The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Gospel artiste

  • Engineer ‘impersonates’ gospel artiste Lara George

    A 24-year-old computer engineer, Ayodeji Folarin, was yesterday arraigned at an Ikeja High Court for allegedly impersonating a popular gospel artiste, Lara George, and defrauding three Americans of $8,500.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Folarin is facing a four-count charge of obtaining money by false pretences and possession of documents containing false pretence.

    The charges were prefered against him by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

    The defendant of 2, Folarin Street, Obada Oko in Abeokuta, the Ogun State capital, pleaded not guilty.

    Prosecuting counsel Temitope Banjo said the defendant defrauded the foreigners between January and December 2016 in Ikeja, Lagos.

    “While posing as Lara George and with the intent to defraud, he obtained $8,500 from Trevor Dawe, Rick Cuewo and Stephen Wilson who are all citizens of the United States of America.

    “On June 2018, Folarin had in his possession, a World Lottery Organisation Winning Certificate and Affidavit of Common Law Marriage which all contained false pretenses.

    “The defendant also had in his possession emails containing false pretenses,” Banjo said.

    Following Folarin’s plea, his defence counsel, Mr Samuel Shodipo, requested that bail be granted to the defendant in the most liberal terms.

    The vacation judge, Justice Obafemi Adamson, ordered that the defendant be remanded in Ikoyi Prisons.

     

  • Churches should be breaking ground for gospel artiste, says Adekunle Adebayo

    Young gospel singer Adekunle Adebayo has said there is a need for gospel singers to have a breaking ground in churches where they have spent time developing themselves. In a chat with The Nation, Adebayo who started out his musical journey in The Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG) said he is well-known within Lagos Province 10 but “the challenges we are having is that the churches are yet to see the important of promoting those of us who are really into music as individuals.

    “But when it comes to promoting and projecting them to the world, there is yet to be a platform for that. Most time, I feel reluctant to tell people that I am a full time gospel artiste and that is because most of us promote ourselves.”

    Not yet signed to a record label, the artiste revealed that he is yet to find one that can reckon with his kind of music. “I am yet to get a record label that can relate with my kind of music. Most tend to change your style and I do not want that. This is who I am and I would want to be known with it. And I am yet to lose hope.

    “Another challenge is the marketers, I have been to some of them and their responses are not encouraging for someone that is just coming up. So for now I do the marketing myself and it is not usually what you expect when you take your work to events, with hope of selling out”.

    Describing his genre of music, Ewi (hailing God), Adebayo who has two albums – ‘Olorun Emimo’ and ‘Olorun Aperere’ – said “it is called eulogizing God in a different way. My kind of music is used to help people known the names of God, which draw them closer to Him.”

  • Artiste dreams big at book launch

    Artiste dreams big at book launch

    After surmounting several hurdles in life, a multiple award winning gospel artiste, writer and songwriter, Kenny St Brown has revealed that her major target now is to become a professor.

    Kenny St. Brown, who spoke with newsmen shortly after the launch of her new book, titled: “Stop! Turn it Around. From Setback to Comeback”, in Abuja, said she was planning to work with University of Lagos in Lagos State to create an institute for arts, entertainment and tourism.

    She said, “I am going back for my PhD and I am hoping to be working with University of Lagos to create an institute for arts, entertainment and tourism. There are big things in my head. In five years’ time, I would have attained my Phd.

    “Ultimately, I want to work with the United Nations, and I see that dream coming in the next five years. I also intend to write a lot of books for academics, books they can use in tertiary, secondary schools and universities. I am still actually hoping to be a professor.”

    She said what prompted her to write the book was people’s reactions after she was able to overcome her various challenges.

    “When people see me every time and say KS you are a strong woman, you have been able to surmount a lot of difficulties, those are the reasons I have to write the book so that generations yet unborn can learn from it,” she said.

    First Lady Aisha Buhari, whose message was delivered by Hajia Bintu Mua’zu, eulogised the author, pointing out that the book is going to impact so many lives.

    Aisha Buhari noted that the book will go a long way in helping young Nigerians fulfil their dreams.

    The Commissioner of Women Affairs and Poverty Alleviation in Lagos State who chaired the event, Lola Akande said the book will take women from setbacks to greater heights and fulfillment of their dreams.

    “I implore women to be focus in their determination to succeed in life and see challenges as a ladder that will catapult them to the mountaintop,” she said in a message delivered by Director of Domestic Violence in the Ministry, Toyin Jaiyeola.

    The Deputy Editor, Nation’s Capital, The Nation newspapers, Mr. Yomi Odunuga who was Kenny St Brown’s schoolmate, said she has impacted so many lives.

    He said, “I never knew that Kenny will be singing after we left school. When I saw her singing something just occurred to me that you can build your life yourself. That is the truth about life. Even in journalism, someone who read Lab Science and you will also see doctors, lawyers and many others have excelled in journalism. I am proud of her. She has been able to impact lives.”

  • Gospel artiste Obiwon gets double recognition

    Gospel artiste Obiwon gets double recognition

    Urban Gospel artiste and music minister Obiora Obiwon received two awards at themaiden edition of Applause Magazine Achievers Awards.

    Obiwon received Album of the Year and Collaboration of the Year awards, which, the organisers said, were in recognition of the artistes’s album ‘Gold Water’ and his Hiphop influenced single‘Hail My King’ which featured Frank Edwards, Eben and Kenny K’ore.

    “I am touched and surprised again to be honoured twice,” Obiwon said.

    From his early childhood on the streets of Enugu, Obiwon has displayed his affinity for music. After his initial stints with a hiphop group Thorobreds, in 2005 Obiwon debuted as a solo RnB/Soul artiste. In 2008, Obiwon revealed he had undergone a deep spiritual experience and subsequently switched musical focus to the Christian/gospel genre. He has since continued to impact the Nigerian scene with his songs.

    “I am now looking excitedly at the rest of this anniversary year. This is my 10th anniversary and projects… Glory to God alone… “

    The event, which held in Sheraton Hotels, Ikeja, was organised Applause Magazinewith Salvation Crusaders Media, creators of the ‘Minstrels TV Show’ on Dove Television and the National Drama Unit of the by the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG).

    The award categories cut across several Christian/gospel accomplishments, including Artiste of the Year (Musical), Actor of the Year (Movies), Movie of the Year, Song of the Year, New Artiste of the Year, Best Male and Best Female Vocalist, among others.

     

  • Commissioner raises fund for Gospel artiste

    Oyo State Commissioner for Agriculture, Mr. Peter Odetomi, is spearheading the fifth year remembrance and fundraiser for the family of the late gospel artiste, Evangelist Bayo Adegboyega, aka Atayero, who died in 2008.

    A statement from the Remi Odetomi Music and Foundation for the Less-privileged yesterday said the gesture became necessary to assist the family of the deceased.

    As part of efforts to raise fund for the family, Odetomi said he would release a gospel album tomorrow in Ogbomoso under the Remi Odetomi Foundation, adding that a chunk of proceeds from the launch would be presented to the family of the late musician.

    He said Oyo State Governor Senator Abiola Ajimobi would be the special guest of honour and his wife, Chief Florence Ajimobi, would be the guest of honour. The album is titled, Se rere fun wa.

    Adegboyega died on April 7, 2008 in Ibadan at 52. He fought a long battle with diabetes.

  • Gospel artiste launches debut CD

    Gospel artiste launches debut CD

    A member of The Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG), Covenant Chapel, Ikeja, Lgos, Ola Emmanuel, has introduced her debut CD entitled: Eledumare into the market.

    At the presentation at the church’s auditorium last weekend, the musician said she started preparing for the album in 2005. Describing her experience over the years as unpleasant, she said she was glad that she had lived her dream. “Every journey starts with God. I started in 2005. It looks like as if it would be a long journey. There were so many challenges. One wanted to use a song to praise God. I saw God’s hand, though there were some distractions.”

    On her message, she said: ‘’The message in the song is about the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. He left his throne to save us. This was an expression of love. We are celebrating Jesus Christ.”

    On the hit track, she also said it is about the love of God. “I was not a Christian before. My encounter with God was something else. He has being my strength and source of encouragement, “ she said, adding: “ I enjoy worshipping God.”

    Ola, who is President, Sounds of Many Waters Band, berated some gospel musicians for not doing a good job, saying they lack originality and that they are too worldly.

    In the six-tracker are Praise Medley, exceeding Grace, Miracle, Orin to du, Everything and Arugbo Ojo. They are mixtures of English and Yoruba. At the event, Ola, who sang ‘Ojiroghene we na yo’; Ebube, Ebube … and I am saying You are good Jehovah was applauded by guests for her dexterity and originality. They also praised her artistic acumen, which she displayed when she marched in like a regent flanked by two kids. A representative of the Chief of Staff to the Lagos State Governor, Soji Kuforiji, described the CD as good. “I was moved by the songs and I pray that you will go from height to height,” he said.

    Emmanuel is not in a hurry to release another CD soon, but “I see my band going out to play and praise God in worship.”

    An RCCG Zonal Pastor, Akin Laoye, praised Emmanuel for her consistency, saying since he knew her, she has always been dedicated to the music ministry as a chorister and that since 1986, when she had the vision to be a musician, she has kept to it. He prayed for her and urged her to remain steadfast and committed to her career.

    He thanked the Men’s Fellowship of the church for their support to her over the years, which led to her releasing the album.

    Pastor (Mrs) Wunmi Agunbiade, who preached at the event, noted that God is all-powerful, all-knowing and that is why He is the Almighty (Eledumare) as the title of the CD indicates. Quoting from the Holy Bible, she enjoined guests to take their problems to Him in prayer with the faith that He would answer them.