From leading a large choir in Nigeria to staging a gospel music concert in Germany, gospel singer and nurse, Ogheneakpobor Righteous, otherwise known as Enea Kelvin believes that taking her trade beyond the shores of Africa would not make her embrace secular music. She speaks about life in Germany, music and career in this interview with SEGUN ADEBAYO.
You are a gospel singer and a soul artiste and a nurse. How do you cope with these commitments?
My greatest help is from God, no doubt. It is not easy coping with all these including the fact that I am also a mother and a wife in a foreign land but God has made it in such a way that I get the much support I need from my loving husband and the people around me.
You have come a long way with your music career and it seems you have an interesting journey at that. Tell us about the musical journey?
It has been an interesting and successful journey to the glory of God so far. Who would believe that I would be where I am today? It all started like a joke; I just loved singing as a child and would be giving solos to take in the choir and it kept on that way until I finished my second career as a journalist at the Institute of Management and Technology Enugu State, Nigeria. When I sang and got out of the stage, I heard comments like “there is something unique about you, I see you on a big stage, you are different, who are you? Are you from heaven? I loved and listened to the likes of the late Whitney Houston and Keffee of blessed memory!
The situation changed drastically as soon as I got married as I got more engaged in rendering my services to God in the choir and also served as a musical director at the Redeemed Christian Church of God, Germany where I got a direct calling from God. Inspirations to write songs and gather people to worship in a yearly Concert called “The Called Musical Concert” organised and held in the city of Munich, Germany started coming in. So far, we’ve recorded so many songs, released five out of them and organised four editions of our concert to the glory of God.
For somebody who started music from the church, how have you managed to resist the temptation not to go secular?
God has helped me, even when the secular world enjoyed it when I sang. We all have a calling, which is to bless lives wherever God has placed us through the message our songs carry and God has given me the right songs for the right audience. He has directed and guided me every step of the way.
Are you aware that artistes in the secular industry get more patronage and endorsement deals better than their counterparts in the gospel circle? Is this not a challenge to you?
Yes, I am aware but it is not also a challenge to me. Gospel artistes get patronage and endorsement deals too and they’re blessed with what they have. Most importantly is we are satisfied when our audience get blessed, delivered, saved, healed and got one testimony from our songs or the other. We do not lack and we have more than enough to bless others and also carry the work of God forward.
Tell us about life in Germany as a nurse and how the pandemic coronavirus affected their healthcare system there and the effect on your music career?
Life as a nurse in Germany is wonderful! It’s not easy because you have to work for what you are being paid for but, it is worth it. You’re under some pressure but help is fully available. First thing is that your health is more important before you can look after others. The corona virus was a big hard nut to crack, we had to work more than usual but also got paid for it. The German government fought to ensure that there was no much pressure on the health care system by ensuring that measures were placed to fight the pandemic. It wasn’t easy, the whole system was shut down, people got depressed, life wasn’t the usual anymore. For nurses and health care workers, it didn’t really change much because they went to work as usual aside from abiding by the new hygiene /corona virus regulations and so on but for the likes of musicians, it wasn’t the same anymore.
How did you find your way into the gospel music ministry in Germany and what has been the experience?
Through my service in the choir and the platform, God has given me (The Called Nation Germany). We have so far been able to penetrate the industry to some extent by working with some big German choirs and other gospel music groups and artists. So far, the experience has been very good. We’ve gotten support from the government especially, individuals and from the church and we hope to get more by the grace of God. We need support, the vision and goal is big, we have much to achieve and hope to reach out to a lot of people!
Are Germans as religious as Nigerians?
No, they are not, they are more Christians but not as religious as Nigerians.
What do you think about music and what appeals to you most about ministering to people?
Music is life; it is soul lifting and suits every part of the being. It has a way of ministering to yourself. You can tell your life and the life of others through music and music can make you forgot your worries. The best part of ministering to people is that people are blessed and you are also blessed too. There’s no better joy, knowing that people are blessed through your ministration and most of all, Jesus is glorified.
Looking at how far you have come with your yearly concert, The Call Musical Project, what informed this move?
It is a call, that is why it is called “The Called Musical Concert”. I got inspired by God, to gather people of all kinds in the city of Munich Germany to worship Him to course a revival in the land and God has kept to his word!
How has it been hosting this concert in Germany for two years now?
Easy and not easy 🙂 Easy on one side because God has provided all support needed, financially and otherwise on the other side not easy because, we have faced challenges from all round including, the same government who has always given us their support and even direct people and team members we’ve worked with. But in all, we have not been shamed; we are rather getting better and bigger by the day. Recently we launched our foundation “The Called Africa Foundation” which is also part of our project, our music label Kelvinsmusic is running and we are moving higher.
How much support do you get from Nigerians in Germany who love your songs?
The best they can give I believe and I am very grateful for every support that has been rendered.
Tell us about one encounter you had that would never leave your mind even if you try to forget about it?
That big encounter was in the year 2019, our 4th edition of The Called Musical Concert when the government who has always sponsored and supported us decided not to at the dying minute because our budget was simply too big and we had made all plans, flyers had already gone out and money has been spent in advance. We had challenges with the cameraman, team members and this one of our best in these four years. Even though we do not have any good video or content from that concert, I do not regret it because God did not allow us to see shame.
Do you know, God sent a good Samaritan who cleared up every bill of about 12,000€ (twelve thousand euros) and even more? This actually strengthened me and made me believe the saying that when God calls you or sends you on a mission, He makes provisions. Glory hallelujah!!!
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