‘Why I left bank job for gospel music’

Akintayo Oluwasegun Emmanuel is a budding gospel artiste who has passion for what he does. In this interview with JOAN OMIONAWELE, he talks about his album, personal life and life as a gospel artiste.

Why did you choose to be a gospel musician?

I believe God called people in different ways God called people to speak, preach, to publish and some were called to sing. But mine is a gift, and the Bible says that the gift of a man maketh room for him and that was why I made the decision to follow the will of God, even though there were sacrifices

What sacrifices?

Sometimes, when God wants you to do something, it might not really be convenient for you.

Are you saying it wasn’t convenient for you? What were you doing at the time?

I was once a banker and when I joined the banking industry, I did not really have time.

Why did you leave the banking industry?

I was affected by the merging process of Intercontinental Bank then.

So you became a gospel musician because of the situation you found yourself in?

Like I said, I have been into music before I joined the banking industry, but there are appointed times for everything in life and when the time comes, you will unravel that which God has asked you to do

Do you think gospel musicians are well celebrated and recognised?

Well, it depends on the kind of music you play. Gospel musicians are well celebrated. Although we may think this is not real because of hip hop artistes, but when you package yourself and know your onions, you will definitely be respected and celebrated.

Who do you admire in the gospel music industry?

Nathaniel Bassey, Mike Abdul.

Majority of the musicians mix gospel music with worldly music. What’s your take on this?

Let me use myself as an example. My style of music is gospel music with juju. This is because there are certain people who love juju music very well and I try to reach out to those people through my music. So many people have different callings; yours is just to discern that which God has asked you to do.

There has been a debate that gospel musicians shouldn’t be paid after ministering or after a performance. What’s your take?

When I am called to minister or perform in the church, I don’t even have a second thoughts. But if it’s a show, I’ll have to take the money. Scripturally, the Bible says the gift of a man maketh way for him. So my gift brings gifts, why wouldn’t I receive?

God gave some people different gifts and expects them to make profit. Whatever God has given us is not just supposed to waste; it’s for us to make something out of it. It is a good thing to be paid.

You are about to release an album, can you tell us what it is about?

It is funny because I never thought of it, but I began getting questions about it from different sets of people. When God wants to speak with you, He sends men, both animate and inanimate. I felt it was high time I released an album.

It is titled ‘Manifesting His purpose’ and when you are manifesting in God’s purpose, you will live a stress-free life and when God asks you to do something, He will see you through it.

What’s your educational backround?

I have a Higher National Diploma (HND) in Banking and Finance.

I can see that you are married. How do you overcome temptation from the female folk?

This doesn’t happen only in the music industry but everywhere. But like I said, when you are determined and focused, the grace of God will help because when you don’t have the grace, it will not be easy to conquer temptation from the female folk.

How?

When I was working in the banking industry, I faced 90 per cent female and worked in a school environment.

What was the most embarrassing of them all?

Before I got married, a lady came to the bank and told one of my colleagues that she liked me and wanted to be my friend. I responded well to her and helped her with her transaction. So she said she wanted to pay me a visit, I said that would not be a problem. I never knew that there was going to be curfew that day but she knew and she stayed till the time the curfew started. I told her I wanted to drop her and she then told me there was curfew. So, she didn’t have a choice but to stay in my house; stay on the same bed with me and to the glory of God, I was able to conquer that temptation.

But one thing happened, I woke up with strange scratches on my chest, I checked her side and saw the same marks. It was a terrible situation, I told her I would pray to God and nothing will happen to me and she later said there was nothing I could do, but date her compulsorily. I told her I was engaged. We fought the battle and after a week, I won the battle.