Top Yoruba Gospel Singers
Yoruba Gospel music is one of the most active music industries in Nigeria. Over the years, it has given birth to countless veterans. The uniqueness of their music and every input used in creating their sounds stands tall amongst her contemporaries.
Stay tuned as we take you through the top Yoruba Gospel Singers.
YINKA AYEFELE
Sometimes, our darkest moments can make a turning point in our lives and this is the story of Mr. Olayinka Joel Ayefele, popularly known as “Yinka Ayefele”, MON. A Nigerian media Mogul, Music producer, Gospel artist, and Radio presenter. He is the founder of Fresh and Blast FM network of radio stations across southwestern Nigeria.
Yinka was born on 1st February 1968 in a town called Ipoti-Ekiti. He is from Ekiti State, Nigeria. Obtained his First School Leaving Certificate at Our Saviour’s Anglican Primary School in Ipoti-Ekiti. He then proceeded to Secondary Education and then to Ondo State College of Arts and Science in Ikare Akoko, Ondo State, Nigeria.
After his education, he worked briefly as a journalist and broadcaster at the Federal Radio Corporation of Nigeria, Ibadan. While there, he produced jingles and musical works on radio.
Top Yoruba Gospel Singers
In 1997, a tragedy struck when he was involved in a car accident that injured his spinal cord, leaving him in a wheelchair. This sad experience kept him in the hospital for about 9 months. On one of those visits by his friend Kola Olootu, he (Kola) advised him (Yinka) to put some songs together which resulted in the 1998 “Bitter Experience” album that brought him to the limelight. He then released another, “Sweet Experience.
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He has released many other songs that are pleasurable to many and is also a recipient of many awards including Member of the Order of the Niger awarded by Goodluck Ebele Jonathan, the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (2011) Ekiti cultural ambassador award.
Discography:
Bitter Experience (1998), Sweet Experience (1999), Something Else (2000), Divine Intervention (2001), Fun Fair (2002), Life After Death (2003), Aspiration (2003), Fulfilment (2004), New Dawn (2005), Next Level (2006), Gratitude (2007), Absolute Praise (2008), Transformation (2009), Everlasting Grace (2010), Prayer Point (2011), Goodness Of God (2012), Comforter (2013), Overcomer (2014), Upliftment (2015), Fresh Glory (2016), Living Testimony (2017), Favour (2018), Beyond The Limits (2019), Ekundayo (Exhilaration) (2020), Manifestation (2021),
etc.
TOPE ALABI
Tope Alabi is not only a big Gospel Musical Artiste from the western part of Nigeria, but she has also become a brand, a force, and a face of indigenous Yoruba Gospel Music. She is an indigene of Yewa, Imeko in Ogun State, Nigeria. This phenomenal singer, songwriter, and performing Artiste was born on 27 October 1970 in Lagos State, She was born into the family of Pa Joseph Akinyele Obayomi and Madam Agnes Kehinde Obayomi. She earned her West Africa School Certificate from Oba Akinyele Memorial High School, Ibadan, in 1986. Then studied Mass Communication at Polytechnic Ibadan and graduated in 1990.
Before venturing into Gospel Music fully, had participated in other performing Arts. She was part of different stage theater groups in both Ibadan and Lagos performing at different events. Thereafter, she had a trade in the Yoruba film industry where she had featured in different movies as well. These different exposures to the craft prepared her for the higher calling that was on the way.
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After she had her encounter with Christ and gave her life to Christ, she metamorphosed into gospel music fully where she has done noble work in the industry. On 21 May 2019, Nigerians on Twitter crowned Tope Alabi the queen of the Yoruba language as a result of a competition by the United Bank for Africa on their 70th-anniversary celebration.
Discography:
Top Yoruba Gospel Singers
Ore ti o Common (2001), Iwe Eri (2003), Agbara Re NI (2005), Agbara Olorun (2006), Angeli MI (2007), Kokoro Igbala (2008), Kabiosi (2010), Moriyanu
Agbelebu (2011), Alagbara (2012), Agbelebu (2013), Oruko Tuntun (2015), Omo Jesu (2017), Yes & Amen (2018)
etc.
JOSEPH ADEBAYO ADELAKUN
Joseph Adebayo was born into a Muslim family of Salami Adebayo. He is an indigene of Saki, a town located in the northern part of Oyo State, western Nigeria. In his early life, he got trained as an Electrical engineer at Kareem Electrical Engineering Company in the city of Ibadan, the capital of Oyo State. After the training in 1968, he proceeded to join the Nigerian Army and was deployed to the Nigerian Army Barrack, the Engineering Construction Regiment at Ede in Oyo State. He was baptized at Christ Apostolic Church in 1972, the same year he began his evangelism.
In 1976, he was transferred to Kaduna State and, there birth the beginning of his musical career, as a member of the Christ Apostolic Church choir. In 1978, he released his debut album titled “Emi yio kokiki Re” and in 1982, he retired from the Nigerian Army to focus on his newfound profession (gospel music) which had begun taking much of his time and attention. That same year he established a musical group called “Ayewa International Gospel Singers”. He was famous for his 9th album titled “Amona tete maa bo” released in 1984. And in the last years of his active participation in the craft, he has released over 30 musical albums and has traveled far and near to practice his craft. He was honored with the “Evergreen Award” at the Crystal Awards 2014 held on Sunday, July 20, 2014.
Discography:
Amona Tete Maa Bo, Abundant Grace, Gboro Mi Ro (Re-Mix) Evergreen, Agbara, Olorun Ki I Baati, Emi yio kokiki Re, Okan mi Bale, Emmanuel ti de, Amona tete mabo, etc
BUKOLA BEKES
Bukola Bekes stands out as one of the top music ministers from one of Nigeria’s Christian denominations, The Redeemed Christian Church of God. She stands out as an excellent song leader (Praise and Worship), Recording Ariste, and Composer. She is actively serving as a Praise and Worship Leader of the City of David Parish, VI. Lagos, Nigeria.
She has been active in her career right from the onset and has performed on many stages and with many songs to her credit. She has composed most of the theme songs for Redeemed Special Holy Ghost Services, Conventions, and Holy Ghost Congresses and she ministers during the Monthly Holy Ghost Services in Redemption Camp.
Her band is called the “Olubukola Bekes & The Paradise Minstrels”.
She is one of the most sought-after Yoruba Artiste and her work has earned massive consumption and she has been an influence to many, both in Music and ministry.
SOLA ALLYSON-OBANIYI
Sola Allyson-Obaniyi, also known as Shola Allyson or Sola Allyson, is another blessed, talented, and gifted Nigerian soul, folk, and gospel singer and songwriter from the Yoruba extraction. Her vocal delivery is excellent and she brings another form of freshness to the craft with her unique way of singing.
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2003 was her year of stepping into the limelight with the hit album “Eji Owuro” and due to how good it was, it became a soundtrack album for a film of the same title.
Thereafter, the following albums were added to her discography and they are: “Gbeje F’ori,” “Ire,” and “Im’oore” amongst others. Her popular songs include: “Eji Owuro”, “Obinrin Ni Mi”, “Aseye”, “Isinmi”, amongst others.
She is not only a vocal goddess, but she is also a voice coach counselor and consultant. She does soundtracks for a lot of Nigerian movies as well.
Shola Allyson is one of the big names in the Yoruba Gospel Industry. She has written her name on the sands of time and history will always be kind to her and her craft.
Compiled by Moses Umoh for Owwire, Edited and Published by Ebenezer Ekpenyong.
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