The Redeemed Christian Church of God a.k.a RCCG has an enviable array of talents showcased in various sections of the congregation and they don’t come bigger than top singers in the Mass Choir. One of these esteemed musicians is Pastor Dr (Mrs) Beauty Obodo who recently granted City People’s Titilope Oshunlalu an interview.
Can you kindly introduce yourself to those just knowing you newly?
By the grace of God, I am Dr Mrs Beauty Obodo. I am not a Medical Doctor but I have my PhD in Guidance and Counselling. I’m a pure Educationist. And I praise God because he also blessed me with a voice, so I’ve been singing for quite a while. As a matter of fact I started singing as a child. So I sang in various Churches and Choirs. In 2013, maybe I tried to increase my capacity and went into the music world officially .
That was when I released my first album, titled ‘Behold A New Thing’. And in 2014, I decided to do the video of 4 tracks from that album. They are online, on You Tube. After that time, I decided to pause for a while, I did not do much for some years. Of the 4 videos, one of the videos in the first album, a traditional one titled ‘Makpeme’ had a wide reach. It was quite popular and got an award in South Africa. Like I said I took a break due to financial implications and it wasn’t until December 2017 that I decided to work on another album.
The first album had 13 tracks and the producers are Ambassador Wole Oni (WOMP) for Instinct Production and Aforkoghene Ogidi for Malaga studio for the first album titled, ‘Behold A New Thing’ while the second album titled ‘My Hallelujah Praise’ has 3 producers which are Ambassador Wole Oni, AforkogheneOgidi and Mr Brown for Gateway music. This year, I decided to rebrand the first album and make all music available on online stores.
I decided to rebrand because I realized I had so many good works in the album but did not promote them so in other to bring them to the public and since it is not a new album, it has to be rebranded. This I did with the help of Gmusicplus who worked on a new cover for it and we slightly changed the title to ‘A New Thing’. At this time, I had a single which is titled ‘I Thank You Lord’. So we decided to include it into the rebranded work to add new flavour to the album.
The last single which was introduced into the rebranded album titled ‘A New Thing’ was produced by Mr Chika. In 2017, I officially released my second album Titled ‘ My Halleluyah Praise’. It has 11 tracks and we’ve been working on it. I did one of the tracks as video. It’s a traditional one, ‘Enume’. All my videos were produced by ‘OluyinkaDavids of ifocus’. As far as my music life is concerned , I’ve performed in various parts of Nigeria and outside the county. By the grace of God I am the Proprietress of Sagab College and Sagab Montessori School Ikorodu, Lagos State.
Like I said earlier, I’m an Educationist, all my degrees are in Education. I’m married, to a Professor of Medicine and a University Lecturer Prof. John Obodo and our marriage is blessed with 3 sons. I’m a child of God and an ordained Minister of the Redeemed Christian Church of God. A member of the National Mass Choir and blessed to be one of the lead singers. I’m a happy child of God (smiles). God has been helping me to do them well
As a Mother, a Proprietress, Musician, Minister and Lead Singer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God, how do you cope?.
It’s been the grace of God really. The Bible says ‘ For by strength shall no man prevail’, so I cannot say I’m perfect but by the grace of God, I do a great deal of planning. I try to plan my life so while at work, I face my work and as soon as I leave work I face my home. And when I head for rehearsals, I try to concentrate . I forget about home and work. I try not to overcrowd my mind. I give full attention to what I’m doing at a particular point in time. In that way God has helped me so I’m not ruffled. I just ensure I concentrate.. Even while at the Studio I leave other issues outside so I can be at my best. You know one could plan and still not get it but it’s God that has been helping me in all things.
How does it feel to get feedback from your auduence?
Oh! It’s awesome especially when people come up to you and say they were blessed. I feel very privileged to minister to people especially with recognition of God’s work through me both home and abroad. When you sing and people give their lives to Christ, what could give more joy than that? . In June this year, I was privileged to minister in Charlotte, at the Christian Union Annual Convention, North America. I felt really humbled when some brethren came up to tell me how they were blessed and greatly ministered to in the worship. My heart is just filled with gratitude unto God that he has found me useful. I give him all the glory as nobody can share in his glory.
Kindly tell us about your new album?
As I said earlier, It’s not exactly a new album, rather it’s a rebranded one as I discovered there were so many good works in that first album that need promotion. After a few people listened to it and asked why they didn’t get to hear much about the songs in there, I explained my reasons to them and then rebranding was suggested with a few new songs added, then promoted online. This was then put together by Gmusicplus.
You would observe ‘Behold’ was removed and it’s now rebranded ‘A New Thing’ as that’s what it is actually. Then it was ‘Behold a New Thing’ as I was new to the Music industry but it’s ‘A New Thing’ now as I’ve decided to come out with more confidence not as timid as I was when I came up at first. I have better knowledge of the industry and the understanding of how to go about my music in a way that will please God. Though i am not yet there but its better now than then. The cover has been changed and a new song added, so I give glory to God.
When you sing, many feel inspired and this has made you well known among many Attendees of the church. How do you get inspired yourself.
I really can’t say. Most times, while singing I don’t look at the audience but focus on God. I believe if you spend time in God’s presence, he will inspire you. Generally, whatever people see in me is a reflection of what I am in my closet. At times when I don’t spend enough time in God’s presence, I feel the emptiness. I always believe that it is the deep that calls to the deep.
What I don’t have, I cannot give. And I can’t give anything superficially. So if you want people to be touched then you must stay with the God who is able to touch people. Singing is a talent, even the unbeliever sings but there’s a spirit behind the song which is the ministration.Once that spirit is not revealed it becomes empty and is just entertainment . It’s just mere singing and you can’t get that inspiration without the person behind it.
The Bible says that, as we behold his face, we are changed into his likeness and from glory to glory as by the Spirit of the Lord. So as you stay in God’s presence, he rubs off on you. And that’s what people see as you sing. Just like when Moses descended the Mountain and was glowing so much so that the people couldn’t look at his face. They had to ask him to cover his face as they couldn’t behold it. And that comes from dwelling in the presence of the Lord. And that’s how I get my inspiration.
Where do you see your new venture for instance in the next 5 years?
Oh, seriously it’s something I’m looking forward to. I know that my best is yet to come. Though I’ve done Church Choir for a long time, this aspect of me is new. I’m just starting and I see God taking me far beyond my expectations. I’m trusting God that by using me, souls would be saved. Those who are oppressed would be lifted, the captives set free, chains shall be broken. Ordinarily one thinks how do I get to places I’ve never been before but I’m staying on him and i know he will do it. As there’s work to be done. So wherever he has decided to take this ministry I’m ready. I know eyes have not seen, ears haven’t heard neither has it entered into the hearts of men what he has decided to do concerning this Ministry . I may not know, but I know he’s taking me somewhere by his grace.
You know piracy is an issue in the Nigerian Music sector.
Oh piracy! For me it’s not a problem. I’ve registered my music professionally and do other things apart from singing. I desire my music spread far and wide as I want to be a blessing to my generation . By the grace of God, I’m not bothered about piracy
What drives you?
God drives me. I am appreciative of him. You see, I gave my life to Christ when I was so sickly and in hospital. I never knew I will live to see today. I was so sickly, you know like those children they call ‘Ogbanje’. Only for Jesus to come into my life and turned it around. God saved me. The love, the passion to do the will of my father drives me and nobody can stop me. He lifted me from no where. I am so grateful and this is my way of saying thank you. That’s what drives me.
A message to your ever growing fans.
My Fans ( cheerfully). Thank you for always listening to my songs. Encouraging me. Supporting me. Your kind words mean so much to me. Whenever my music is posted online, in a short time, we get so many likes. Thank you so much and I promise to always give out my best as I minister the message of God to you all.I am so glad you are there. I feel happy for all your prayers. Thank you so much and together we shall all make it to our destinations in Jesus name. Amen.
What’s your take on Church Singers expecting to be paid for ministering in the Church.
Singing is a gift and inspiration comes from God. If you aren’t using it for the one who gave it to you , you may lose it. I always try to advise people to have a secondary source of income so as not to depend so much on any earnings from ministering in the church. If you look at it from a financial point of view then the spiritual aspect will not be there and you just go on doing it to entertain and get the money. So there won’t be any difference between you and the worldly Musicians.
At the same time, I recognise God has given you a gift and I still advice churches to bless especially the young ones when they come to minister because you can’t really operate without finance. Some of us are blessed to be able to sponsor ourselves but what of those who can’t?. I will still advise not to make the money the driving force. The money will come when it will. Allow God to advertise you and showcase you to the world. This morning I was reading about Absalom, how he tried everything to just attain but died trying. Probably if he had allowed his father to hand it over to him it would have been glorious, he would have lived. I pray God guide all of us in Jesus name.
Pastor DrMrs Beauty Obodo
Facebook@BeautyObodo
YouTube#BeautyObodo
Instagram@beautyobodo
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