By Evelyn Usman

God of Zion Gospel Chapel  Church, Cherubim & Seraphim, in Oluform avenue, Igando area of Lagos , went agog in  celebration weekend, following the launch of an album titled  Ona Iye , a Yoruba word for way of life, by Evangelist Famisa Ebenezer, popularly called lekeleke Jesu.

Ebenezer , who expressed gratitude to God for enabling him produce the album,  disclosed during an interview with journalists that the 49 mins track album was the fourth he had released since he delved into  gospel line a decade ago.

The Ekiti State born Evangelist  hinted that the new album  was a wake up call to Nigerians to keep clean slate in their endeavours.

Lekeleke Jesu, as he is fondly called, recalled how he started his singing career as a chorister at the Cherubim and Seraphim church , Orisun Oke-Itunu parish , in Iyana Ipaja area of Lagos, before he was inspired to sing beyond the confines of the Church..

Albums released by him so far, included: Omi leniyan, Dada ko dara to and  Ajeri-igbala, before the latest test.

The gospel artist stated that ” I started as a juju gospel artist but inspiration has turned my song delivery pattern into gospel lyrics.

cross section of guests at the album launch

” There are so many things happening in the world today, especially this year, when the world was hit with a global pandemic. This was followed by the hijacked #EndSARS protest, including the  state  of insecurity in Nigeria. This has thrown Nigerians into panic and uncertainty.   But this latest album will take people’s thought away from the present happenings and also  inspire them  to live right.

” The song is a solemn one and has different lyrics  and motivating words..  Such, is the solution we need to deal with emotional and psychological challenged. As an evangelist, singing gospel songs is part of preaching  the gospel to the world”.

He was however quick to add that the height gospel music had attained in Nigeria, was not laudable enough.

He therefore, called on Nigerian  gospel artists to put in more effort and seek inspiration from God, in order to deliver solution to Nigeria and the globe through their songs.

cross section of guests at the album launch

He said: ” Gospel  music industry needs amendment. We need to put songs that will put life into listeners, that will encourage , motivate and cause a transformational turn around. That way, Nigeria in particular and the world in general will be a better place to live in”.

Describing pirating of albums as a peculiar challenge of all artists, he therefore, solicited  support from individual gospel music distributor in Nigeria, Africa  and beyond, with a view  to ensuring wider reach of original copies of the newly launched album.

Present at the event, were politicians, businessmen and women, including up coming gospel artists, who showered encomium on  Ebenezer.