By Osa Mbonu-Amadi, Arts Editor

Kenny Fasipe, a musicologist, music producer, music director, multi-instrumentalist and more, turns 60 on January 8, 2025.

To celebrate this gifted music icon who has quietly impacted the lives of many musicians, Vanguard spoke extensively with Fasipe on diverse issues ranging from his childhood to his music career and thoughts about climbing the 6th floor. Enjoy the tour:

How does it feel being on the 6th floor?

I feel truly blessed, grateful, and overwhelmed with joy. It’s amazing to reflect on how far God has brought me. To think that the youngest child, the last born of Rev. and Deaconess S.B. Fasipe, that “boy of yesterday,” is now an elder—it’s nothing short of incredible. 

I am deeply thankful to God for the abundant gifts and talents He has given me, for His grace and mercy that have carried me through the years, and for the blessings that surround me. I am grateful for my loving wife and children, for my wonderful family and friends, and for God’s unwavering faithfulness. 

As I look back, especially over the past 59 years, I couldn’t think of a better way to express my gratitude to God. Around September 2024, as I reflected on His goodness and mercies, a song came to my heart. That song, titled “Mercy and Grace”, came straight from my soul, recounting how far the Lord has brought me. After finishing that song, more songs began to flow. 

I felt a conviction in my spirit to keep writing, sensing that this might be what God wanted me to do to show my appreciation. Between September and December 2024, I wrote over 70 songs. To mark my 60th birthday this January 2025, I am releasing six albums from those songs as a testament to God’s grace upon my life. 

How were you able to produce 6 albums in such a short time?

It’s simply the grace of God. Writing and producing six albums in just three months has been a divine enablement. God was the source of the inspiration, the strength, and the provisions to make it happen. All glory belongs to Him. 

What challenges did you face during the recording process?

It wasn’t an easy journey. The recording project required sleepless nights, discipline, dedication, and absolute focus. At times, I struggled to decide on the appropriate genres for certain songs. But even in those moments, God’s guidance never failed me. 

Producing 6 albums must have been costly. How did you manage it? 

The process was entirely a family effort, and God made it possible. I wrote and produced all the songs, played all the instruments, and sang all the vocals myself. My wife and children contributed immensely by doing backup vocals, especially for tracks that needed choruses. 

My son, Samuel, and his younger sibling, alongside my wife, served as my co-producers. They were honest critics, providing feedback on the songs and instrumentation. Everything was recorded, mixed, and mastered in my home studio. 

With God, all things are possible. He gave me the talents, the strength, and the resources to accomplish this.

I encourage Christian musicians, or anyone struggling to excel in music, to depend on God. Surrender your abilities to Him, live a God-centered life, and allow Him to work through you. He will make all things possible. 

What’s next for you?

Moving forward, I am dedicating my life fully to God’s service. My goal is to write and produce more songs that will bless lives around the world. I want to use my gifts to inspire, encourage, and draw people closer to God. My journey has only just begun, and I look forward to all that God has in store for the future.

Could you go down memory lane, down to your childhood, and tell us how that child, “the youngest child, the last born of Rev. & Deaconess S.B Fasipe” made the decision to be a musician? Does music run in your family line?

Well, I’m not just a musician; I’m also a musicologist, a music producer, and a music director. To be honest, I never planned on studying music or becoming a musician. I was actually a science student with plans to pursue a career in pharmacy. But somehow, I ended up in the Faculty of Arts, Music Department at Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU). It’s a long story, but I believe it was all part of God’s plan for my life.

Music truly runs in my blood. My late father, Rev. Fasipe, was an organist in the Baptist Church Mission before he received a calling to become a priest under the same mission. He was also a multi-instrumentalist who could play almost any instrument. Growing up as a pastor’s child, my siblings and I were naturally immersed in music. Our father not only taught us how to play, but we also had access to all kinds of musical instruments.

I began learning tonic sol-fa and the rudiments of music in primary school. My musical gifts were further developed through the church choir and the school choir at Comprehensive High School, Ayetoro (CHS). Back in 19778, my twin brother and I started a band called the *Young Star Band*. It was just the two of us, but we became quite famous. I played the guitar and was the lead vocalist, while my brother handled the drums and sang as well.

So, to answer your question, I didn’t exactly make a decision to go into music—it feels like I was born into it. Music is an inseparable part of me, and I simply couldn’t see myself doing anything else.

Sixty is usually the age at which people take stock, assess or evaluate their journey of life and give a verdict on whether they have “made it” or not. If you have done your own evaluation at 60, what is your honest verdict?

Honestly, God has been incredibly faithful to me. I’ve achieved so much in music by His grace. Looking back, even as a university student studying music, I was already recognized for my success both academically and practically. Music wasn’t just a passion; it became a means of livelihood. In fact, during my undergraduate years, I was financially stable enough to sponsor two fellow students who were struggling to make ends meet. Despite education being almost free at the time, God used me to support their feeding, clothing, and general welfare. 

My band, Survival Band, was also a highlight of my university days. We were widely regarded as the best band across all universities in Nigeria at the time. As the band leader, I had the privilege of meeting highly influential people, including state governors, chancellors, vice-chancellors, kings, and traditional rulers. Music opened doors for us to travel extensively, and it was an incredible experience. 

After graduating, I transitioned into music production and sound engineering. By God’s grace, I became one of the most sought-after and successful producers of that era. I had the privilege of working with legendary artists like King Sunny Ade, the late Sunny Okosun, Dr. Bola Are, and late Evangelist Bayo Adegboyega, to name just a few. I also worked as a contract producer for prominent labels like Ivory Music, Premier Music, and Remdel Music. 

I established my own studio and record label, Glory Music, in Lagos. Through this platform, God has used me to support and mentor many budding musicians, often without charging a dime. My joy has been in seeing others succeed. 

I may not be a household name, but I’ve come a long way. God has used me to impact lives and help others achieve greatness. While I may not be extremely wealthy, I’m not poor, and I have everything I need by God’s grace. 

In evaluating myself at 60, I can honestly say, “I have tried.” I owe everything to God—my help in ages past and my hope for the future. To Him alone be all the glory.

Music is your chosen career. Judged on the parameters of music, would you say you’re a successful musician at 60?

Yes, by the grace of God, I would say I am successful. Success in music isn’t solely measured by money or fame. For me, the impact and legacy of my work are the true markers of success.

I have over 300 songs available online. While they may not be very popular—likely because I haven’t made much effort to promote them—they are still doing remarkably well. The monthly proceeds from these songs are far more than what many people earn in regular salaries.

Beyond the financial aspect, the real joy comes from the lives my songs have touched. Hearing testimonies of how God has used my music to bless, inspire, and transform people is the greatest reward for me. That’s what I call true success.

The world looks at a 60-year-old person as an old person due for retirement. At 60, most companies or organizations will retire you or be preparing to retire you. They feel you are spent and therefore need to be replaced by younger people. Do you feel spent or tired at 60?

Not at all. I don’t see how a musician or a music minister can even think of retiring. What does retirement mean for someone like me? Is it to stop singing? Stop playing instruments? Stop writing songs even when God continues to inspire me? Or to stop helping others achieve their dreams?

I am a servant of God, and you can’t retire from working for Him. As long as He gives me breath, I will keep making music to glorify Him. Retirement is not in my plans—I will continue to sing, play, write, and serve until the day God calls me home.

Everyone prays to live long. But as a result of the world’s attitude to old age expressed in question 5 above, grey hairs, appearance of wrinkles, declining physical strength, declining beauty or declining handsomeness, people who prayed for long life don’t like old age when it comes. But long life and old age are like egg and omelette; you can’t make an omelette without breaking an egg. How would you reconcile this contradiction?

You can’t eat your cake and have it. If you pray for long life, the changes that come with aging are inevitable. However, I see these changes as part of God’s blessings, not something to fear.

For example, you mentioned being surprised when I told you I’m turning 60 because you said I look younger. That’s one of God’s blessings to me, and I’m deeply grateful for it. While I’m aware of the symptoms of old age you’ve described, I’m not afraid of them. I trust that the same God who has sustained me all these years will continue to take care of me.

If it pleases God to prolong my life, I believe He will also give me the strength and grace to enjoy my old age. You can grow old and still remain strong—it all depends on how you live your life and, most importantly, on God’s help.

My advice? Seek God first and acknowledge Him in all you do. When you do that, He will take care of everything else, including making old age a joyful and fulfilling season of life.

When we ask people about their regrets in life, many of them would say they have no regret. Are you one of those who have no regrets? If you’re not, what are your regrets so far at 60?

Well, I wouldn’t say I have no regrets. If we define regrets as moments where you feel you did something wrong or failed to do something you should have done, then yes, I have my share of them. Let me share one example with you.

When I started my studio in Ijaye, Lagos, I was passionate about helping upcoming musicians. Many would come for productions without money, and I would assist them. In some cases, I even gave them money to take their work to NIRA for post-production or to mass-produce CDs. My focus was on supporting their dreams, not on making money.

But there came a time when I couldn’t pay my staff, and things became very tough for me financially. Some of these artists I had helped eventually became successful in the industry. When I reached out to them for assistance during my difficult times, they weren’t there for me. In fact, a few even said I had been careless with my money and that they couldn’t afford to be so reckless.

That experience taught me a hard lesson: while helping others is good, it’s important to balance generosity with a sense of business responsibility. Unfortunately, I learned this lesson too late. I lost my studio as a result.

But even in that challenging time, God never abandoned me. Though I lost the studio, He gave me the strength to rebuild my life. And here I am today, grateful for His faithfulness and wiser from the experience.

Talking about old age and music, in Europe, America, and other parts of the civilized world, their classical music, written about 200 years ago, are still in vogue and many of us even go to the university to study those music. But here, whenever we play our Highlife music, juju, kalanga, or other types of indigenous genres, people dismiss them as old school music that are out of vogue. What do you think is responsible for that? Do you think anything can be done to rectify that?

That’s a very important question, and I think it speaks to a broader issue of how we value our culture and heritage. The main reason our indigenous music genres are often dismissed as “old school” is that we, as a people, have not done enough to preserve, document, and modernize these styles. In Europe and America, their classical music has been institutionalized—it’s studied, celebrated, and passed down through generations. It’s given a sense of prestige and relevance, even in modern times.

Unfortunately, in Africa, we tend to adopt foreign cultures and trends more readily than we promote our own. We often see what’s “ours” as outdated or inferior. This mindset has led to the neglect of our traditional music genres like Highlife, Juju, and Kalanga, despite their rich history and cultural significance.

To rectify this, I believe several steps can be taken:

Education and Documentation: Just as European classical music is studied in universities, our indigenous music should be formally included in school curricula. Research and documentation of these genres are essential to preserving their history and techniques for future generations.

Modernization and Collaboration: We can breathe new life into these genres by fusing them with contemporary sounds. Collaborations between traditional musicians and modern artists can help make these styles appealing to younger audiences.

Promotion and Media Representation: Our media houses and entertainment platforms need to play a bigger role in showcasing and celebrating indigenous music. More airplay, festivals, and events dedicated to these genres will help shift public perception.

Cultural Pride: As a people, we need to change our mindset and take pride in our cultural heritage. If we don’t value our own music, who will?

Government and Institutional Support: Governments, cultural organizations, and even private sectors can sponsor programs and initiatives to promote and preserve indigenous music. Grants for musicians, festivals, and music education can go a long way.

I believe that with intentional efforts, we can restore the glory of our indigenous music genres. They are a vital part of our identity, and it’s up to us to ensure they are not lost to history.

You and I studied music in the university. But it’s rare to find pop music stars who studied music. Is there something in academic music that works against being a successful popular music star?

That’s a very interesting observation, and I think it points to some fundamental issues in how music is taught academically. One of the main challenges with studying music in the university is that the curriculum often doesn’t focus on helping students develop their specific areas of interest.

The curriculum used today is, in many cases, the same as what was introduced 60 years ago, perhaps with a few minor amendments. While this traditional approach emphasizes theory, history, and classical techniques, it often doesn’t provide practical tools for thriving in contemporary or popular music genres.

Another important factor is talent. Musical talent is a gift from God, and each person’s gift is unique. If music institutions focused more on identifying and nurturing those talents—rather than forcing everyone to fit into a rigid framework of “what must be learned”—we’d see many more music scholars excelling in various areas, including pop music.

To bridge this gap, institutions need to update their curricula to reflect the realities of the modern music industry. This means offering courses on songwriting, music production, stage performance, branding, and the business side of music. They also need to create opportunities for students to explore and grow in their chosen genres, whether classical, jazz, pop, or indigenous styles.

In the end, formal music education doesn’t have to work against success in popular music. With the right balance between theory, creativity, and practical application, academic music can serve as a strong foundation for any music career.