By Bianca Iboma
There is something unique about Psalmist Funmi Enilolobo. She has a lovely voice that is refreshingly different. Aside her passion for gospel music, she equally has a heart to reach out to people.
The leader of Anointed Voices Praise Band has waxed three albums including Gratitude, Praise Him, and Benefactor launched on September 9, 2017. In this interview, she reveals how it all started and how she manages both her teaching profession and musical career.
When did you hear God’s call to be a gospel singer?
I started singing at 13. But in 1989 to be precise, I joined the church choir. I had this urge to sing, so I decided to join the church choir. I discovered my own area of ministry in 2000. I formed a band, Anointed Voices Praise Band. The band is a music ministry, and you know in a ministry, there would be influx of people. People are free to come as they are led and they can go if they want to become solo artistes, once they have the conviction to do so.
Tell us about your little beginning. How did you nurture your dream?
My experience as a gospel musician has been wonderful. I started from the church choir and I was able to discover my area of gifting. As a child, my mum would scold or even smack me when I came back late from music rehearsals. I got into trouble many times but never gave up. I came from a Christian home but my parents complained about the long hours I spent at rehearsals, and my domestic chores suffered. It was later that my mum decided to support me when she saw that I was determined to do music.
I am a teacher by profession but my singing talent is different from my career. I practice as a teacher and have been using the money I get from there to support my singing ministry. I have been able to manage both my teaching profession and singing talent. I have not allowed my teaching profession or singing talent to suffer in anyway. I have been able to affect lives in my own little way.
Initially, when I started music, I was appreciated with words of mouth. But it got to a point that people began to appreciate my talent with material gifts and cash. In all this, I never complained because I am a music minister. I have to bring people to Christ through this means. So, even if I am not given a gift, I have to do my path and allow God have His way. When you work with God, it is grace and one does not need contract renewal before the assignment given to you is accomplished. You don’t need to renew anything. Today, the band has launched three albums – Gratitude, Praise Him, and Benefactor (Olore).
What are the challenges you faced as a recording artiste?
I had hope that as a recording gospel artiste I will flourish. It is God’s will and I believe that a record label would sign me. Finance has also been a constraint but God has been faithful. The band has been able to move from one phase to another despite the challenges.
What have been your pains and gains in the industry?
It’s when you give your best and people do not acknowledge or even notice you. When you go to minister in churches and some give you honorarium and some don’t. Another painful experience was with the marketer. I invested so much money on the album project but at the end of the day a marketer tricked me. I thought of what to do and withdrew the remaining albums from the market only to discover that he had sold more than half of the albums and did not remit any money to me. It was a painful experience but I was able to surmount the situation.
Can you tell us what inspired the album, Benefactor that you launched recently?
The album was packaged to meet the spiritual needs of the believers. Benefactor is an expression of my commitment to praise, exalt, honour, glorify and please God for the opportunity He has given me to minister to people under an atmosphere of anointing, healing and breakthrough.
How have you been able to harness your talents?
My voice is lovely. I love to play the guitar as an instrument but my band members advised that I learn the keyboard instead. I took their advice and Iearnt the keyboard. I can sing and play the keyboard. A great number of women would not want to play keyboard because they see it as a male-dominated instrument. I thank God for the type of husband He gave me. He met me in music and has been a source of inspiration to me. People have different interests; I have been able to learn the keyboard but would like to go back to the guitar.
How easy has it been sticking to gospel music while those in secular music make so much money?
Determination is the word. I am not discouraged because gospel music is my kind of music. Secular music makes much money but I am not ready to change from gospel to secular music no matter the amount of money involved.
As a married woman, how do you cope with male admirers?
As a married woman, I make friends but I am not having an affair. When I am confronted with such situation, I make my stand known that I am married with kids. I protect my home; it is a vow I took so I ensure it is not violated. I am content with my marriage and do not plan to go into extra-marital affairs.