By Omolara Akintoye
Evangelist Dr. Dunni Olanrewaju, popularly known as “Opelope Anointing”, is a Nigerian gospel singer, songwriter and televangelist. She was famous for the album titled Opelope Anointing, a music she scripted and recorded in one day and she got her appellation, “Opelope Anointing”, from this album. She also established Opelope Anointing Foundation (OPAF), a charity initiative.
She discovered her passion for singing right from her childhood days. She also became the choir mistress in her church at age 16. “I started worshipping in my church where I became the choir mistress. It was from there that God began to give the inspiration and little by little and the talent for singing came alive. I started singing then not because I wanted to be a musician but because of my position then as the choir mistress so that I could teach the choristers Holy Spirit-inspired songs and God answered my prayers.”
On how she metamorphosed from being a choir leader to a popular musician, Olanrewaju said it was coincidental. “That is another story, when I got married, in my husband’s church then, they had all the leaders in the choir department, so I became a floor member. But at a point, the elders called me and told me that I’m at liberty to either become an ordinary member or a choir member, so I decided to stop my band and join the choir again, that was at C.A.C Alabukun, Ikorodu. But something happened five years later, so I had to leave C.A.C Alabukun for another place. I had to revive my band again, before I did first record in 1988 and I thank God for where I’m today.”
The band, she could recollect, started in 1977. “It was at an Agric Show in Lagos at that time, because aside singing, I’m also a trained farmer. At that time I was working as a poultry attendant. Farm at that time was referred to as settlement. At the show then, I told one of my bosses that I wanted to recite poem for farmers. After the recitation, some people were already waiting for me asking me to start a band and that I would be their leader, which was how the band started. Later, I rested the band but I had to revive it back 10 years later. The band is still standing till date,” enthused the evangelist
On the number of albums she has produced so far, she said it’s 22 albums.
Speaking on the challenges encountered so far, Olanrewaju said they are not challenges per-se but they are stepping stones to greater heights. “Challenges are bound to come, but once you have God, you will overcome,” she said.
Her breakthrough, she said, came after she produced her song “Opelope Anointing”. “I thank God for my album ‘Opelope Anointing’. Since I launched it, God has been using all my songs to be a blessing to so many people. Although I’m an evangelist and we had our own church before it was launched, God gave us CAC Opelope Anointing Eatery Centre, Opelope Anointing Music Organisation, Opelope Anointing Private School, Opelope Anointing Multipurpose Co-operative and Opelope Annointing Restaurant/Fans Club and the company is moving from state to state to the glory of God,” she said.
On whether any of her children is following her footsteps, Olanrewaju said her second daughter, Ibironke, is already taking after her. “She is married and also a graduate. She is already taking after me; she goes with me to our shows and is also singing.”
For upcoming artist to excel in this jet age, Olanrewaju warned that they must be teachable and obedient. “It’s so sad that they are not ready to do that. Everything is not about money They must know what they want and know that it’s only God who can lift them up and they will remain there, if not it is in vain. Not gospel music alone, even our lives and the country as a whole. My message is that the coming of the Lord is very near, young ones of nowadays are not ready to work, wait or serve anymore.”
Leave a Reply