Prince Ifeanyichukwu Oru vice chairman of Gospel Musician Association of Nigeria (GOMAN), is the brain behind the popular Jump am Pass track. In this interview with Senior Reporter, Anthonia Soyingbe, he opens up on why he is not into commercial gospel singing, his experiences with Sammie Okposo, why more gospel artistes are going into secular songs and other issues pertaining to gospel artistes.
What has been happening to you since you released your last hit?
Prince Ifeanyichukwu Oru
Jump am Pass was released in 1990 but was divinely promoted in 1998 and became an instant hit. That is not my first album but God gave me the revelation to do what I’m doing. I started my ministry as a pastor at the Assemblies of God Church, Sapele. Singing runs in our family and my younger brother is also into singing.
Whenever I go out to minister, many people often complain that they have not been hearing about me but I tell them that my work as a minister of the gospel is so demanding. I move from one place to the other ministering the gospel of Jesus Christ. I’m not a commercial gospel artiste and don’t move anyhow. I move based on the leading of God. I’ve released many albums after my hit album and currently working on a new album.
You just said you are not into gospel music for monetary reasons. Is it that gospel artistes are not meant to be paid?
The Bible says, ‘the gift of a man make way for him’, in other words, where you work is where you will eat. I don’t want people to misunderstand this issue because if someone is a musician, God has given that person the gift and whenever such person perform, he or she deserves to be paid. My case is different because I don’t place money above my ministrations. I don’t demand for money. I am a full-time evangelist now and don’t pastor a church because of the demands of the ministry.
How do you promote your ministry if you don’t demand for money after performance?
In GOMAN, we encourage people to pay our members whenever they go to perform. I don’t blame those who charge because secular musicians are now enjoying more than gospel musicians. Most pastors believe that when you sing, you are singing to the glory of God hence don’t need to be paid. But I often ask them if those singing secular music are singing to the glory of satan? You can’t give stories to your instrumentalists after performing. I believe it is 100% right for musicians in different genres of music to demand for their wages. Gospel artistes are not being treated well by pastors because they say singing is a gift from God.
But is being a pastor not also a gift from God? If pastors are living fine, gospel artistes too deserve to live fine and not be taken for granted by pastors. There are so many gospel artistes that are doing well, like Buchi and even Sammie Okposo my sound engineer who was in the studio when I did wellu wellu which he copied from me.
Are you claiming the copyright of wellu wellu hit?
Yes I am.
Gordons the comedian also claimed to be the owner of the song
When I was in Sapele, Gordons was an acapella singer with some other guys. As my sound engineer, Okposo was the one that recorded No be my head at a studio in Surulere when he was still having affairs with Kate Henshaw and was sleeping in the studio then. I was so surprised when he released the single and the story was reported in the papers then. I am not moved by his actions.
How do you now feel that famous and award-winning Sammie Okposo who was your former sound engineer is now an international gospel artiste?
It doesn’t take anything away from me. They are only helping me to blow my trumpet and everywhere I go, people know me because when you see me, you see original. Wellu wellu launched him to limelight and after that, he is yet to release a hit. I sing for all classes of people and that is why most of my songs are in pidgin.
I’m not dragging anything with anybody which informed by reason to keep quiet when Gordons was trading words with him. Go to the market and ask for the person who owns the song and they will tell you. I was born into music; I sleep and wake in music hence don’t have issues about what to sing of any day and time.
Gospel artistes like you often believe singing, is not entertainment. Don’t you think it is necessary that listeners or the audience be entertained through gospel songs?
There are lots of importations from the world into the church. How many of the songs we sing in churches now elevate the soul? Songs in church now is all about importing things in the world to appeal to us in the church. Imagine someone bringing in Alanta into the church?
Is there any big deal in that?
There are many big deals in that. I am not trying to elevate myself there is always a lifting of the soul anytime I minister in song. When you praise God, something will take place, it is not a jamboree. I am not against something but I’m out-rightly against doing these things in flesh. Some of the songs we sing now don’t edify the body of Christ. I’m not against bringing comedians to church but there are jokes that don’t edify God and they directly and indirectly ridicule some set of people in God’s house.
How do you think a gospel artiste should conduct him or herself?
A gospel musician is a light; you carry a food to feed God and in turn bless men.
What do you think is responsible for the exodus of gospel artistes into secular music?
There are lots of discouragements in our industry but if really and truly called by God, you will remain resolute. Those leaving, think they will make more money being in secular world. There are lots of things I can’t do because of my calling and knowledge that God is still the best and where blessings come from.
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