Afrigather He’s one artiste who has made a giant title for himself. His title Telemi is a giant one in Music, particularly within the Gospel sector. He has been round for about 40 years. Not too long ago, CityPeople bought him to speak about his profession and success story.
We bought him to inform us what’s new about him.”My title has modified. My names are Timi Orokoya Telemi, which was once Timi Osukoya. (Telemi then). The change in title occurred about 9 years in the past as a consequence of private non secular revelation and convictions.”
How has the journey been? “The journey has been wonderful, enjoyable, rewarding wobble, tasking and virtually unsure at some extent however glory be to God for in the present day’s very seen outcomes. The virtually 4 a long time have been powerful however I’m right here in the present day to inform my excellent tales. I’ve labored by means of the valleys of shadows of dying, by means of fireplace and deep oceans however God was and nonetheless within the journey with me.”
At what stage is his profession now? “Not but on the peak, however virtually. That’s the manner I’ll put it now. I’ve mentored and raised generals within the artistic trade. I’ve additionally led the musicians affiliation in so many capacities. Presently, I’m nonetheless very a lot concerned within the task however I do extra mentoring and giving again to the trade and ministry in the best way of organizing Inventive Revival conferences, seminars and workshops to enhance and alter some destructive orientations of the current and coming music ministers. Having each audio and visible studios, music academy, artistes administration stuff.”
How did he get into music? “Hmmm…from a celebration and Membership DiscJokey to lively musician…. ”
“It’s a very lengthy story however let me simply paraphrase it. My early days in secondary faculty had been helped by my elder brother Evang. Bisi Osukoya, whose love for music added up for me. In 1977 after I left secondary faculty, my late father, Chief Jacob Omole Osukoya despatched me to Lagos to stick with his youthful brother, Chief Samuel Oladosu Osukoya. I name him my second father. Baba was the principal founding father of the Methodist Church Nigeria, Sogunle. His actions impressed me and gave me that enabling surroundings to develop my God-given expertise within the choir. I’ve been within the choir since 1978. In 1984 there was this Christian music competitors organized by Skylark File, a subsidiary of Punch Nigeria Restricted, the place I led the vocals of the church choir to the second place on the twenty fifth of February, 1984, on the Nationwide Arts Theatre, Iganmu Lagos, which made it my first time on a really massive nationwide stage in my task.
The journey to prominence began from right here and we went to the studio to report the songs we rendered on the competitors and we got here up with GBANJO on Could 12 of the identical yr. GBANJO had in it that hit monitor titled SILEKUN AYO MI which was later remixed by late Dr. Sonny Orisuns. With the assistance and push from totally different pals and members of my church then, Methodist Church Sogunle, I began to find myself higher which led to taking my musical group, referred to as Timi Osukoya and the Musical Neighbors to the studio on the sixth of March, 1987. We got here up with the album titled TEELEMI 3 years later.
As a DJ I had an undiluted ardour for music proper from my teenage however I bought hooked on gospel music due to my need to move the excellent news about Jesus Christ to the world. I noticed music as a really sturdy weapon to attain this.”
Why Gospel music? Why didn’t he go into secular music? “Very properly, as I stated beforehand, I used to be a DJ with a really deep love for music. I studied the lives and actions of these Hollywood artistes earlier than I backbone their works. I’ve learn journals like RIGHT ON, BLACK BEATS and a number of other others to assemble details about these nice artistes. My first demo was a secular work produced by Majek Fashek in 1983. I bear in mind shopping for Fela Anikulapo’s album titled IKOYI BLINDNESS which nearly price me my secondary faculty training when my father bought to know. The second I bought concerned within the church choir my orientation and passions have been redirected in the direction of gospel music. I found extra decency, self-discipline and accomplishments for myself in gospel music.”
How does he see the Gospel music sector in the present day? “Gospel music has drastically moved ahead each positively and negatively in comparison with what it was once after I began. By the grace of God I used to be 39 years previous within the task on the twenty fifth of February 2023, by God’s grace I’ve develop into a voice and an authority on this sector.”
“There had been a variety of introductions and infusions into gospel music, some are useful whereas others are harmful. It is rather painful and bitter in my coronary heart after I hear or slightly watch some messages and mode of displays on social media and even the church buildings. Gospel means a message, that have to be loaded with soul-inspiring phrases of peace and love for the downcast to be restored. It’s an uncommon music style the folks want to present lives, pleasure, hope to the hopeless, such music have to be residing. We hear extra noises today as a result of the business viability has watered down the non secular authority of our gospel songs. Each music minister goals at fame and title with no due course of. Over 70% of our songs in the present day are business initiatives as a result of they have been meant and programmed to enchantment to the folks’s desires and to not correctly minister to their wants. Our task as minstrels is to present what they want and never what they need, not like the secular. In most orderly circumstances, if you’re moved or motivated by the gang or viewers it’s possible you’ll not ship the message of God for that gathering, that might have been an effort in futility
This query can take a e-book from me. Very painful that we can’t really feel the affect on gospel musicians on this troubled and confused nation of Nigeria. Each certainly one of us is leaping on social media, in virtually in the direction of identical course and sample and no messages to the folks and authorities for a redress.
Right here this, some might want to stone me for this submission, however how are you going to demand for a payment to minister in a Revival or different church actions to proclaim the lifeless and risen Christ? You get into negotiations and when their affords couldn’t meet your demand, you decline or turned down the invitation. If God has actually referred to as you he’ll feed you and your total household however most of us are by no means ready for God to do the needful in our lives. God has been so trustworthy to me on this task and no lack or want will ever make me demand or negotiate to render my kingdom service to anybody. With or with out honorarium my barn will probably be full, this has been my perception.
In manufacturing and rhythm, give it to the modern-day musicians although the sound weight is lacking. At present’s manufacturing is stressless and permits creativity in various varieties. As a result of the youths are extra concerned within the task we couldn’t differentiate between a membership and gospel live performance venues. The lightings and ambiance are too shut, plus the gymnasium and others. I counsel moderation and sacredness if we should ship as Christian musicians. If David sang and the evil spirit in King Saul got here out of him, we too must function below such anointing for God’s presence in our ministrations. Let’s give much less consideration to cash and materialism and concentrate on attaining greatness within the task for the dominion. I additionally imagine there are methods we might focus on with our hosts within the areas of logistics and they’re going to perceive, some may even do greater than we’re demanding.”
“One explicit statement I can’t however point out within the space of talent improvement is speaking drum. Up to now, you must come from that household of AYAN earlier than you would play the instrument and in addition comply with some conventional guidelines guiding the instrument however now our youths study and play it very excellently. Typically, this technology isn’t doing badly if properly guided and able to be mentored and led by Holy Spirit. They have to be rooted within the phrase of God and be attending bible believing church buildings for development and fellowship. If they’re regular, affected person and by no means in an unguided haste to realize better heights, they are going to be higher and better.
Let me drop this in your consumption and possibly for others as you deem match that I produced the primary album of Pasuma that introduced him to the limelight-RECOGNITION. Why am I saying this? As a result of I as soon as learn in certainly one of your publications that the credit score was given to another person. Alhaji Wasiu Alabi and Sarolaj may give particulars. Story and full particulars for one more day.”
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