bola-are.htm

“My parents were Christian of CAC denomination. Just before my birth it was prophesied that I would be in the house of the Lord all the days of my life. So, my parents made me live in the mission house with the founder of the church. People around me said they noticed I started singing when I was barely one.

"At age eight, I was encouraged and promised never to be disturbed anywhere I was either in school or church. When I was in the secondary school, I remember that my principal suggested that I go to school of music. When I came to Ibadan in 1970, I began to get invited to sing in churches. In 1973, I formed a band and my first album was released in August1977.

Albums
“Not long after this, the Lord instructed me to resign my appointment at UCH and proceed on a 30-day fasting because He wanted to use me. I was so unwilling and sluggish. That day, I was so dizzy that it was like the whole UCH was rolling around me.

"Not until I wrote and dropped my letter of resignation that I became okay. The Lord told me that he would not leave me nor abandon me. Any day I have nothing to eat nor drink by 9am, then He has not called me. Since 1977 I am yet to go hungry.

“From the start, Baba Ku Ise made a tremendous impact. All other albums like Elese ronu ko piwada, Idajo ma fere de, Bibo Jesu lekeji, Iya ki somi obe and Jesu ni ona ati Iye which was released in 1980 all made waves. My inspiration comes anytime and anyhow. Most times, it comes from simple encounter or experience. Most of my songs that have become evergreen were not actually rehearsed before recording.

"Some were inspirations that came in the studio, on my way to the studio, in the car, bathroom, etc. Often, I found God sitting me down and giving me songs. That is why it is difficult for me to sing other people's song. All my songs are profound and original.

“Songs like Sugbon kan mbe laye mi and Gbongbo idile Jesse came extemporaneously. Sugbon kan mbe la ye mi was recorded in album 28. I was due for recording at Ivory Music in Lagos , and as I drove from Ibadan to Lagos , I decided to pay a whistle stop visit to our church around Shangisha in Lagos .

“My band members were already accustomed to my extemporaneous habits of composition so they quickly adjusted and sang. Just before we finished recording, someone came in and said for about two months, he has been looking for me. He wanted to give me $150 sent to me by someone in America . When the money was given to me, I started weeping again, thanking God for rescuing me.

"Immediately, I gave the money to my aides to exchange it to the local currency, and then deduct my tithe and the N6000 I owed and use the rest to buy snacks for us eat. Not until then that I was able to disclose why I was weeping and the reason for the song.

Challenges in Life
“The challenges are many; these range from jealousy to persecution from people who do not care to get close to you and know who you actually are. Another one was the death of my husband, which was a big blow to me. I got married in 1977 when I was almost 30. My relationship with my husband was such that I was so obedient to him.

"On the day I was to travel out, we were both sad and overcome with grief. It was like we had inkling that we were seeing each other for the last time. He was so sad that I was travelling. His head was bowed and I was downcast that I had to stay with him for another four hours. I was almost canceling the journey but I needed to go because the ticket was already okayed and they were expecting me.

"When I was in London , I was always calling home to find out if he was alright. On my last week in London , precisely Saturday/Sunday night, I called him more than 10 times. It got him so angry that I was wasting money. We never knew we were saying goodbye.

“On Sunday morning, he left Ibadan to administer the Holy Communion at the Ketu Church . As if he knew that was the last Holy Communion he would take, he went to the CAC Headquarters to buy new wine and bread. There was a tray given to us in Switzerland , which I hid somewhere, hoping to give it to the church on our wedding anniversary. He brought out the tray for the Holy Communion. He went for beautiful white clothes and new cups, unknown to him that it would be his last.

“That day, he looked so pale because he was running stool at the mission house and nobody did anything to help him all through the night till the morning when he began to vomit blood. I knew that someone poisoned him, but I leave that to God.

“I was not told that he vomited until two months later when it occurred to me that at least, he wore some clothes on the day he died. Where were they? The man I suspected said they did not return with the clothes because they had blood all over and so they had to throw them into the garbage. It was then I confirmed that truly, they poisoned him.

“November 6, 1995 was a terrible year for me. But the Lord came to my rescue quickly. I had thought that that was the end. I said it and behaved it. I was so mad at God that I asked Him why He would allow such to happen to me when He knew I was busy doing His work in a foreign land.

“The Lord then told me: “I the Lord knew all that happened and you too will know about it” He said “I took your husband to higher glory but you should continue the work” The Lord then pampered me, fed me spiritually and I began all over again. I was joyously working on a new album when the tragedy struck. The title was to be Igba Otun de (New Era) In fact, the title was given by my husband and I was full of expectations on its release.

"His death brought me low but my manager and engineer cautioned me that my husband's death should not kill the organisation. I had to go ahead to release the album after which the Lord told me to release another three powerful Praise albums, which were released as Anointed Praise I & 11. These were Vol. 42 and 43. The third Vol. would be released as Vol. 50.

Re-marrying
“Remarrying was out of it for me. Naturally, it seems Bola Are is so tough for some of the people around her. A Yoruba proverb says Bawo lose ri oju ekun si, to ni aja lo ma pa? (Does the countenance of a tiger suggest that a dog can kill it?)

"The way people do things, the places they go and the way they carry themselves suggest various things to various people. I have been far from scandals because of what I do. Immediately my husband died, I vowed not to marry again, that I was now married to Jesus. If there is marriage in heaven, I will go back to Pastor Are. My integrity means so much to me. So if anybody comes, no vacancy.

Self-improvement
“After my secondary education in Efon-Alaye, I came to Ibadan to study Accounting at Ibadan polytechnic. But something happened, I dreamt about nine times on how I was being locked out of school gate by the gate man. In my dream, he would tell me “we don't have your teacher here”. I would insist that I belong to the school but he would insist on locking me out.

At a stage, I had to consult my spiritual father on these incessant dreams. Later God told me to hold saying that if I pursue the course, I would not want to work for Him again. God said he would raise me up such that nobody would be able to look down on me intellectually or otherwise. Today, I am fulfilled. Many Universities and theological seminaries have given me so many awards.

Of course, each time I travelled to the Unites States where my brother lectures in a University in New Jersey , I attended his classes read and learn. Today, I don't think I lack anything educationally.”