Nigeria is unrivalled in Africa in terms of cultural output. Yoruba music from the western part of Nigeria is particularly a rich and diverse cultural tradition that has produced many talented musicians over the years.
By the early 1920s juju music had emerged as a Yoruba popular genre. Tunde King and Irewolede Denge became some of Nigeria’s first musical stars. By the 1950s popular music was flourishing in a wide range of styles, with Tunde Nightingale, J.O. Araba and C.A. Balogun being the most prominent juju artists.
Later in the decade, I.K. Dairo began his rise to stardom, becoming Nigeria’s first international musical star, and paving the way for hundreds of other juju bands.
In the 1970s, younger upstarts Ebenezer Obey and King Sunny Ade began to achieve popularity. This duo includes great Nigerian musicians like the Late Fela Anikulapo Kuti, Late Haruna Ishola, Late Ayinla Omowura, Late Sikiru Ayinde Barrister, Kollington Ayinla, Wasiu Ayinde and many more, who have played important and immeasurable roles within the past four decades in promoting Yoruba culture and traditions both within Nigeria and beyond.
As these elder musicians approach old age, the emergence of young Nigerian musicians such as Femi Kuti, Seun Kuti, Pasuma, Burna Boy, Davido, Wiz Kid and Lekan Remilekun Amos is significantly mentioned in the promotion of Nigerian culture through their different brands and styles of music.
At the forefront of this Cultural Renaissance is ‘Lekan Remilekun Amos. The music of Lekan Remilekun Amos is a striking display of contemporary Nigerian music that showcases the country’s rich cultural heritage.
Through his vibrant music genres Lekan Remilekun Amos (LRA fondly called within Nigeria’s music industry), demonstrates the power of music to promote Nigeria’s culture, diplomacy, and cooperation, serving as a beacon for music enthusiasts across the globe which has made his works instantly recognizable.
As Nigeria continues to gain recognition as a global cultural powerhouse, his music plays a critical role in promoting its soft power and diplomacy. His works have significant cultural and diplomatic value as they provide a platform for showcasing Nigerian culture and its contributions to the world of music, highlighting the country’s rich cultural heritage.
LRA’s music represents a broad spectrum of Nigerian cultural and religious genres. Highly renowned for Christian spiritual themes which resultantly made him extremely popular, accepted and wanted within the Christian faith in and outside Nigeria.
His music is par excellence. He plays highly rhythmic music that uses traditional African percussion to create a dense, multi-layered sound. A multi-dimensional singer whose genres of songs include folk, soul and gospel music with excellent lyrical presentation.
His composition skills are impeccable. His songs are a unique phenomenon in the Nigerian gospel music industry. His messages, sweet and emotional voice penetrate hearts, heal and comfort souls. The lyrics of his masterpieces tell us about true love that blossoms in faith, devotion, and truth.
Together with the melodic voice of LRA, his messages reach the innermost corners of the listeners’ hearts which make people believe in true love and make them want to experience it.
In addition to the upliftment and propagation of Yoruba culture, Lekan Remilekun Amos revolutionized gospel music while still projecting traditional values of good behaviour, respect for God and mankind as well as the struggles against life’s forces. He often uses his music as a tool of commentary on issues of human lifestyle, existence and relationships with God, the supreme being.
Where lays the uniqueness of Lekan Remilekun Amos? His prowess in music transcends beyond the concept of ‘music by talent’. He was born into a family of strong music traditions with great value and repute.
His father was Dr. Remilekun Amos (Snr) who was, till his demise, known, undoubtedly recognised and accepted as the leading Ilaje Zion Gospel music crusader. Lovers of gospel songs in the Ilaje dialect from Ondo State will remember Dr. Remilekun Amos (Snr) as the pioneer and projector of the Ilaje Zion Gospel brand of music. The legacy of his father with regard to this brand is what Lekan Remilekun Amos (LRA) has come to uphold and revolutionise.
Uncommon of the youth of his generation in music, Lekan holds a university degree in Physics Electronics, however, his apprenticeship in music dates back to when he was thirteen years old when he commenced appearing on stage as a backup singer to his father.
“I started coming on stage as a backup artist to my father at the age of 13”. Albeit, he is a talented composer, his philosophical approach to his compositions is the trait and quality he picked from his father, the tradition within which he was trained. In his words, “We researched lyrics and composed songs together”.
His dexterity in music is due to this strong foundation and background coupled with his deep understanding of the word of God.
According to him, “I have always drawn my inspiration from my father, his legacy and musical impact when he was alive”, he further said. His strong educational background and his loyal apprenticeship explain why he has been able to revolutionise the brand of music he inherited from his father.
Just as his father was a legend and icon within the Zion Cherubim and Seraphim Church into which ‘Lekan was born, he grew and impacted the Cherubim and Seraphim fold at large tremendously. With his talent, experience and rich background in gospel music, ‘Lekan Remilekun Amos has significantly reformed and revolutionised the quality of the Cherubim and Seraphim music from local to national level.
Today, he is an Evangelist, Teacher Songwriter and Music Minister of the fold who is highly sought after within the Nigerian secular and non-secular music industry.
Without a doubt, his in-depth knowledge of Yoruba culture and his use of the language are beyond the imaginable level of the current youth generation of the ethnic group. ` These strategically position him far ahead of many in the course of promoting the culture of the group.
Music……….songs language and religion are integral and inseparable parts of Yoruba culture, tradition and heritage. The Magnitude of the knowledge of Lekan Remilekun Amos and the dexterity with which he intelligently combines all these in his music and performances to convey his ‘thought-provoking’ messages makes him the darling of the lovers of music in Nigeria and the diaspora.
On the non-secular front, LRA’s knowledge of the Bible is very vast. The thought-provoking messages in all his works are a reflection of this special strength. As a music evangelist, teacher, songwriter and a mentor with an unblemished sense of humility, Lekan Remilekun
Amos is a highly ‘sought-after’, wave-making musical legend both in Nigeria and in the diaspora.
Godspower Adu is a well-known Choirmaster within the Cherubim and Seraphim Church network in Nigeria.
He led and managed the choir of many Cherubim and Seraphim Churches with the responsibility of choir administration, management and development including talent acquisition, mentoring and development.
He is currently a scholar of Leadership and Management at the University of Brighton, United Kingdom. (g.adu@brighton.ac.uk).
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