Most Gospel Singers Today Don’t See Themselves As Ministers – Evangelist Michael Ogunlade

Barrister and Evangelist Michael Ogunlade popularly known as Kakaki Jesu is one the few gospel ministers who believe that singing gospel music is beyond holding a microphone, moving from one pulpit or the other and show of fame rather, a means of evangelizing; to win souls to the kingdom of God with both character and comportment. In this exclusive chat with Golden Heritage News, he narrated his growing up in a ‘’Getto’’ yet with fear of God and his aspiration to become a minister whose song would be to liberate lives and deliver souls from the kingdom of hell. Excerpt;

LET’S GET TO KNOW YOU, SIR, WHAT CAN YOU SAY ABOUT YOUR BACKGROUND?

Firstly, I am Barrister and Evangelist Michael Ogunlade, popularly known as KAKAKIJESU. I was born and brought up in Ajegunle, Apapa, and a native of Oyo state in Oke-ogun Kommu town precisely. I had my first education background in Ogunlade primary school in mile 2, close to Apapa and finally proceeded to Lagos State University (LASU); where I read law and by His grace today, I am a practicing lawyer and as well a Gospel Artiste.

TALKING ABOUT BEING BROUGHT UP IN AJEGUNLE, HOW WILL YOU DESCRIBE LIVING IN AJEGUNLE KNOWING FULLY WELL WHAT IS GOING ON THERE AND HOW DO YOU BECOME A CHILD OF GOD LIVING IN SUCH AN ENVIRONMENT?

Ajegunle is a peaceful area but I will consider the aspect of being brought up there. Our different families determine who we are and there in Ajegunle, there is a popular saying “United States of Africa” and in other words, we say the united states of Ajegunle. There are many celebrities that were brought up in Ajegunle to some extent, Ajegunle is being recognized as a Ghetto. Like I said earlier, we had the Grace of God, we came out from Ajegunle not as touts not as the way people are seeing it when you call yourself or name any tag with Ajegunle.

I will tell you, don’t be afraid of that area, or see that area as a violent area. By the Grace of God, we were brought up there and we had an encounter with Christ even from childhood and today we are who we are by the Grace of God.

“When we are talking about Gospel songs, we are the gospel, because we are the Good News of Christ”

LET’S TALK ABOUT YOU GROWING UP IN GOD SIR, HOW DID YOU ENCOUNTER GOD?

To God be the Glory, I was born and brought up in a Christian family even my father is a great man of God but we started knowing Christ when I had an encounter one faithful day in which the Lord ministered to me myself directly. Although, I thought being born and brought up in a Christian family was all until I had an encounter with Christ myself.

AS A PRACTICING LAWYER AND GOSPEL MUSICIAN, HOW DO YOU MANAGE THE TWO PROFESIONS TOGETHER AND HOW DID YOU GET THE INSPIRATION OF BECOMING A GOSPEL ARTISTE?

Yes! I had that grace, in fact, from age 12, I was a chorister and there was a day when our vocalist or let me say our CM was not around. I was seeing myself as someone who cannot even do it but that day, I just tried doing what I have not done before and ever since then God has started inspiring me till date.

Seeing someone as a role model does not mean if the person is falling, then you also have to fall.

SIR, HOW DO YOU GET THE INSPIRATION BEHIND YOUR SONGS?

I get that inspiration firstly as I said that every day I ministered in church, on my way back home I started hearing strange voices. I will be hearing someone singing in my ears, then I started noting them thereafter. There was a time we were looking at a specific program and I said I can compose a song for the upcoming program which I have never done before. And by His Grace, God really helped me and ever since then, inspiration has been coming and even in school some times; I will be reading, and I will be having that divine composition from God.

Before recording stuff, I move with Pen anywhere I go so whenever the inspiration comes, I will just pick up my pen and start writing something.

LET’S TALK ABOUT DECADENCE IN GOSPEL MUSIC TODAY; GOING BACK TO THE DAYS OF OLD WHEN MINISTERS MINISTER IN SONG, YOU SEE THE POWER OF GOD AT WORK. HOW WILL YOU COMPARE THE SONGS IN THOSE DAYS AND WHAT WE HAVE TODAY?

This is a wonderful question sir, like our Bible says, Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever. I do tell people because we have been in a program where they started asking us that, it seems there are no more inspirational songs in Gospel but I said No! When we are talking about Gospel songs, we are the gospel, because we are the Good News of Christ, therefore, we should know who we are.

I do tell people that if you see that gospel song beyond holding microphone and singing good music, knowing who you are in Christ, in fact, then you will realize you are also a minister.

Most Gospel singers today don’t see themselves as ministers of God. Your lifestyle will determine what kind of inspirational song that will come from you and sincerely I do tell people that gospel song remains like that of before since Jesus has never changed.

Though, we have Gospel artists that believe mixing with the worldly singers is when they can have their inspiration. That’s part of where we have been getting it wrong. I still stand firm in saying if you know yourself as a Gospel singer, you will stand firm as His minister, and definitely if you abide in Christ, he would be your Syllabus and your Mirror and there is no how you will be in Christ and won’t produce the Lord’s mind.

OKAY SIR, WHAT ARE YOUR CONCERNS ABOUT THE MUSIC MINISTER OR GOSPEL ARTISTE THAT CAN’T BE PROJECTED AS A CHILD OF GOD? WHAT’S YOUR CONCERN ABOUT THIS SIR?

Thank you, sir, the bible even said ” By their fruits, ye shall know them.” Not all about title sir, anyone can just come up and claim a title in this industry but if Christ is in someone, you don’t need to say you have Christ in you. Meanwhile, we are looking at some people that are supposed to be our role models today and people are falling through them because they are seeing them as their mentors and what they are producing is taking people out of Christ; but we are not surprised because it has been like that from the beginning.

whenever we are listening to Gospel songs, we should listen to the message, not the melody alone

If you are in Christ, it will determine all you do. Seeing someone as a role model does not mean if the person is falling, then you also have to fall.

THAT WILL LEAD ME TO THIS QUESTION SIR; WHO IS YOUR ROLE MODEL IN THIS GOSPEL MUSIC INDUSTRY?

I have so many of them but by mentioning today on social media people might say they have not heard about these people. But I will tell; they started well and most of them are still alive even if they are not famous, they are doing well. God recognizes them and they are still producing something that brings comfort to people that are not even current about their songs or have the opportunity to hear them. For instance, the likes of our Baba Ayewa, Baba Agboyega, and our Father Telemi Orokoya. They are all men and ministers of gospel through songs.

WHERE DO YOU SEE YOUR CAREER IN THE GOSPEL MUSIC INDUSTRY FIVE YEARS FROM NOW SIR?

By the Grace of God, In fact, five years is much sir in the next two years I am looking beyond the limit because, by His grace, we have been in this industry for about 11 to 12 years. I told God to take us to our destination in two years ago from now, I am seeing myself flying beyond the limit for this gospel mission.

WHAT IS YOUR WORD OF ADVICE TO PEOPLE WHO PREFER THE GYRATION HIGH LIFE STUFF TO GOSPEL SONGS ESPECIALLY IN CHURCHES TODAY?

On this, I will start my response on the melody of music and the inspiration. When I am talking about the melody of music even aside from gospel music sir, there are some people, my listeners today prefer that melody in music even if it is not bringing anything out. When we are in church, we should know we are in the presence of God, and any Gospel music that is coming to you should bring comfort and relief to life.

There was a day we were in a program and we were deliberating; that it seems we are in a live show of musical jamboree, as if they are into “circular music.” It’s so disappointing. But today, I will advise all my listeners that whenever we are listening to Gospel songs, we should listen to the message, not the melody alone, and we should be sure that the message is CHRIST in any song that is coming out to us. I will advise us that we should not deviate because of any melody coming up. Although, melody is part of what we call music, it is the combination of what we call music but when we are listening to the melody we should equally know that the message is what Christ is having for us in any song we are listening to either in church or any program.

 LET’S BRIEFLY TALK ABOUT YOUR RECENT ALBUM, WHAT IS THE INSPIRATION BEHIND THIS ALBUM SIR?

Yes, the inspiration behind this album came to me when I was riding a bike. I did this as a job for more than five to six years before going back to a higher institution. Now that day, according to the title “MY JOY HAS COME” In Yoruba language, AYOMIDE”. Then I was in a very deep sorrow, very deep sorrow! and that even inspires part of the track that says:

           ” Mogbo ohun oluwa to   

            So fun mi pe

       Odun ayo lodun yi ti mowa

 Osu ayo losu yi ti mowa oo

Baba gba aso iya Lara mi

Ayomide, Ayomide

Ki gbogbbo eniyan bami yo”.

I heard that voice directly when I was even working as a bike man; ‘do you know God can take you and give you a total transformation beyond this level you are operating? I compose it according to the directive and it manifested today based on that inspiration, I composed one of the tracks that say “MO BERU” and the one that followed, “I ADORE YOU LORD” because you can turn any situation, any bad situation to a memorable situation and unforgettable one which God in his infinite mercy has done that for me as a testimony today.

 ONE OF THE TRACKS IN THE ALBUM SAYS ” MO BERU”, CAN YOU EXPLAIN WHAT BROUGHT ABOUT THE TRACK MO BERU BRIEFLY SIR?

Thank you, sir, according to the previous question, that’s part of what inspired me. Like I said this album was released first in the year 2006.

We went to the studio, even though the track MO BERU was not part of the track then and we met with a marketer that said she was interested in the job as at then, it was the time of Audio cassettes nothing like Video CDs in 2006.

The marketer said she is interested in the job and we doubted it; thinking it is the normal, usual thing every marketer will say. Along the line, I said wow if God has a promise for someone, the promise will surely be fulfilled. I recomposed this new track saying God I am afraid of you!

Based on that experience, which we did not even prepare for attracted us to say God you are worthy of every Glory.