Evangelist Funmi Aragbaiye, a popular Gospel Musician and the President of Gospel Musician Association of Nigeria, (GOMAN) Worldwide recently celebrated Sixty Six years in a low-key celebration in Ibadan, Nigeria. Tosin Adesile who was there,had an Interview with her. (Excerpts).
How do you feel attaining that age on earth?
I feel thankful to God Almighty, for sparing my life to witness Sixty-Six of age. I started almost Thirty-five years ago. Since I became a celebrity, one has passed through a lot of challenges. I never knew I can be as relevant as now or I will even be alive to see this day. So, I am thanking God for his grace upon my life.
For how long have you been in Gospel Music Industry? How long have you been singing?
Those Evergreen songs you have been hearing, most of them were composed in 1983 when God gave me a vision. He opened my eyes to see what is happening now in Nigeria. I started counting from the time when my first Album was released which was in 1888. Though, I have been singing since early 70s when I was in Ilorin, Kwara state.
As the President of Gospel Musician Association of Nigeria, GOMAN. What has been your achievement so far?
We have been able to change the face of the association since we took over. We started with an elaborate inauguration after that we have held several workshops and seminars. The last one we did, we had it at the National Arts Theatre, Iganmu which featured Youth Empowerment as part of effort for Nation’s development. In fact, the President of Nigeria was ably represented at that occasion.
We have organized prayer for the nation and for security which was held at the Molete Baptist Church and I can tell that a week after the session, kidnapping and banditry subsided in South West. A week to that time or month before that time, we had top people being kidnapped along Akoko, Owo Road, Ilesha and they all stopped. This sign that God answers our prayers and supplications.
At Sixty-six, do you have plans on having any collaboration with any of the young artists, because today there are so many young ones that are not aware of your songs? Are you planning to come out with something different in form of collaboration?
Yes! I am planning to do that if not for the Coronavirus Pandemic which necessitated the lockdown and safety guidelines, I would had done something this year. Probably by God’s grace, next year.
For this year birthday, you have had lots of surprises birthday parties which was low-key and I have the opportunity to be at the one organized by GOMAN. How do you feel to have clocked the ripe age of Sixty-six?
I feel great, happy thankful to Almighty.
Any advice to gospel musicians in Nigeria during this COVID-19 period?
My advice to them is that, they should use this period as an opportunity to compose a new song and get closer to God. You know just we are lock down, you cannot move out, then you should utilize the time to do more beautiful things.
Do you have any Bible verse you want to send out this period?
Isaiah 66, “Arise and shine for light has come…” All upcoming gospel artists should arise and shine. Nigeria should arise and shine even at this period. After lockdown, instead of everybody going down, God will lift all of us up.
