IF I HAD MY WAY, I WON'T SING GOSPEL

He made his mark in the late 1980s through the 90s, serenading music lovers with his unique voice and rhythm. In 1987, his debut album, Silifa Bamijo was a runaway success. It launched him professionally as a talented and versatile singer/songwriter. Honour and recognition later came when his sophomore effort, 'Buyanga,' garnered the Artiste of the Year and Best Video awards at the Fame Music Awards in 1998. But in spite of his achievements, Bola Abimbola later dumped Nigeria and took up residence in the United States where he released Ara Kenge on the label of Fast Horse Records in 2006.

Now, the dreadlock wearing vocalist cum producer is back in his fatherland, and has since dropped the long awaited praise and worship CD entitled, Free, which features 12 original songs that demonstrate Abimbola's unique ability to adapt genres like gospel, R&B, reggae, African and contemporary pop music into a beautiful fusion of spirit-lifting Christian music. He opens up on his transmutation from secular to gospel music, among other issues. Excerpts:

Why I left Nigeria
Before I left Nigeria, I was not where I supposed to be musically. I was in the world doing secular music. But I believe that the Lord took me away to go and refresh, renew, restore and revive me to be a music minister. So, coming back home and looking at everything that is going on in the industry makes me feel good because if I was to come back home and do the same thing I used to do, then there won't be anything to talk about. Now, I have a new life, a new concept; I see life differently from the way I used to see it and to cap it all, I have a ministry.

Set free
Whoever the Lord sets free is free indeed, and that is why the album is entitled, Free. I am so glad that I am in this new ministry. I didn't just jump into this but I made a leap of faith in 2008 after a long time of disobedience to the Lord. We serve a good God who never stops knocking on your door when He has a mission in your life. I'm thankful that He has forgiven my sins, taking me as His friend and son.

Adaptation of Michael Jackson's song
I had little or no knowledge about doing an adaptation of another artiste's song, I had a producer who supposed to put me through but none of these facts were mentioned to me. I introduced the idea to them; they liked it and encouraged me to do it. The song was released in Britain before Nigeria and it was well accepted. Also, an American artiste, Linda Rustard did an English version of the same song of mine at that time and it was successful. When you talk about the legalities, I had no idea. I was just an artiste on the record label, so I expected them to see me through. I believe my label did some paper work before putting me in the studio to sing.

The call
If I had my way, I would still be in the world singing secular music but this calling has been upon my life since 1998 when the Lord has been knocking on the door of my heart. I was contented because I was making money but God never gave up, I even made a deal with Him and He fulfilled his own part of the bargain by taking me out of the country. The deal was for Him to take me out of Nigeria if He really wanted me to sing His praise. The revelation came from a brother-in-law in America and I didn't believe it. So, I asked the Lord to give me the same revelation and two weeks later, He revealed the same dream to me. I then made a deal with God that if He really wanted me to do this, He should take me out of this country without spending a kobo, and that was exactly what happened. I didn't fulfill my own part when I got to the US. I got carried away and put together a 13-piece African ensemble, and we started performing in the US. We went to different parts of the country and the band was successful and well accepted. I didn't want to stop but as I said, the revelations and dreams started coming again. It came stronger than ever, and so in 2008, I decided to take a leap of faith. Still, I was going to do it my way, one leg in, one leg out but the Lord said no. When I stepped into the ministry fully, the first thing the Lord told me was to put together a multi-cultural praise and worship team, starting from my country, Nigeria.

On my dreadlocks
It came shortly before I took the leap of faith to be a music minister. I just decided not to invest in barbers again. In America, $20 for barbing every week is a lot of money. I decided to plait my hair but it didn't work, then I prayed about spotting dreadlocks, and the Lord granted it.

In bondage
Everything that glitters is not gold. I was in bondage of so many things. The music that I was playing was for the devil and you know our God doesn't share His glory. Then, I was playing to praise people. All my life, I have been a musician and the bondage was in the music arena. I was mingling with the wrong people that were pointing me to the wrong direction in life. I was in bondage of not being a good role model to my children. It's not enough to teach them good morals, I needed to live the life and inspire them to follow my path.

No looking back
Some folks think that I am crazy. Some are not happy with me. But I am not going to impress some people and leave the Lord aside. I'm sure at some point they would rejoice with me that I've found my calling and a new life, and that I am free. I don't have to worry about money, food or somebody else's life; I just have to trust God, believing that He has a plan for my life. That plan is what I'm here to fulfill by His grace. There is no looking back. I had an interview a while ago and was asked if I would do anything other than gospel music. I said if it is something that today's generation would benefit from, if it is the kind of lyrics that make sense, I am ready to work with it, even if it is not gospel but philosophical.

Multicultural band
Right now, what the Lord is asking of me is to put together a multicultural band that would go into the world and fellowship with other Christian musicians. As for becoming a pulpit minister, I haven't heard that from God. Maybe, along the way He might say that but right now what He's saying is: sing my praise.