I want to be called ‘sweet sixteen’ —Mama Fasoyin, Good Women Choir leader

There are various reports about the famous group, Christ Apostolic Church Good Women Choir. As the leader of the group, can you tell us how the group was formed?

We were initially over 100 and we were later reduced to 34, then 27. The creation of states then affected our membership as some of us followed our husbands to their respective states. Some of us travelled abroad to take care of our grandchildren and all that. But some of us came together again in 2005. What actually happened was that when I got to Lagos, I did some solo songs which some of them heard of. They contacted me and expressed their desire for us to continue where we stopped in 1995. We had about 25 albums. So, instead of making new songs, we decided to go back to our old works and do videos. The youngest of us was 60 years. The interesting part of our story is that we still see ourselves as young girls and indeed, we are young girls!

How were you able to get such a number for the group?

If you are a member of the Christ Apostolic Church then, your wife automatically became a member of the Good Women Association. I was a member of the association. What happened was that the head of the association decided that we were going to have a choir to perform at the church’s convention every year. We were asked to send married women that could sing from each church. That was how we came together. Before I got married, I had been a member of the choir in the Anglican Church. So, I was one of those selected from my church in Ibadan. There were about 100 of us then. When we came together during the anniversary, I was shocked to find my name as the choir leader. I nearly fainted because there were far better singers in the group. Nobody gave me any hint. I knew the enormity of the challenge in such a position. But I prayed to God to come to my assistance. That was how I became the leader of the Good Women Choir.

So, how was the journey from being an Anglican to being a CAC member?

I was an Anglican before I got married in the CAC. My parents were Anglican and I became a choir member at a very young age at St Michael Anglican Church, Oyo where I came from. My parents were converted to Christianity before I was born. My father’s name is Ogunrinu and some of my brothers were ordained reverends.

There was a report that you were seriously sick and you needed financial help. What actually happened?

It was not true. A journalist came to interview me in Ibadan, he asked me why I had not been singing and I told him that I was advised to slow down, only for him to publish a news report that the leader of the Good Women Choir was terribly sick and in need of help. It was such an embarrassing publication. I received so many phone calls from people who wanted to know what really happened to me. It caused quite a stir. What I told him was that doctors said I should rest. The reporter asked other questions and I answered. It was a Yoruba paper, if I remember very well. Since then, I have been wary of granting interviews. Even if I actually needed help, it is God that can help me, not human beings. As a human being, it is not possible to continue doing the same thing all the time as you advance in age.

You decided to relocate to Lagos after living in Ibadan for many years.

What happened was that some of my children are in Lagos. One of them had a baby in 2001 and I had to come around to assist. But in 2002, all of them decided that I should come over to Lagos and continue my work.

The evergreen song of your group, Odun nlo sopin, has remained a must to listen to at the end of each year. How do you feel anytime you find people playing and listening to the song?

The song was recorded in 1979. I feel fulfilled that the song is still relevant after many years. I know that it can only be the grace of God. We produced 25 songs and the song was number three. I give God the glory because there were many records produced by other people that have long been forgotten. But by the special grace of God, what we did many years ago is still impacting people’s lives. It is so fulfilling. There is also ‘Odun yi a tura’. While ‘Odun nlo sopin’ is played between November and December, ‘Odun yi a tura’ is played during the New Year. It is my joy that the songs touch lives each time they are played. I feel happy and I glorify God because there are more talented voices that have never been heard.

Would you say the songs were rewarding financially?

What we had in mind when we were doing the music was to propagate the gospel. We were not recording because we wanted to make money. We were very glad that we had an avenue to propagate the gospel. But after a while, especially after the third album that became a hit, the marketer called us and said we had royalties to collect. We were surprised. We decided not to collect the money for two reasons: firstly, we were all married and working. Secondly, we were constantly reminded that money was capable of causing break-up among people. We told the marketer to use the money to buy us a bus and instruments. We did not handle any money. We only asked for tools that would help us do our work smoothly, because we were always getting invitations.

Why have you kept a low profile lately?

When you have the spirit of God leading you, you cannot but be humble. Making me the leader of the Good Women Choir should not make me become swollen-headed. Apart from the fact that it was Christ that was actually leading the group, there were far more talented singers among us. I always pray to God to give me the humility of Pastors Enoch Adeboye and Sam Adeyemi of the Daystar Church. They are humility personified.

What was growing up like in Oyo town?

I did not stay much in Oyo because I was the last born of my parents and the only girl. My elder brothers thought my parents would pamper me if I was allowed to live with them. After two years that I was born, my brothers took me away from my parents. So, I stayed at various times in Jos, Ogbomoso and Obalende in Lagos. They were carrying me about because they feared that I would be spoilt by my parents. If I had lived with my father, I don’t think I would go to any school because he would not want anyone to maltreat me. He said he waited for so long to have a girl after six boys, so because of that, he was prepared to pamper me. However, I completed modern school and started working. I taught for a year and spent 29 years in Kingsway Stores. I started working in 1968 in Lagos and when I got married, I was transferred to Ibadan. I started as a sales clerk and retired as a manager in 1986.

How was the job at Kingsway?

I have always loved music. I had the opportunity to work at the record section. I remember that when the late IK Dairo released some of his music, I was the one that handled the sales. Then, I loved music generally. I was at the record section for about five years selling records. All the while, I had interest in music.

Has any of your children taken after you?

My first daughter has released an album, so also her younger sister. They served as back-up for my solo albums. It is my joy that they are taking after me. But as for me, I cannot retire from music, I will continue till eternity.

What happens to your royalties now?

I told you how we were doing it. Now that we have come together again, whatever comes to us through me, we share everything together. We still get engagements in churches.

You will be 80 this year, how are you living it?

In fact, I hate it when anyone calls me mama, I want to be called sweet sixteen. They call me sisi at my church. Do I look like an old woman? I believe that it is what I call myself that I will be. I am 80 years only.

What is your view about the way the present generation go about gospel music?

I don’t criticise. When you say you are a gospel musician, the way God sent you may be different from the way He sent me. Whether it was God that sent you or not is not my business.