Aity Dennis is no doubt one of the forces to reckon with on the gospel music scene in Nigeria. The notable singer, who has seven albums to her credit, once upon a time had a secure job in broadcasting. But when the calling came, she quit her comfort zone and stepped into the unknown.
In this chat with MERCY MICHAEL, Aity opens up on her childhood, career, her husband and the challenges of being a pastor’s wife: Excerpts:
YOU said coming into music was a calling. Can you shed more light on it?
Yes it was a calling, because at the time I did not see myself leaving my job which I was enjoying very much. I had finished my masters and was going for my PhD. They offered me a job in my department because they thought that my result was good. I did my master’s in Mass Communication and majored in French. Music was a calling and it was so strong and I was asking, should I go into music or not? I knew that going into music would be like diving into the unknown. As a worker, government paid me at the end of the month. I knew I would get something to take care of myself and my family. I remember my mum lamented, ‘why didn’t you get this calling all this while? Now that I have finished training you and you have your master’s, God is suddenly calling you when I should be enjoying’!
I was trying to run away but everything I did was always bringing music my way. I tried to wish it away but it refused to go. I realised that whenever I sang I was happy even though I wasn’t making money.
How long did you to come to terms with it?
It lasted for like three or four years. I released my first album in 1995 and let go in 1998. At the office I would call a meeting for a brain- storming session and I would be carried away singing to myself. I was always drifting trying to catch the inspiration, so I said ‘God, what am I doing here?’ One day one of my colleagues said, ‘why don’t you just let go Aity?’ I knew I needed a job to make ends meet but I had come to terms with it. I just had to let go, so I said ‘’Lord, here I am.’
What was the title of your first album?
My Hiding Place.
Could you shed light on your fears after you resigned your job?
They were just like any body’s fears. Are you going to survive? Will you be able to take care of yourself? You’re leaving what you know and hopping into what you don’t know. How are you going to cope? That was my fear. And I said God, if this is what you really want me to do, you will find a way for me.
How did your mum take it?
Initially she did not like it. But with time she came around. Her friends saw me on TV and told her. There was a day she went to the bank and got express treatment because somebody said ‘this is Aity’s mum.’ So one day she came home and said, ‘this music is working o.’ I remember when I was doing a tour of Kenya, she called me up and said, ‘where are you?’ I said ‘I am in Nairobi.’ And she said, ‘what are you doing there?’ I said, ‘singing and she said, ‘you mean that music took you all the way to sing in Nairobi? I said ‘yes.’ And she shouted with joy ‘aahhh you’re trying, God has really blessed your music.’
How would you describe your style of music?
I play gospel music. For me it is the richest form of music because you can have any genre or fusion. I am not really a genre-specific artiste because I can do R n B, hip hop, reggae, highlife and afro beat. My music is more message- oriented and I work in diverse genres. I have written over 2000 songs. Inspiration just comes like an avalanche. Whenever I am happy, I have a song.
We understand you have performed for Mr. President before. Tell us about it
I have performed like three times for him; in Abuja, Port Harcourt and at the Niger Delta concert. It was great performing for Mr. President. I have played for Obasanjo as well. It’s like God has been taking me everywhere. If you’re diligent in what you do you will stand before kings, so says the Holy Book.
Let’s look at the challenges you faced when you started music..
I always say that one day I will write a book. When I travel out of the country I realise that Nigeria is an exceptional country. Despite all the challenges we face we are still making sense. As a Nigerian artiste, you’re your own music producer, marketer, manager and promoter and if at the end of the day you’re still alive, you have God to thank for that. Marketers would say ‘why don’t you do popular choruses, people will not buy this. Just go and remix already popular choruses!’ I was tempted to do that, but I said ‘no, I want to be different, I want to make a mark. And by the way, somebody wrote those choruses so why can’t I write mine? Doing choruses was the easy way out but I wanted to be me. I wanted to be original. I wanted to sing my own songs. Even if it would take longer, I knew I’d get there. I was like, how about Cece Winans and Kirk Franklin? They don’t sing choruses, yet they are so successful. I want to sing my own songs. And then I released an album and they started calling me and giving me awards. Can you imagine?
At what point did you begin to see changes?
It was after my fourth album. That was He Loves Me album. It was not like the other albums were not good, but we had issues with promotion. So He Loves Me album got some promotions. The year was 2005. We started getting positive reviews and we got award from my state government.
Tell us about your US tour which took you to 10 states in God’s own country.
I’ve always had invitation to come and perform in the US but somehow I didn’t have visa, but last year they finally gave it to me. I guess it was God’s plan. It was a two-month tour. I was in Houston and Auckland; I did 10 states. I did not know I had so many fans in the US. In Orlando it was awesome! I was shocked at the reception of my music. A lady said she drove for two hours to make it to my show. It made me realise that I shouldn’t give up but keep striving. I realised that you may think you’re facing challenges but meanwhile you could be making serious impact out there, so don’t ever give up on your dream especially when you’re touching lives. I had a great time touring the states. It also made me respect Nigerian artistes more. It’s easier for artistes out there to make it because they have structures, but here the reverse is the case. If we have the American environment we will rule the world.
Let’s look at your husband. How is he coping with a wife who is in the limelight?
(Laughter) I think my husband is the only man that could have married a woman like me. He is my friend and we have been married for 22 years. He is the one that started this journey. When we met I was singing in the choir and he would scribble on a note and send to me. He would say ‘why don’t you think of doing your own solo thing?’ We were married before I started singing. We got married in 1990. I released my first album in 1995. He was the inspiration behind it.
I remember the very first album I recorded. We had just finished midweek service in church and were about going home when he said ‘no, we were not going.’ And I said, ‘where are we going?’ He said ‘just follow me.’ And that was how he took me to the studio for the first time and we started recording.
Sometimes I could wake him up around 2am to listen to a song. When people praise me, I tell them to give it to my husband because if he doesn’t tell me the truth I won’t be here today.’ If I do a song and it’s not good enough, he just tells me straight in the face that I can do better. He is my number one critic, my coach.
How did you meet him?
We met in school at the University of Calabar. We graduated in 1985. I guess I am looking this young because he is taking care of me (laughs). We got married after school. He read English and I read French.
What attracted you to him?
He is a stage person. He used to act a lot in the university. Many of his friends thought he would end up an actor.
When was your church, Sure Word Assembly, founded?
It was founded in 1998. We moved here like a year ago. My husband could be crazy and very daring. When we got this place it was water-logged but he was determined to start something, so he said, ‘woman, we are moving.’ When we got here it was all water but see what we have today.
How long have you been married?
22 years.
22 years is a long time in marriage. How have you been able to weather the storm?
Every marriage has its challenges even as pastors I think we even have more challenges because somehow God has a way of calling people who have problems to come and solve other people’s problems. The day He called Peter, he was having problems; he had not caught any fish. Just because you’re a pastor does not mean you won’t have problems in your marriage. In our case we were married before we became pastors. We both came from broken homes so we made up our minds that our children will not go through what we went through.
We fight sometimes like every other couple. When we got married we had nothing. When we had our first set of cane chairs it was celebration galore and guess what? We bought it because my father in law was visiting. (Laughter)
What do you think is responsible for break-up of marriages of pastors?
I don’t really know. I can only say that maybe, they have started taking the word of God for granted. If you’re taking God’s word as serious as you preach it, you will know that’s not the way to go. I have not worn their shoes and I don’t want to wear them. They may have peculiar problems but that doesn’t make it right. Probably they have peculiar challenges they have not been able to overcome. You see, sometimes you’re so close to God you don’t even take His word seriously any more.
Do you have any fears about your marriage?
No, I don’t have. It depends on where you’re coming from. We have weathered a lot of storms. We have withstood things that would have broken up other people.
How many albums have you released?
I have released seven albums to date. I don’t think I have gotten there yet in terms of marketing. People call me from all over and ask, ‘where can we get your music?’ As a Nigerian artiste you have to do everything yourself. The greatest challenge is still marketing. I have not made much money from CD sales but I make good money from shows.
How many are you in your family?
We are six and I was number three. Growing up was in two different families. My parents broke up. I never grew up to see them together. I have a kid sister and my mum and dad remarried. I was jumping from one home to the other and it was not the best, so I said to myself, ‘when I eventually get married, my children will not experience such.’
I was always trying to be my best, so I didn’t hurt my dad because he was the one paying the school fees and you don’t want to hurt your mum because she is the one showing you so much affection. You have to be very careful.
With my mum I could always be myself. She raised us such that you wouldn’t know that my siblings and I are not from the same father.
What was the greatest decision you ever took?
That was the decision to give my life to God. Then I was in the university. I was just coming into the campus when one of my friends preached to me. I didn’t give a damn because then I was a party freak and I loved dancing. She said I had to give my life to Christ to be saved, I said ‘ahh, that means I won’t dance again.’ After some time I realised I had to give my life to Christ. And what made me give my life to Christ was that I used to get lots of spiritual attacks. I tried to weather it on my own but then I realised I couldn’t do it alone. My friend had told me that if I gave my life to Christ I would be able to have the authority to conquer these forces. As she put it, ‘you will know the devil and the devil will know you. You will know when to bind and when to cast.’ So I gave my life to Christ and I became born again and I was free from those attacks.
What is it like being a pastor’s wife?
Being a pastor’s wife? Anybody can be a pastor’s wife; nobody should be afraid of the office. I used to think I would have to be very quiet. If anybody greeted me good morning I would say halleluyah. And I was a happy-go-lucky person, so I prayed, ‘God, are you really sure I can do this?’ the truth is that when you are a pastor’s wife, you have loaned your husband to the church.
