"Other changes I envisage include doing away with the usage of items like oil, perfume, fruits, water, etc as prayer items. Prayer should be the only weapon of our warfare. Using fruits for whatever reasons would only give us a bad name. We don’t need them. I am positive that the changes have begun. Today, I can introduce you to four or five evangelists in the Celestial fold who are firebrand Christians like those in the Pentecostal.

Internationalising music
“Efforts are on to boost the acceptance of my music abroad. We have been to Europe and now, we have our eyes on America. The experience was good for us. We went there not as other musicians but to showcase Jesus through music. We knew that most Nigerian gospel musicians perform in cChurches on invitations, but we went without invitation from anybody. We knew that it would be tough because we needed money to buy our tickets but we had no sponsor.

Another challenge was where would we play? Certainly not in the hotels or night parties. We also knew that people were not ready to pay to watch gospel acts. So what shall we do? We began to pray before leaving. We thank God that our first performance at the Redeemed Christian Church of God in Paris was full of anointing.
Honorarium
“So many cChurches depend on gospel musicians to build up their membership but many of them don’t treat the music ministers well. There are cChurches that won’t give you a dime. Some cChurches will respect you but no kobo will come from them. Still some cChurches will rob you of both. But if you are called of God, can you stop doing His work because of this?

* Baba Ara (right) and Paul Play Dairo at Pastors Praise Night  

I advise my colleagues not to expect good treatment from anybody. Let your focus be on God. Do the work because He has promised to bless you. The blessings may not be from the church; it could be from passers bye on your way home. It could be calamitous to always expect money from cChurches. However, because of my total reliance on God, food has never been in short supply for me.

Most successful album
“All of my albums have been successful. However, we need to understand success through two parameters, which are spiritual and financial. For me, my greatest goal is to sing to multitude of people and have the spirit of God fall on them all. If I can achieve that, let God call me home. But on the spiritual plane, gospel music is beyond rhythm, dance and instrumentation. We concentrate too much on tune, melody, styles, etc The vital part of gospel, which is the message, is being left behind. Christians need to redefine and redirect gospel music.

"... I am a food technologist. I know all about beer and I can tell you that you should do without it..."

Evangelism at social gatherings
“I do attend parties, birthdays, naming ceremonies, etc. The way I go about it is simple: I devote the opening of my show to addressing the gathering on the importance of the occasion, may be birthday, naming, burial etc I don’t really preach in such occasions. I may not be able to castigate them for their drinking habits because the Bible tells me that Jesus did not come to condemn the world but to help them. You don’t help people by sending them away. Many of my friends still hit the bottle and smoke. My duty is to help them quit by seeing good examples in me.

“Someone once said that I looked as if I was on drug while on stage. My response to him was that I possess two personalities: Bukola Olomola, my real self and Baba Ara, the musician. Once I’m on stage, Baba Ara is intoxicated with the Holy Spirit and performs better than people who use alcohol or drugs. That means I can do without alcohol. I am a food technologist. I know all about beer and I can tell you that you should do without it.

However, I don’t think ostracising yourself from drunks or smokers would help them. I’m sure Jesus would eat at the homes of such people. Gospel music has taken a lot of things from me. My former life has gone. I was once a drunk and a smoker. If I had persisted in all these, it would have destroyed my destiny in Christ.

"I did not learn anything in music. I have no textbook knowledge of what I am doing today. I know everything comes straight from God and if I want God to continue with me, I should rely on Him in all ways. I have to forgo a lot of things and I am enjoying this new experience so, I have to remain with God. My Greatest fulfillment today is that my song is meaningful to so many people.

Matrimony
“My wife was an Alhaja. She was born into a Muslim home but she was converted into Christianity through me. She began by peeping into Christianity and withdrawing. It was difficult for her because hers was a typical Islamic family. While we were still courting, her parents sent her to Mecca believing that that would stop me from marrying her. But I encouraged her to go on sight seeing. Today, some members of her family are converting to Christianity one after the other.

“While courting, she did not like my songs. She complained so much about my voice. She would not give me pass mark except when someone prodded her. She was one of my greatest critics. A very quiet person who has no friend, she hardly goes out.”

(c) Bola Adewara

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