Nigerian gospel singer, Kenny Saint Brown, has launched her first book titled Stop! Turn It Around. The singer, who’s been quiet with music in recent times, says her book is a chronicle of her interesting life. The book was launched at the Oriental Hotel, Lagos with a number of her friends and colleagues in attendance. According to her, readers of her book, especially women, have lots to learn from her life experiences, with secrets of making the most of bad situations and how to move from zero to hero in abundance. The event was attended by family, friends and colleagues of the singer, as well as prominent personalities in and outside the state. In what was definitely a small gathering of great men and women, KSB as she is fondly called was full of thanks and gratitude to everyone who attended. The event started off with a stage choreography by a young act donned in white appearing like an angel, she serenaded guests with a slow performance and it was thrilling. The event, majorly a launch for her first book was made obvious by the Art display of woven threads that covered the pyramid of her books. The veil of threads was designed by M.A Arts, an outfit owned by a talented youth who happens to be a member in the celebrant’s church. KSB followed up immediately on the program with a poem off her book which she titled “Dreams and Challenges”. In KSB’s words, “A dreamer is the landlady of challenges.” Exciting facts about KSB were also revealed by the MC of the event, which interestingly happened to be her longtime friend and music colleague from the days of Kennis music, Essence, you would remember her for her duet with Jaywon entitled “Facebook Love” which was a massive hit the year it dropped and still an evergreen in the industry. Amongst the lots that Essence said about Kenny Saint Brown, she revealed to guests present that KSB was ordained a minister a couple of months ago, this had the guests wowed and excited knowing that the celebrant was not just full of words but had actions to back her portrayed lifestyle. It was a night of love has prominent personalities came out to celebrate with the new author, amongst the guests was KSB’s best friend, Winda Akinbunmi, they have been friends for over 30 years and KSB couldn’t stop talking about her. She at a point revealed the many things Winda had done for her even to the point of furnishing her sitting room when she had not a single pair of chair or seat due to the fact that she couldn’t afford it. The book review was carried out by Mr. RahmanAnikulapo while the chief launcher was AsiwajuOlawale Cole. It would also interest you to know that online guru and entertainment lawyer, OpeBanwo played a huge role in the writing of the book. As revealed by the author, it was OpeBanwo’s idea and constant motivation that birthed the book by KSB. She was full of praise to him. With joy in their heart for KSB, her family came out to celebrate with her, amongst them were Kenny “Keke” Ogungbe, her eldest brother who runs the Kennis Conglomerate, her twin brother, King Shaka, her only sister, Solape and we definitely cannot leave out the Professor in the family, IdowuOgungbe, popularly known as ID On The Street. He was lively and instrumental at the event cracking jokes like the good old days of the popularly street show, ID on The Street. The event also had prominent ministers from KSB’s church and other related ministries present. 3 Lagos state government members were present to represent the Governor, AmbodeAkinwunmi, amongst them was the Special Adviser to the lagos state governor, Mr. KehindeBamigbetan. Beign a true daughter of Ogun State, KSB’s book launch was honoured by the governor of her state, Senator IbikunleAmosun as he sent down his SpeciaalAadviser on Health, Dr. BabafemiAdenuga with a written letter to be read on the stage to celebrate Kenny Saint Brown and her achievements so far. This feat left the celebrant speechless as she was drooling in joy. It was a night of happiness in abundance as the Ogungbe family rejoiced with their sister for her accomplishment. The 3 brothers sure knew how to step out in style as they were accompanied by their wives. One statement that won’t be easily forgotten from the night was the term “Whistle Blowers” as some guests offered undisclosed amounts while joking about the whistle blowing in town. While the event came to an end and guests took their leave, City People’s DANIJI EMMANUEL had a quick chat with the celebrant and author of the new book in town, STOP! TURN IT AROUND and she revealed her challenges and inspiration centered on the new book. Enjoy.
How do feel with the launching of your book today?
I feel fulfilled and achieved. I give all thanks to God.
What inspired you writing this book?
Its challenges, my life has been full of so many challengesand somehow, subconsciously I found out that I overcame them and if I overcame them I had to reflect on how I overcame them. How I came from setbackto comeback. And since I overcame them, it was my responsibility to document how I was able to overcome them and so it was as such and how my life has been mushed up with so many challenges that I wrote the book. If I could overcome all these challenges without sharing the how, then that won’t be fair, even if it is just one person this book saves from terminating his/her life from challenges, I would be fulfilled.
What were some of the challenges you went through?
They are so many, some are in the book. There was a time we had no money, just 1,000naira and my friend and I would go to Sheraton, buy just 1Coca-Cola and collect so much ice and when you buy Coca-Cola in Sheraton, you get complimentary groundnut. People would think we had money but it’s not so. I had challenges of lack of money, financial challenges and so many other challenges. There was the challenge of rejection. You think you are in a clique and when they are celebrating your contemporaries in the clique your name is left out and not mentioned. So many challenges, I can’t start to list them all.
How do you combine been a gospel singer to ministering in churches? What’s the calling?
I would not call it a calling; it was just about my commitment to being a believer. I make extra effort to live what I believe, so, I don’t have to do things or follow certain rules that are against my belief. It is what I choose to believe, to use my music to minister the word of God, preach Jesus in my own fabulous way. I just continued in doing that and if that is called God’s calling then even this book I wrote is God’s calling because it is about inspiring people, motivating people which is called replenishing, be fruitful and multiply. I have been called to replenish them if it is a calling. It’s just that some are more dedicated to the calling. When you are called you may be reluctant, you may be weary, lose interest, lose hope or get frustrated along the line but if it’s God’s calling, you will be in the will of God and the will of God for your life is your Life. So I don’t want to call it a calling, it is my Life and I love what I am doing. It is the life that I love and believe, so it’s a livelihood for me rather than a calling.
You are from a family that is vast in the entertainment industry, how was growing up with this faction for you?
It is who we are, entertainment is who my brothers are, who my sister is, it is who I am. Music was always in the family. We had an uncle who was the only Disc Jockey in our hometown. We used to call him Baba Sabada. We were the custodian of entertainment in my hometown. From my Uncle to Keke, his brother, I and so on, we all just found ourselves in the entertainment industry.
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