Faith Ajiboye

"... Many people have asked me why I sing love songs when I call myself a gospel singer.

I’ve always told them that God is love and if there’s anybody to personify love and demonstrate it, it is we Christians..."

Beginning
“I started singing as far back as 1985. I joined a group known as the United Christian Singers and Drama Unit, of which I was the head of the singing group. So, I started singing, though not professionally. That time, I used to be a back-up singer until 1989 when I discovered my real gift, singing.

"I never attended any school to train my voice. I just woke up one morning and I felt the hand of God so strong on me and everybody around me noticed that my voice had changed. That opened another chapter in my singing career.

"Since 1989, until date I’ve been singing professionally. I started singing in 1985, even though before that time, I’ve been singing in the choir. Shortly after, I encountered Christ and everything changed. That was how I started singing gospel songs.

Born again
“I gave my life to Christ while in the secondary school at Ilorin Grammar School, Ilorin. There was this pastor called Pastor Segun Odukole Adesina. He was ministering and trying to preach to me but I never listened to him.

"One day, I visited the fellowship (FCE) reluctantly and that day, the man of God preached about hell. I saw a glimpse of hell and I didn’t want to go there. After the message I walked to the altar weeping and ever since, I became born again. Though, there are moments when you fall, you rise again but God has been sustaining me.

Inspiration
“I don’t write songs, I receive songs. I can’t remember the last time I picked my pen to write a song. It just comes, oftentimes in my dreams and when I wake up the thing is still there, then, I will pick my pen to write down the lyrics. I have a small Walkman always by my bedside. I received most of my songs through dreams or, at times, when I am walking along the road.

"By the inspiration of God, I receive both love songs and gospel tunes. For instance, I received my latest number, Be my woman on my way from the office one bright afternoon. I received the body of the song first before the chorus came. Right at Allen junction in Ikeja, Lagos I began to write them because I didn’t want the inspiration to fly away.

Why love songs?
“Many people have asked me why I sing love songs when I call myself a gospel singer I’ve always told them that God is love and if there’s anybody to personify love and demonstrate it, it is we Christians. I’ve discovered that God’s gifts are for the whole universe. For instance, the sun does not shine on Christians alone or Buddhists or Moslems. When rain falls, it falls on both the righteous and the wicked.

"I discovered that from somewhere and I am sharing it with others, but the ultimate is for you to be a blessing to your generation.

"One day, I visited the fellowship (FCE) reluctantly and that day, the man of God preached about hell. I saw a glimpse of hell and I didn’t want to go there..."

Paul Play Dairo, and Faith Ajiboye sitting next to Olubukola Olomola (Baba Ara) extreme right.

Albums
“My first album was not popular because I didn’t promote it. It was entitled, A sent high praise. That was in 1996. It was produced by Tunji Dada. I also released my second album last year, which I entitled, Chapter 1. It is a 10-tracker.

"But late last year, I met a guy who told me “look, I’ve listened to your music and I observed that you are more of a rock singer, but I enjoy you when you sing slowly.” Thereafter, he asked me to add slow tunes to my latest work, so I added Be my Woman. I then remixed and repackaged it. It turned out to be good and the album, I believe will be a good gift for lovers on Valentine’s Day.

Marketing
“Right now, Today’s Music is the sole marketer of the album while Kenny’s Music has agreed to be our distributors. Kenny’s Music is promoting me because they believe in the album and its packaging. We are promoting it for Valentine because it’s a love song.

Owning a band
“God didn’t call me to own a band but to train worshippers. I do a monthly programme called School of Fresh Impartation where people from different churches gather to worship. We are starting this programme again this month.

"Once in a year, we have a programme, which we call Worship Summit, designed for worship leaders, choir and church members. We have different ministers of God who come to hold workshops. For instance, we’ve had Panam Percy Paul, Rev. Martins, Faith A. Praise and some other music ministers.

Today’s Music Magazine
“We started publishing Today’s Music Journal in 1992. By 1998, we started Today’s Music

"The motive of the magazine is to build, educate all music lovers, especially gospel music lovers and those in the music industry that don’t have materials by which they could study.

"We want to serve as a bridge between the indigenous and foreign artistes. Through the publication, artistes in Nigeria are able to know some foreign artistes whom ordinarily, they may not have had the opportunity of meeting.

The call
“We are growing, but we are not yet there. Some people are in this ministry who do not have the calling or the gift nor the grace to sing. They just see gospel music as a way of making money. They make merchandise of the gospel, that’s why you see some people who call themselves worship leaders but are actually chorus leaders.

"Ironically, most of the artistes who play gospel for the fun of it are rich while those who were really called have no resources to push themselves. Gospel music is growing, but we have a long way to go.

Mentors in music
“In Nigeria, I have so much regard for Pastor Chris Okotie. He inspires me greatly. Dr. Panam Percy Paul is another person that inspires me. Outside the country, I love Ron Kenoly, Kirk Franklin and Kurt Carr. These people have inspired me in the area of worship. In singing generally, I have lots of regards for Phill Driscoll.

Typical day
“If I’m not singing I’m probably writing books. I’ve written three books: Let The Praise Begin, Let’s Talk Worship and Spirit of David. There are three other books I’m working on. I train choirs from different churches.

Copyright
“I’m against piracy but the truth of the matter is that I have to comply with the government of the day. Pirates are everywhere; I just pray that God will help us. They have pirated my magazine several times.