My father, mother and brother were choirmasters in the Anglican Church – Iyke Ume, Banker-turned gospel artist
Daniel Anokwuru
Iyke Ume, from Ezinifite, Aguata, in Anambra State, is not a gospel artist by accident. The passion is in his blood. The graduate of Banking and Finance from Federal Polytechnic Nekede, Owerri, left his bank job to embrace music, as his profession.
According to him, he cannot do without glorifying God through gospel music. His father, mother, and elder brother were all choirmasters in the Anglican Church. He said as a child, he thought that the only profession in life was music, as he was always in the church, almost on a daily basis with his parents during choir practices. As early as age 12, he was already a choir-boy and the band leader of Emmanuel Anglican Church,Eizinifite.
Narrating his journey into gospel music, Iyke told the reporter that he chose music above his bank job because of his love for music.
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He said: “I love music a lot, most especially, gospel music. I started singing from my childhood. I had my first album in the East. I have three albums so far. At age 12, I was already in choir and also the band leader of my church; that was Emmanuel Anglican Church Ezinifite. When I came to Lagos and got work with the bank, I did not abandon my music. Gospel music is the best thing I enjoy in life. I cannot do without it because it is inborn in our blood. My father, mother, and brother were all choirmasters. They were all dancers till their old age. So, we love music so much; even my father said I am the one that inherited him in music. They were all happy when I told them that I wanted to take my music to a higher level. I left the banking job because it was not giving me the time I needed. And in music, I am fulfilled”.
The talented singer said his type of music motivates people and tells them all they need to know in life: “My music motivates people, encourages them, even opening their eyes to understand that life is a mystery. That you do not have something today does not mean that you cannot have it tomorrow. My music is very inspiring. I have trained many people in music, and they are all doing fine. Even my children cannot do without music. They like music a lot.
Iyke noted that they need more encouragement from people and the government to keep the music industry alive. He said a lot of talents are wasting because there is no encouragement.
“Our government is not encouraging the music industry, especially the gospel artists. If the government can encourage musicians, a lot of talents would be groomed. Some private establishments have been trying by way of organising competitions for upcoming artists, but they only focus on hip-hop artists. The gospel artists are totally neglected in this area. People are hustling on their own to make it in life. The industry can yield much money for the government if properly managed,” he said.
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On why the worldly music seems to be overpowering the gospel music, he regretted that the youths of nowadays enjoys immorality and prefer to live a life of crime.
“People don’t sing to praise God any longer. They sing just to make money. The youths now enjoy worldly things a lot, because the devil itself is ruling the world. But one thing I so much love and believe in is that the bible said that every other thing will end here on earth, but music will continue in heaven; that means God Himself loves music. That was why David won his heart through music. But youths of today prefer worldly music to gospel music,” the banker-turned gospel musician reasoned.
Speaking further, Iyk asdvised: “Those who want to choose music as a career should not do that because of money. They need to work hard. It is not by magic; they should not be discouraged. First you must have passion to glorify God. The industry is not like before anymore because of the online platform. People prefer to download the full album for N10 from their system than buying the hard copy. This is one of the major challenges we are facing in the industry. But you must put effort and develop your strategies like others.”
