Everyone calls him Atorise. But his real name is Lanre Teriba. He is one of the indigenous Gospel musicians making waves all over the world. He was a Guest on City People TV Instagram Live chat with the Publisher, SEYE KEHINDE, where he revealed a lot about his humble background: he said, he was born and lived at the bar beach for 15 years and also spoke about how God has used him to his the family from chronic poverty. Below are the excerpts of the conversation.
Let me start by asking you how you kept safe in the last 2 months?
As you can see I’m still in my bed. It has not been easy. I’m a gospel artiste and we can only get busy by people inviting us for their shows, churches, calling us for concerts or to their church to perform and performing at naming ceremonies, wedding, burial e.t.c. But to the glory of God, even as the pandemic is going on God has given me the opportunity to open another market for myself by doing a shout-out to lots of powerful people in the country. We do jingles for them, especially for people that are doing their birthdays, celebrating their parents. These people have been asking us for 1min video/audio and they are paying us, and patronizing us. To the glory of God, I’ve been home since the lockdown started and He has been faithful.
How did you feel the first day you heard about Covid-19?
To be candid I first thought it’s one of the rumours out there, but later, I figured it out that it was real. Coronavirus is actually real. When I found out it was real I had to follow all the rules and regulations provided by the government and NCDC.
In the last 2 months have you been able to look back, review your music, and then plan to come with something more powerful?
This period actually made me get closer more to God. My kind of music is globally accepted; it cut across to lots of youths and elders. I’ve been so busy before the pandemic; I go for lots of international and local shows. But this time actually made me to sit back at home and took my time to review everything I’ve done and still doing since I started my musical career. I have realized where I’ve gone wrong and right. And I’ve been working on how I’m going to revive myself, working on my career and talent.
How did you come up with your unique style of worship God, especially when you are about to start any of your stage performance?
To be honest I don’t even know myself. One thing I know is that the Bible says “open your mouth and I will fill it with the Holy Spirit” I never planned to be a musician.
What were your original plans?
I thought I was going to be an accountant because I studied accounting from Federal Polytechnic Offa. My mindset was to start working after graduation. But God’s plan is different from ours.
How do you always plan, prepare when you are going for a show?
I don’t plan. There is one thing about the Holy Spirit. Once you have it you have it. It’s a gift from God, and He’s the only one that can give you that gift. I don’t plan. I don’t even rehearse. All I know is that once I hold the microphone Holy Spirit takes over. There is a big difference between a gifted singer and somebody who studies music.
How do you mean?
David was a gifted musician. A prophet is different from Pastor, why? A Pastor can go to Theological School but Prophet can know everything from Genesis to Revelation through the help of the Holy Spirit, without going to any theological school. Been a gifted musician means you bring the gift from heaven while you can also study music by emulating someone to go to proper music school for the gift. Nobody can say Lanre Teriba sings like somebody but we have many people that sing like Lanre Teriba because Lanre Teriba is a brand. A gifted singer can be called a brand, like King Wasiu Ayinde. Lanre Teriba sings like Lanre Teriba.
How did you discover yourself?
I don’t even know. All I can tell you is that I was once a Kegite when I was in school. Lots of my friends always encouraged me that I sing well. We also have a campus fellowship and whenever I sing, Holy Spirit moves. That was how I discovered myself. Coupled with lots of prophecies; like God said no matter your level of qualification you are going to be my vessel. For you to have a different vision from different prophets you know it’s not a joke. We have sound Prophets in this country. I’ve seen some of them predicted what is happening right now. God is using Coronavirus to pass a message to us that he is God, and I’m sure God will help us. God is angry with the world because we have neglected him. Lots of atrocities are going on that God is not happy with. Many of our leaders are not sincere; they are all working for their pocket. I don’t blame the 1 million boys, it is the situation our leaders put us. They said youths are the leaders of tomorrow. I’m not even seeing tomorrow. There will be a time all these youths will start stoning all these leaders. For every creation, God created for His purpose and if you can’t fulfil that purpose then you have offended God and you have also offended humanity. Let me tell you one thing people don’t know about me today. I am neither a Christian nor Muslim and I am not a herbalist, but I follow Jesus Christ because of the love, for Him to sacrifice Himself for us. I have never condemned any religion but I follow Jesus Christ. I love always preach about love for people, I don’t preach about religion.
How did you adopt Atorise?
My names are Okikiola Afolaoluwabi Bamisaye Michael Akanbi Olanrewaju Teriba. Getting the name Atorise has to do with the family I came out from. I came out from a very poor family. My parents are so poor to the extent that we have once lived at the bar beach for good 15 years. There was no shelter. When I clocked 15 years I still knew that we don’t have anything. My mother came from a royal family but my father came from a very poor family. He was from Isara Remo in Ogun State. I can tell you that I relate better with my father than my mum.
Why the bond?
It got to a point that my father was respecting all of us, his children. He was a very calm man who respects everyone around him to the core. And I learnt a lot of things from him. Going back to my family background; I came from a very poor family but to the glory of God, God has used me to bless my family generally. I remember that time when we are leaving at the bar beach, one thing I learnt from mum, she was a prayer warrior. She derives joy in praying. Her prayer point was God to eradicate poverty in our generation, and to the glory of God today God has really used me to eradicate poverty in my family. I also thank God that today, that I’m one of the vessels He’s using all over the world today. Thinking about where I was coming from, I’m a living testimony.
– SUNDAY ADIGUN
READ ALSO: WHY I HAVE NOT BEEN TOO ACTIVE IN POLITICS – FORMER OGUN GOVERNOR, OGD, TELLS CITY PEOPLE
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