Daily Independent (Lagos)
2 December 2008
interview
Tayo Bamgbose, an Associate Minister at Redeeming Love Chapel, Satellite Town, Lagos, in this interview with Victor Ebimomi and Ekene Okoro, during the launch of his album, 'Get 2 Heaven,' talks on his resolve to use the universality of music to spread the gospel around the world. He also takes a critical look at the Nigerian music industry, declaring that integrity and character are germane to its growth. Excerpts:
How did your sojourn in the music industry actually commence?
This is my first album, and I've been into the gospel scene for 18 years now. Interestingly enough, this is my first album, quite all right. But it was first released in 2003 and then I did an underground release of another album in 2007. But it was felt, particularly by my pastor and some other people that the album had not really been given the publicity that it really deserved, so this is actually a re-release. That is why it is branded 're-loaded.'
The album is entitled Get 2 Heaven, why?
The truth is that everyone wants to get to heaven. The issue is that you don't have to die before you can get to heaven, Jesus said something in John chapter four that none can see God at any time except through the son of God who is in heaven. Yet while he was saying this, he was physically speaking with Nicodemus. Now that means that, he was on earth and also in heaven at the same time. In the book of revelation, we also find Apostle John in the revelation that he received that "behold in the lord's days I was in the spirit and I saw a throne in heaven." This guy was a man. He was physically on earth yet he was able to see heaven. I believe very strongly that God's perfect plan for my life and your life is before him in heaven. If we can all get a glimpse of what he has written for us in heaven, there is nothing we face on earth that will defeat us or bring us under.
What message does the album intend to pass across to the audience?
Live your life on earth with constant touch with heaven. Basically, you're like a person who is always making reference to his vision. For as long as the vision is clear before you, you're always making reference to your vision, your goal will always be within reach, many people live their lives confused, without any vision in life. And even if they have a vision, many of them, on account of the things they have faced have forgotten the vision. So, they don't know where they are going and they get confused along the way. If every student in the university keeps the vision of why he gained admission into the university, will never fail, will never join a cult gang, and will never move around with bad groups.
You've been in the music ministry for 18 years, how would you assess the music industry in Nigeria?
Presently, the Nigerian music industry is booming. There is a lot of respect for musicians now than it has ever been in this country. There was a time that there was little or no respect for musicians in this country. But I feel also that to a certain degree, this respect is not being optimally utilised, in the sense that if people now respect you and look up to you as a role model, that means you should have a sense of accountability and live a life that would be exemplary as well. So, that's the setting that exists now. Coming into the music industry means that there is a leadership responsibility that is placed on every musician. So, now coming out, I believe that in the 18 years I've spent in the music industry, what God had actually been doing was that he was cooking me and developing me for the work. I believe very strongly that there is need for integrity and character in the industry and I believe that this would be injecting character, focus, light and vision and most especially bring Christ to the fore.
You are not the first or the last gospel artiste, what's your unique selling point?
Well, basically Tayo Bamgbose has received a clear message from God, on assignment from God and clearly following that assignment. Now that assignment will distinguish him anywhere in the world because Tayo Bamgbose is not trying to look like anybody, he's not trying to sound like anybody; he's just focused on the work. Now the extent to which God will glorify and magnify the work is in his hands, but my job is to just focus on what he has given to me and be faithful in doing it. Once am faithful, am in order and people would know that what am doing is original.
What impact would your music have on your target audience?
The light of Christ would enter into your heart, you would enjoy the melody, but you would be catching the message and the message would always be fresh in your mind. You'll be singing the melody because it's sweet and pleasant to your soul, but your heart would always keep reaching for the message. And the more you hear the message, the more your heart opens up. My objective actually is the obedience of Christ that anyone that hears this work will see how Christ was obedient to the father. And then they would be obedient to God wherever they are; you become obedient to Christ in your home. So, imagine what happens when a family hears it, the husband hears it, overwhelmed with the presence of Christ and obeys Christ. And in obeying Christ he loves his wife; the wife obeying Christ, she submits to her husband; in the children obeying Christ, obey their parents, there would be peace in that home. At work, the employer hears this and he obeys Christ and in dealing with his employees in such a way that he realises that even though they are serving him, he is also a servant of God as well. So, he is not all and all, he has a higher boss he is reporting to. Also if the employees hear the song and the obedience of God, takes over their hearts and they would be faithful. So the kingdom of God would be expanding because it would have an impact of God on your heart. It's my own way of spreading the message. In short, the best way to spread the message is to do that which God has enabled to do.
What should we be expecting from Tayo Bamgbose in the nearest future?
The truth of the matter is that I believe very strongly that music influences people in a lot of ways and a lot of people listen to music. They don't dance very often but they listen to music a lot. So, what has happened is that God has put a lot of sweet songs in my heart and the songs that he puts in my heart is not a matter of picking a pen and paper, writing a song. They are really revelations, revelations in the sense that the Lord gives me an understanding in a certain area. I was going through something and the lord then gave me a song in the midst of what was going through. I find encouragement and strength through the song and by the time came out of that situation, that song remains with me. So when I face another circumstance in future, that song lifts me to the level at which I would be able to overcome.
So, I have several songs like that and am just trusting God for direction to bring them out. I won't be surprised that next year another album is released. I just hope it wouldn't affect this one now. For crying out loud, there is so much that needs to go out, because there is so much junk out there and all that darkness requires to light to abstain.
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