One of the major challenges I have gone through was getting married for 7 years without a child - Asu Ekiye

Asu Ekiye

Who is exactly Asu Ekiye? 

Asu Ekiye is an Ijaw from the Niger Delta. Trained as an accountant in the university and later served in a firm of chartered accountants. He gave heed to the call to music ministry after developing music for churches in Port Harcourt for several years.  He is now a musician and businessman resident in Abuja with his family.

Most of your songs are done in your native Ijaw dialect. Why do you choose Ijaw dialect ahead of English?

Yes. I sing predominantly in the languages of the people of the Niger Delta. Namely Ijaw, Urhobo, itsekiri, isoko, kalabari okrika etc.  This is because the melodic and rhythmic configurations of my music are derived from the roots of the Niger Delta. I also have a lot of English-worded lyrics in most of my works. It is just a movement and I am happy I popularized this brand.

Can you go down in memory lane on how you go into music?

Music to me is an ancestral gift. My father sang a lot though ‘amaturely’ and my mother did same too. On my part, I sang in my primary school’s band and later in the university.  But the penchant to achieve musical fulfillment came while I was an active member of the NIFES band in University of Science and Technology in Port-Harcourt. Thereafter, I became active in the choir directing and lo and behold, look at where I am today.

How do you get inspiration for your songs?

Hmmmm. My greatest inspiration comes from God. However, I glean inspiration from social activities, humanity and life, political realities, global factors and the word of God.  It remains an unconscious inflow of inspiration.

How many albums do you have to your credit?

I have 4 albums till date.

Which album or track brought you into international limelight?

The track that brought me into international limelight was the hit track entitled “Woekilemo” from my first album “Back to Base”.

Any award or other forms of recognition?

Channel O Award. Best Gospel. 2003 Channel O Award Best African Gospel 2004

Amen award. Best traditional 2004,  Vigoma award. Best Male Artist 2005, NTA Award, Best African Artist, Decross Award, Most Popular Album, Kingdom Africa Award, Best traditional 2011 and many more.

What is the inherent message of your music?

Praise to God and edification of souls.

What should your fans expect from you as the year is winding down?

A new single titled SEIYO. It is coming out smoking before December.

What challenge have you gone through in life and how did you surmount it?

One of the major challenges I have gone through was getting married for 7 years without a child. That was a real trying time. But with a combination of the word of praise and prayers, God came through on time. And the lesson I learnt from that situation is that our attitude to crisis determines our altitude. Be consistently trustful!

Did you ever think of becoming so popular with gospel music when you started?

No! I never thought there was any popularity in it. I just wanted to serve God with my gift. And thank God, He also had His package for me along that line. God is faithful.

To be successful in life, what do you think are the needed ingredients?

To be successful, one would need a divine calling for a particular line of career, then you must have the passion and enthusiasm for it, and most seriously you must have the discipline to be groomed to the apogee of the call.

How can you compare the Christianity of old with the contemporary one, anything missing?

Contemporary Christianity is a hallmark of the last days. The quality of life for Christians has drastically dropped. Just like the Bible says that in the last days, because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold. I think the value for God has dropped. Godliness has diminished drastically.

What is your position on the growing tradition of indecent dressing that now pervades the Church?

Every form of indecency is condemnable. The watchword from the Bible is modesty. There is no spirit-filled Christian found in any obvious misdemeanor that will be comfortable. There should be a difference between darkness and light.  Let the word of God guide our ways.

Who is a gospel artiste and what can he/she do to portray himself/herself as the role model he/she is in the Christendom?

A gospel musician is a spirit-filled believer who glorifies God in music and uses the instrumentality of music to edify the Body of Christ and proselytize the world. A gospel musician does not seek to be a role model.  He is a model by virtue of his relationship with God. He does not have to seek to be one. He is one by spiritual status. Except he chooses to live contrary to the order of God.