Meeting God
“It was during my secondary school days at a Catholic gathering. There was a film show on the resurrection of Jesus. When I saw the way He was beaten, I went behind the hall to cry. While there, a teacher saw me and asked why I was crying. When I told him about the way Jesus was beaten, he had no answer to it. All he said was I should try to be a better Christian. I reckon with that day as the day I met God.

Education
“In 1983/1984, university of Ibadan admitted me for Nursing. I had no interest in the course but I wanted a university education. At a stage, I began to have problems in courses in which I should ordinarily score A. I was asked to re-sit some examinations, I refused because I was then married and was pregnant. I considered it strenuous so I went to Lagos and told my husband I was through with the University of Ibadan.

"However, I thank God that I was able to satisfy my yearning for university education when I returned to University of Lagos to study French. I am the first gospel musician in Nigeria to release an album in French.

Foreign invitations
“I regard the foreign invitations as a blessing and an opportunity from God to represent Him. These foreign invitations are a fulfilment of the commission Jesus gave us that we would be witnesses unto him throughout the world.

I have always known that the time would come for me to internationalise gospel music. I think I am just beginning because the world is vast and many places have not been reached.

“Looking at the various cultures of the world, I think I need greater preparation, because to win someone’s heart for the Lord, you have to go through his culture. I sing in Yoruba and English but these languages are not spoken in so many places. However, I now sing in French.

Standard
“Everything that has life tends to grow. Our gospel music in the fifties and sixties is different from what we see these days. Now, we have tremendous influence from the west. The impacts of civilization, education and cultural growth bring out a more challenging music. The human mind is always exploring, looking for new things.

“On our own, we are good relative to our culture. Over there, they are good relative to their culture. Here in Africa, our music is percussion based. We like noise and we are interactive. If the music becomes slow and solemn, people get bored so easily.

Here we want to dance, there, they want to listen to your lyrics and understand your music because they are exposed to the rudiments of music. Our standard here is good though it is possible to handle in a mediocre way.

“However, in the church, we do not do it well because of finance. Our standard is good but our presentation is poor. This is a general problem; this is not limited to gospel music alone.

It has been like this in gospel music because the church has not accepted the gospel singer as a worker who should be properly remunerated. That is why so many gospel musicians are financially handicapped and they tend to be more artistic and experimental in their music rather than focus on soul winning.

"They do all these to appeal to the world to buy them for their worldly value rather than spirituality. They are not fisher of men at all. Some gospel musicians train in worldly music. Some convert everything secular to gospel, saying all music is from God. God created Satan but that does not make him authentic.

“Many people are in gospel music because they want to make money through the Christians and churchgoers, who are always ready to buy gospel albums. In addition, no thanks to some pastors and churches that support prayers of ‘kill the enemies, curse upon the enemies’. Some new gospel musicians do come up with songs that accentuate such prayers, and people buy.

“I think we all need to go back and check if we are really Christians. We need to read the Bible again and see if we are singing the mind of God. Some people sing secular and gospel, all because of money. Gospel music is all about singing the mind of God, not about money.

From Solana to Olulana.
“It happened in 1997. The meaning of the name, Solana led us to change to Olulana. Solana signifies allegiance to Oso, (wizardry) In time past, our ancestors did not know Jesus. They knew the gods who they felt were keeping them. Solana means the wizard has paved the way.

“We did not change the name immediately when we became Christians. We prayed and sought to know what is in a name. From the scriptures, we know that there is more in a name. In Africa, names have meanings and influence. We felt we should give honour to God as the one who paved the way.

“We have testimonies to backup our change of name. Before the changed, we experienced failure at the edge of breakthroughs. This was continuous. Whenthe wizards make a way, it has a limit. Wizards can take you to some extent but not all the way.

We began to think seriously about a name change. However, after the change, my husband had a dream where he entered a place and the people rose in loud ovation saying, “It’s you we have been waiting for. Come and take your rightful place.”

"For me too, sometimes in 2003, I found myself in a dream where I was outside a big hall singing. When the people inside the hall heard me, they invited me in and on getting inside the hall, my voice became so stronger and louder that everybody heard me well. It was like something had been keeping down my voice but now people could hear me. God then spoke to me that I had been singing under stress, but now the stress has been removed.

“I think all this had to do with the change of name. God changed Abram to Abraham, Sarai to Sarah, and Jacob to Israel. We need to read the bible to understand things like these.

	"My husband joined the band not because he played any instrument but because he was saved through gospel music and he was looking for a place to serve God.
Interest in music “When I was young, my first contact with music was through the Lijadu Sisters. My brother had their records. However, I would not say I was a great fan of them because music was not really the thing for me. Nevertheless, when I became born again, I found out that I could sing. I would sing in my bath when I was in the Nursing School in Lagos. There was this gospel programme on TV, Pop Gospel that I used to look forward to. “When my dad died in 1980, things changed. I became a member of the Christian Fellowship Group in the Nursing School because his death shook me. In spite of all their counselling, I never got consoled. The only time I felt all right was when I listened to gospel music. I remember telling God that if gospel music means this much to me, let me sing gospel. I promised God that I would use the song to bring people out of their depression. “Eventually, I joined Assurance Voices, then based in Ketu, Lagos. Also in the band then was Karis now of Karis Band who helped me improve on the keyboard. When I began to work as a nurse, I began to find my purpose in the Assurance Band. However, someone jolted me by saying that only bad girls aspire to become musicians. That what was I, a good girl, doing in music? “I went back to God on this but the Lord showed me a portion in the Bible where David said, “I will sing of judgment and mercy. Unto You oh Lord, I will sing my song”. That translated to me that when you sing mercy and judgment, you are singing the gospel. Therefore, it occurred to me that I could use my voice to reach people’s heart. As time went on, I began to know more. “My real vision in music is to praise God and be a communicator of the gospel. My husband and I met in the band. Being in a group could be troublesome. Several times, I was tempted to leave the band but eventually I left for school. "My husband joined the band not because he played any instrument but because he was saved through gospel music and he was looking for a place to serve God. By the time I left, we had already begun our courtship. Both of us came out of the band and we began to think of what to do which crystallized into the Hosanna Band. “My husband is more interested in music than I do. When we came out with the first album, I did not believe that we could do it. I did many things because he told me to do them. At that time, I did not like Yoruba songs. I did not even know the songs we were to record. I only clutched the files in the studios. Many of those who participated in the album were even not born again Christians. Others were members of the Celestial Church. When the song, Kabiyesi O, Hosanna O was released, it became so popular. The song is not original. It was sung in the Anglican Churches. They sing it slowly but we just picked it up, gave it a faster tempo and it became popular. Challenges “The first challenge was getting money to record. The second was reproducing the album. Nevertheless, at each point we encountered miracles. Our first album was launched by Bishop Benson Idahosa, (now late) at the Sheraton Hotel, Lagos. That was a great miracle at that time.

"... God puts food on the table, not any profession. For Christians, our first work is Christianity, representing Christ to all men. When you do that, God will put food on your table. Food is the lowest of all provisions we should expect from God..."

“The other challenges included food on the table. At that time, we were popular but to eat was a problem. To feed the children was hectic. We went to churches to perform and nobody gave you a kobo. I remember going for a two-week programme and the church gave us N10.00! “We had some churches coming to us to say they would sponsor us if we agree to put their names on our sleeves. However, we found out that one of these pastors had an affair with his secretary who had a baby for him. The other one had two wives, saying the Lord had directed him to do so. So, we said it is better we go hungry and go to heaven than get their support and go to hell. “I thank God for His grace. These days, things have changed for the better. Any time we are ready to release an album, God would raise so many people to finance us. People are ready to invest money on our programmes. Food on the table “I will say God puts food on the table, not any profession. For Christians, our first work is Christianity, representing Christ to all men. When you do that, God will put food on your table. Food is the lowest of all provisions we should expect from God. It is unfortunate that some Christians live like people of the world. Many of them have wrong understanding of wealth or prosperity and how to acquire it. They see a property owner or a car owner as successful. “Christians should not live by that standard. We have been able to feed conveniently. The Dollars people go abroad to look for, come to me in my house. A sister told me of how someone took her abroad and how she returned home with a thousand dollar. I was right inside my house when a sister came in and gave me a thousand dollars. The bible says seek the kingdom of God and all other things will be added. “Anytime we travel to the west coast, we go with the entire band and our instruments. Such journey has never been at a loss. That is God. Music has given us the opportunity to go into other areas like children evangelism, literature evangelism, etc. We also give out free bible. Up-coming gospel musicians “I will tell them to make the bible their mirror. Wilderness experience is a thing they cannot escape and during that time, if they truly seek God, their daily bread will not be a problem. It may be tough but the Lord will guide them through the wilderness and when they get to the Promised Land, the plenty will be there. I tell people that if they live a Christian life, it will get to a stage where they will have enough and will like to divert their resources into the kingdom. Experience “Churches treat gospel musicians poorly. I think they do this out of ignorance. However, I will blame the gospel musicians for this because many of us know music and not God. The church leaders know that if a musician refuses to perform in his church, anther one will come. Therefore, they simply overlook us. However, if they know your worth, they will look for you. “It is wrong for the church top allow just anybody to pick the microphone and sing. If churches can train pastors, they should also train ushers, singers, etc. You give them duties and give them allowances. Read about the Levites in the bible, how the Lord fixed salaries for them. Why can’t the church do the same? "The money that comes into the church is not for building mansions but for taking care of the people who work in the vineyard. Church workers should be remunerated. Those who do not want it should return it to the offering bag. Therefore, my experience has been the same like other musicians. However, things are changing. Vision “I have vision to take the band around the world and I know it will be done. Everything has been booked and paid for. I am only waiting to go there and take it, unless I do not have faith to take it. One thing I learned from Jesus is that before He did anything, He gave thanks. Why? Because He knew it was done even when it has not been done. Creativity “I like learning from people, just anybody from a baby to the elderly once I know you have something to offer. On creativity, I tried to study music when I was studying French and now, I plan to study music to master’s degree level. "Even now, I want to do some of my songs again by adding one or two things. I want to be more creative with the sleeves design and I know God will help me. I want to project gospel music from the African perspectives without distorting the message. Recently when we went to perform in Benin Republic, we were in full African costumes to show that we can be African even in our gospel music. But for my husband, I would not have being in music or I would have been limited to the choir. He is keenly interested in music. My husband, is the founder, producer, manager of Dupe Olulana Influence of husband “I know that if not for my husband, I would not have being in music or may be I would have been limited to the choir. He is keenly interested in music. My husband Kola Olulana is the founder, producer, and manager of Dupe Olulana and the Hosanna Band. He is the pillar and the unseen hand. See Kola Olulana Cosmetics "Not that I refuse to apply cosmetics but it is not part of me. I have a CAC background and it is not typical of CAC people to do it. There was a time I made my hair but I hardly have time to keep it well. Therefore, I find it very uncomfortable. It does not add to me. At rapture, they cannot go with me.”

CV Name: Dupe Felicia Olulana. Birth: January 8, 1960. Town: Dad from Ibadan; Mum from Iwo. Education: * Ibadan Grammar School, Ibadan, Oyo State. * Sir Francis Ibiam Girls Secondary School, Afikpo, Ebonyi State -1977. * Nursing School, Lagos. 1978 – 81. * University of Ibadan 83-84. * University of Lagos. Discipline: Nursing, French. Favourites: Colour: Green, cream. Food: Meat pie. I can break my fast because of it. (Laughter) Gospel Musician: Candy Statein; Danny Bell; Andrea Crouch. Song: Olorun mi ni (Gotten from the book of Revelation) Biblical Verse: Seek ye first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness....." Psalm 1 verse 1; Joshua 1:8; Deuteronomy 28: 1-2. Book: I read the gospel regularly. Matrimony: 1984 to Kola Olulana. Contact Address: Hosanna Promotions Ltd, 140, Ikorodu Road, Onipan, Lagos, Nigeria. 2348023033370, 234015550693. Discography: * Jesu Mbo (1987) * Oluseun (1988) * Oba ni Jesu (1989) * Jesus na Correct (1990) * Imela (1991) * Holy Ghost Conga (1992) * I know God (1993) * Onyami Kokroko (1993) * Eru Olorun Bami (1993) * Mon Dieu (Jesus is mine) (1994) * Ques les cieux souvrent (1994) * Heavens Open (1995) * Olorun Mi Ni (1996) * Ja kokoro Ewon (1997) * Baba Ooooo (2002) * Lets talk about Jesus (2003)