, Waje was very much with her musical side by making sure she performed in school concerts and fellowship.
Culled from global excellence magazine.

Entertainment

Why Fans No Longer Faint For Musicians – Paul Okoye

Published

4 days ago

October 30, 2026

The Tide

Nigerian singer and half of the defunct P-Square duo, Paul Okoye, aka Rudeboy, has claimed that social media has reduced the prestige and value fans attached to musicians due to the mystique that artistes had before the era of social media.
Speaking in a recent interview with Lun Lifestyle TV, Rudeboy argued that social media, despite all its benefits, has shattered the illusion of artistes being mysterious and godlike.
This he said has reduced the buzz artistes previously enjoyed whenever their fans got the opportunity to see them whether physically or visually.
The ‘Reason With Me’ crooner explained that because artistes are no longer mysterious, fans are no longer eager to watch them in music videos.
He claimed that shooting music videos is now a waste of money.
Rudeboy said, “Music videos somehow now, because of this generation, is a waste of money. I am sorry to say this. But do you remember us [P-Square] before? You don’t see us anywhere. You just watch music videos, you see us and that’s it, or we come to your country, you see us.
“The reason you don’t see people faint for artistes anymore is because they see them on TikTok every day dancing and promoting your music. If Michael Jackson was alive now and doing promotional content on social media, nobody would see him and faint.
“Unfortunately, it’s too late for us to bring back the era of artistes being mystiques. How can you advise an artiste to post every day? How? Post what? You don’t need to.
“Social media brought positive change to the industry but it also led to ‘see-finish.’ Artistes are now too exposed. Fans see how they eat, cry. Before when artistes go to club, they stay in restricted VIP areas, but now when they are clubbing, everyone is filming.”

Entertainment

Davido’s Aide Offers Cash Reward For Missing Phone At Zlatan’s Wedding

Published

4 days ago

October 30, 2026

The Tide

Afrobeats superstar, Davido’s aide, Damilare Aladegbola, popularly known as Dre, has offered a cash reward to whoever returns his phone, which he claims went missing during rapper Zlatan Ibile’s wedding ceremony.
Dre made the appeal in a post on his Instagram page on Monday, pleading with the person who allegedly took the device to return it in exchange for money.
“If na u carry my phone for Zlatan wedding, abeg return am, I go give you money please,” he wrote.
The aide also expressed frustration over what he suggested was a method being used to take phones at social gatherings.
He said he would no longer tolerate waiters asking whether guests had finished eating so they could clear their plates, alleging that the practice could provide an opportunity for phones left on tables to be taken.
“From now on, if I go any party or dey any party and any stupid waitress tell me say are you done eating so I can pack your plate, na swear I go swear for you cause na pattern wey una dey use pack phone for table be that now,” he added.
However, Dre did not identify anyone suspected of taking his phone or provide further details about how the device went missing.
Zlatan Ibile tied the knot with his longtime partner, Davita Lamai, during a traditional wedding ceremony on Saturday, October 24, 2026.
The ceremony, held in Lagos, attracted several celebrities, fans and well-wishers, with Davido among the prominent guests and leading the groomsmen.

Entertainment

I Ran Away From Nigeria, Never Wanted To Come Back-Chidinma

Published

4 days ago

October 30, 2026

The Tide

Popular singer, Chidinma Ekile has revealed that before transitioning from secular music to the gospel genre, she “ran away” from Nigeria.
Speaking at a recent Eezee Conceptz event, Chidinma explained that she travelled abroad and wanted to secure permanent residency because she didn’t want to return to Nigeria, but failed.
She revealed that while she was abroad, the CEO of Eezee Conceptz was the only person calling her from Nigeria, so she decided to work with him upon her return.
“I travelled. I ran away from Nigeria. I was processing my papers not to come back to Nigeria, but for some reason, it didn’t work.
“While I was abroad, the CEO of Eezee Conceptz was the only one who was calling me from Nigeria. He kept encouraging me, and I found the strength to come back to Nigeria. When I came back, I asked him to give me a gospel music contract because I want to spend time with God. And he gave me a contract that even my lawyer said seemed like a charity,” Chidinma stated.
The music star added that she did not transition into gospel music because she wanted to make gospel, but because she wanted a serious relationship with God.