The Unique 40 Years Story Of The Great Gospel Band, ‘The Ayewa Singers’
What started like a child’s play 40 years ago has today grew to an adulthood. Ayewa International Gospel singers is 40 years and ready to celebrate the goodness of God in the life of the band and the leadership.The unique identity of the group came forth in the year 1976 at Christ Apostolic Church , Kawo, Kaduna.
In 1974, Brother Amusa, as Pastor Joseph Adebayo Adelakun was then called, enrolled in the church choir.
According to him, while still in the Army, he composed some of the church choir songs.
One Sunday after the choir presentation, I rendered a special number titled; ‘A Kuku Yewa,’ and the congregation were fascinated by the song and they encouraged him to form another group within the choir to present special numbers on Sundays. At that time, he was afraid of job duplication because he was still in the military.
But a day came in the church when the Lord spoke to him, he decided to gather some talented singers together to form another singing group from the choir. So, he obeyed and selected five people to be part of the vision.
https://youtu.be/dutFJlo_cUM
The names of the five members that started singing with Pastor Ayewa then are: Brother Mike Olorunponmi, now Pastor, sister Elizabeth Sola Oludare now Evangelist Mrs. Olorunponmi, Brother Roland, the first Organist, Mrs. Ebajemito and Brother Abbey now Pastor Abbey.
By this time, they had not named the group at all, but they just sang and performed in church as the need arose.
Later, Pastor Ore from Kabba in Kogi State anointed the band, when It was obvious that we could not rebel against the church.
The group later met to choose a name for the band so as to avoid calling the group Brother Amusa and co.
Members were given opportunity by the leader Brother Amusa to suggest names and the following names were suggested: Akuku Yewa Singers; Golden Voices; Angelic Voices; Yi O Ye Wa Singers and Ayewa Gospel singers
Immediately somebody heard the fifth name, he quickly added international and called it Ayewa Gospel Singers international.
“They all supported the fifth name but they concluded to re arranged the words. That is why we now have the name of the group as an Ayewa International Gospel Singers till date,” said Pastor Adelakun Ayewa.
He added, “The mystery of the international then did not come to my mind to mean the mission to the world but I believe it was the Holy Spirit speaking through us then. We did not even know that we will produce any album not to talk of going to any country abroad.”
Today, the group has lined up activities to celebrate the 40 years of the uniqueness of God.
Come 7 May 2017 at prestigious 10 Degrees Event Centre in Oregun, Lagos,the General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God, Pastor Enoch Adejare Adeboye will be leading the pack of dignitaries to bless the iconic gospel band.
Also to support the RCCG Worldwide GO are some top Gospel artistes in the land including Nathan Bassey, Ayan Jesu, GOMAN President, Evangelist Funmi Aragbaye, Bola Are, Yinka Ayefele, Ologo Ara among others.
Also confirmed to be present at the event are Evangelist Ebenezer Obey Fabiyi and King Sunny Ade.
Amona Tete Mabo was one of indelible albums of Pastor Ayewa, It was also the album that brought Pastor Adelakun to the limelight.
Almost every record store across the country, every family and even commercial buses, have copies of this album. It was indeed an album of breakthrough for Pastor Adelakun and his band.
“My family and churches were that channels through which we sold our albums then. But when the fullness of time came, the group was brought out to shine by the divine instruction to repeat just an album. People of God especially the gospel musicians should learn from this,” he said.
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