By Morenike Taire

For seven years, Rita Alakija suffered from severe illnesses, which no one thought she would survive. She bubbled with life working in the aviation, broadcasting and financial sectors. She felt it was a short trial when she fell ill and was rushed to the hospital. As the years rolled by, she was transferred for treatment to different hospitals within the country and abroad until she became what she described as a vegetable who the doctors almost gave up hope on. She was a modern day woman with the issue of blood. She was rejected by some hospitals because they felt she would die.

While she would not reveal the severity of her medical condition, she concedes that her body became temple of over 15 different medical challenges. In those seven years of almost losing out on everything she had worked for, God was always there for her. It was in the midst of it all, she released her first album. Somehow, through praises, God healed her. In a short interview with Rita, she tells us what she expects from herself.

Would you say it was because of your illness you went into music?

No, I have always been a singer. I have been singing in church. It got to a point in my life when all I wanted to do was to make money, but God had all the plans. Therefore, I would not say it was when I was ill that I started singing. I have always been a singer; I just never made a career out of singing. The experience I had propelled me. I had to do it as a work of faith and obedience. If I had not gone down that lane, maybe I would not have been singing. Maybe I would not have listened.

You said you did your first album while you were ill, it must have influenced your second album. How true is that?

Very true. You would notice there is no song in the album titled ‘So Grateful’. Now I look at life through a different perspective. When you go through a near death experience, life changes for you. You look at life differently. You look at life through the eyes of God. You want to make an impact; you do not just want to live a selfish life. You want to do and be as God.

There are different experiences but there is nothing like a near death experience.It shakes you up. Therefore, it is like I am all for you lord. It’s not like I have not always been for him but when nobody could help and he comes in his mercy and power to deliver me, then I know that there is a God that loves me and there is nothing I can be afraid of. All the songs in the album are talking about one experience or the other. ‘’So grateful’’ is a summation of everything God has done for me over the past seven to eight years.

What Genre of Music do you do?

It is church music first and fore most. It is praise and worship. The first album does not sound like this. In this one, there is some classical music, soft rock, R&B, and some Jazz.

Are you delving fully into music?

I put everything I had into music when I was sick. I have five videos from my first album, and I am doing concerts too, but it’s not just music I do. The kind of music I do is music and the word because I do not sing about what I didn’t experience.I went through hell and back. Therefore, when I am singing or talking, I know what I am talking about because I experienced it.

What message would your album be passing across to people?

That God is the only answer to everything. I am not ashamed or afraid to say that. Everybody is entitled to his or her own opinion but when push comes to shove, there is a God who loves us. He gave his life for us and when you call him, he is always, there. He has your back. No other person has your back. People will go but God will still be there.

What is your perception about gospel artist in Nigeria?

I think we have so many of them and they are all doing well. Despite of everything Nigeria is blessed with many talents.

Where do you place your self in the next couple of years?

I would not be the one to place myself.

How do you intend to stand out?

It is not about standing out for me. It is about hearing a ministration, your life is blessed, somebody gets healed, somebody gets saved. It is not a competition. I am not a secular singer where you have to be out there showing your stuff. I am a servant of the most high. So it’s not really about standing out from the crowd. God makes you stand out. In the secular world, it is like look at me and see what I’ve got. With what I do, it is like look at God. So the glory is not me, it’s God. That is the difference.

What do you hope to achieve with music?

Music is a very powerful tool. Some people listen to music and get hypnotised, some listen to music and get angry, some listen to music and become violent, while some listen to music and they have peace. So music is a channel that can be used for either good or evil. God is the author of music. Music being powerful is a tool for anything. I have decided to use this medium to influence listeners, to affect the world positively. I could tell you God heals but I could sing that and it has a different impact. People listen to music and practically go naked. Nevertheless, for me as a messenger of God, when you listen to music, it brings you to the throne of God. It makes you more dedicated to God. It builds your faith and lifts you up. It lifts people from depression and lets people know that God is God.