The transcendence of God shapes the lives of individuals to what He predestined. This is true of Pastor Olakunle Ajayi, the Intercontinental Music Director of the Redeemed Christian Church of God, who settles his desire for education and to be a professional in his field of specialisation.
His journey of 60 years on earth is what Psalmist described as “Many, O Lord my God, are thy wonderful works which thou hast done, and thy thoughts which are to us: they cannot be reckoned up in order unto thee: if I would declare and speak of them, they are more than can be numbered”. Ps.40 vs 5
“I never relent in proclaiming Christ and His wondrous works all over especially in his life. I’m a bundle of testimonies and epitome of greatness because I stand firm on the rock of ages which is the God Almighty”
He never gave up in his effort to attain greater height in life.
There are things that really motivate him to dedicate his life to Christ alone.
”I grew up in the Idi-oro, Mushin, area of Lagos and I attended Mushin Town Council Primary School before proceeding to Eko Boys High School. I later went to study Music Education at the College of Education, Ijanikin.
Those days in Mushin, we had several cinemas that we used to visit almost every day of the week. We normally visited most parts of Mushin including the notorious Akala neighbourhood. But by the grace of God, the influence of the community didn’t go down too long on me before God arrested me. I was in secondary school when I gave my life to Jesus Christ.
My childhood was filled with struggles. There was a time I was staying with my mother and step father, then later went to live with my uncle. I was the second child of my mother.
There was a time my mother was very ill and I had to go round selling a lot of our belongings to make ends meet. There was a time I hawked cooked yam, soap and even palm oil. It was a very tough period in my life. I had to do all sorts of odd jobs just to survive. It is a period in my life I can never forget.
Akala area is known for drugs and other sorts of criminal activities but by the grace of God, I was rescued from that environment. My uncle was a regular church goer. He used a free ride to church every Sunday and for me, the thought of riding in a car was a huge attraction I could not resist. So, because of this free ride, I started attending church every Sunday.
My biggest ambition at the time was to become a boxer because you know you meet with hooligans on the streets of Mushin and you want to fight them back. So, to be able to fight back, you had to acquire some boxing skills. For me, that was what I wanted to become in life.
Honestly, during that period, I had no idea I was going to end up being a saxophonist. I learnt how to play the saxophone after I gave my life to Jesus.
I was 13 years old then, I was only a boy at the time.
I used to visit Fela’s Shrine around Mosalashi in Mushin a lot as a young boy. He would come out with his saxophone and pants and play to the delight of the fans. I fell in love with the way he played the instrument.
Then later, I developed lung problem and I promised God that if He could heal me, I would blow it for Him. I had been ill from age 15 and by the grace of God, I was healed years later and that was how I picked up the saxophone to appreciate God for saving my life.
Yes, he influenced me a lot and was a major inspiration for me taking up the saxophone. Fela blew the instrument with passion and from the first day I set my eyes on him, I fell in love with him and the saxophone. I am happy I have been able to live that dream through the amazing grace of God.
God has blessed me with the gift to play almost all musical instrument. It is a huge gift and I am gratefully for it.
After studying at the College of Education, I had the opportunity to travel out, so I did a number of professional courses on saxophone and music in London. That opportunity opened my eyes and changed my life and I am really grateful to God for that.
I thank God for the experience but for me, I have been overwhelmed by the fact that God could pick someone like me from that notorious part of Lagos and use him for His work. He took me from nothing to something.
When I decided that I was just going to be playing instrumentals, a lot of people went against it. They told me that even people who sang didn’t get patronage. They told me nobody was going to listen to me and that I was crazy.
But to God be the glory, we can see what the Almighty has done through us. It overwhelms and humbles me that God can do anything and use even the most unexpected creature to glorify Himself. We must never despise anyone because only God has the power over every situation.
A lot of times you’ll take your music to somebody to help you promote but all efforts in vain. A lot of times, I had dropped my demo CD with radio stations and recording companies, they’d just ask me to come back. I would go to those places a dozen times and it would still be the same answer. Nothing ever came out of it.
But to God be the glory today, it is even those people that rejected us in the past that are now making frantic effort to get our attention. It is God’s doing and it is marvellous in our eyes.
How do you feel being so close to Pastor Adeboye, a highly respected man of God?
I believe God loves me specially and I am humbled to be so loved and close to Papa and Mama Adeboye. I don’t take this for granted in any way. He is the first person to buy wind instrument, recorder to be precise for me, which kick started my journey to learning of Saxophone. He is my father and Mummy Adeboye is my mother too. For me, it is a privilege that I cherish so much and thank God for every day.
What is your assessment of the gospel music minister in Nigeria today?
Some music ministers came into gospel music nowadays for different reasons not because they love God and really want to magnify Him. That shouldn’t be the aim and focus. There are only few genuine gospel music ministers in Nigeria today.
What important lessons has life taught you?
I have learnt to trust in God alone because if you rely on men, they would fail you.
