Ace gospel singer, Tope Alabi, talks to Ademola Olonilua about her life on and off stage
You lost your mother this year, how does it make you feel whenever you think about it?
I felt bad about her death. Before she
died, some relatives called me to express their worry about the way she
was breathing; they said she laboured hard before she could breathe.
When I told my husband, he advised me to pay her a visit. When I got
there, I held her hand to pray to God to spare her life for me because
she was a wonderful woman, a prayer warrior, a prophetess and a singer;
the Lord told me that I should leave her hand because she was already
with him. Immediately I had that revelation, I kept her hand on the bed.
About ten minutes after, she died. I am very sure that she has gone to
be with the Lord.
died, some relatives called me to express their worry about the way she
was breathing; they said she laboured hard before she could breathe.
When I told my husband, he advised me to pay her a visit. When I got
there, I held her hand to pray to God to spare her life for me because
she was a wonderful woman, a prayer warrior, a prophetess and a singer;
the Lord told me that I should leave her hand because she was already
with him. Immediately I had that revelation, I kept her hand on the bed.
About ten minutes after, she died. I am very sure that she has gone to
be with the Lord.
You said that your mother was also a singer, was that where you got your talent?
Everybody has a talent of God in them;
she was just someone that loved to sing at home. She did not release any
album. I call her a singer because while growing up as a child, I heard
her sing a lot. My mother never sang professionally and she was not
even a member of the choir.
she was just someone that loved to sing at home. She did not release any
album. I call her a singer because while growing up as a child, I heard
her sing a lot. My mother never sang professionally and she was not
even a member of the choir.
We learnt your mother wanted you to become a reverend sister?
Yes she did and that is because a
prophet told her that I was going to be a minister of God. Being a
Catholic, she believed that the way that could happen was if I became a
reverend sister. They wanted to put me in a convent before she realised
that it was not what God had in store for me.
prophet told her that I was going to be a minister of God. Being a
Catholic, she believed that the way that could happen was if I became a
reverend sister. They wanted to put me in a convent before she realised
that it was not what God had in store for me.
Did you ever face any temptation to be wayward as a result of your humble background?
There were so many temptations but I
thank God for my mother who kept me on the right path. I would like to
advise parents as well to instil discipline into their children so that
they would be able to flee from temptation. My mother did a wonderful
job on me because the fear of what my mother would do to me if I was
caught doing the wrong thing was always there to deter me from doing
anything silly. If at all you tried anything stupid and you got caught,
just consider yourself dead. We need parents to take care of these
children because temptations come in different forms.
thank God for my mother who kept me on the right path. I would like to
advise parents as well to instil discipline into their children so that
they would be able to flee from temptation. My mother did a wonderful
job on me because the fear of what my mother would do to me if I was
caught doing the wrong thing was always there to deter me from doing
anything silly. If at all you tried anything stupid and you got caught,
just consider yourself dead. We need parents to take care of these
children because temptations come in different forms.
There was a time my mother sent me on an
errand around 7.30pm and I was almost ambushed by some boys who wanted
to rape me. Immediately I sighted them, I began to shout because I
remembered my mother’s advice about situations like that. I thank God
because as I began to scream, those boys ran away and that was what
saved me. If it were another girl, they would have had their way with
her. Despite the fact that we were struggling, my mother made sure she
reserved some money for our upkeep like making our hair or buying
necessary things. She did not want a situation whereby a man would tempt
us with money. Young ladies should also determine in their hearts that
they would keep their bodies for their husbands because no man likes a
second hand product.
errand around 7.30pm and I was almost ambushed by some boys who wanted
to rape me. Immediately I sighted them, I began to shout because I
remembered my mother’s advice about situations like that. I thank God
because as I began to scream, those boys ran away and that was what
saved me. If it were another girl, they would have had their way with
her. Despite the fact that we were struggling, my mother made sure she
reserved some money for our upkeep like making our hair or buying
necessary things. She did not want a situation whereby a man would tempt
us with money. Young ladies should also determine in their hearts that
they would keep their bodies for their husbands because no man likes a
second hand product.
How did you fall in love with music?
I have been singing since I was very
small and I joined the choir in Catholic Church when I was about seven
years old. I have been singing for a very long time. My parents used to
tell me while I was growing up that men of God used to tell them that I
would be a minister of God. I discovered my gift when I started
receiving some messages from God whenever I slept and had dreams or
visions. Sometimes in those dreams, I saw myself singing to people at
stadiums. I have been singing for a very long time.
small and I joined the choir in Catholic Church when I was about seven
years old. I have been singing for a very long time. My parents used to
tell me while I was growing up that men of God used to tell them that I
would be a minister of God. I discovered my gift when I started
receiving some messages from God whenever I slept and had dreams or
visions. Sometimes in those dreams, I saw myself singing to people at
stadiums. I have been singing for a very long time.
Then why did you delve into acting at a point in your life?
There is a difference between what you
like and what God wants you to do. I love acting, comedy and anything
that has to do with our culture but God wanted me to be a gospel singer.
That is why I acted for some years, did some MC jobs before I finally
settled for my calling, which is spreading the word of God through my
music.
like and what God wants you to do. I love acting, comedy and anything
that has to do with our culture but God wanted me to be a gospel singer.
That is why I acted for some years, did some MC jobs before I finally
settled for my calling, which is spreading the word of God through my
music.
Now that you are a household name, have you considered going back to acting?
I have several films in the pipeline
that I would like to produce but I don’t have the time to do that. My
calling is so taxing that I do not have the time. Making a movie would
take a lot of my time and I cannot spare any time for that but once I
have the chance to do that, then I could delve into making movies. When I
have the time, I would shoot the movies.
that I would like to produce but I don’t have the time to do that. My
calling is so taxing that I do not have the time. Making a movie would
take a lot of my time and I cannot spare any time for that but once I
have the chance to do that, then I could delve into making movies. When I
have the time, I would shoot the movies.
Because of your tight schedule, how do you find time to rest?
Regardless of my busy schedule, I still
have time to rest. Most of my Mondays to Wednesdays are free and I seize
the opportunity to rest. I try my best to rest because even when God
created the world, he rested on the seventh day.
have time to rest. Most of my Mondays to Wednesdays are free and I seize
the opportunity to rest. I try my best to rest because even when God
created the world, he rested on the seventh day.
Do you ever have your weekends to yourself?
Yes I do, it is not all the weekends that I am busy but it is just that in three months, I may be free for only one weekend.
Your job requires you to attend parties most times, do you get tired of them?
I am not tired of going to parties and
the truth is that there are some parties that the celebrators always
want only gospel singers; it is those kinds of parties that they call
for my services. We have some dead pastors and Christians who were my
fans while alive. I get calls from their relatives to honour them by
coming to perform and I cannot say that I do not have the time.
the truth is that there are some parties that the celebrators always
want only gospel singers; it is those kinds of parties that they call
for my services. We have some dead pastors and Christians who were my
fans while alive. I get calls from their relatives to honour them by
coming to perform and I cannot say that I do not have the time.
What if the party does not require your service?
Yes I attend parties if I have the time.
I have friends that have birthdays and they invite me to be their
guest. I would just sit at a corner and people often come to greet me.
The only thing is that once you go there, the hosts would want me to
perform even if it is just a song or a chorus; that is just the problem.
When they are inviting me for the occasion, they would tell me that I
am just a guest but when I get there, they would approach me to perform
for them. It happens like that.
I have friends that have birthdays and they invite me to be their
guest. I would just sit at a corner and people often come to greet me.
The only thing is that once you go there, the hosts would want me to
perform even if it is just a song or a chorus; that is just the problem.
When they are inviting me for the occasion, they would tell me that I
am just a guest but when I get there, they would approach me to perform
for them. It happens like that.
What do you do to relax when you are not working?
The problem I have with my leisure
moment is that whenever the Holy Spirit knows that I am relaxing, he
comes to tell me some things. He ensures that it is at those times that
he gives me some songs. I am always with my pen and paper anytime I am
relaxing because I know that is when my inspiration would come.
moment is that whenever the Holy Spirit knows that I am relaxing, he
comes to tell me some things. He ensures that it is at those times that
he gives me some songs. I am always with my pen and paper anytime I am
relaxing because I know that is when my inspiration would come.
Does it mean that some of your hit songs came to you while you were relaxing?
Yes it happens like that and some come
to me when I am on stage ministering as well. God works in ways that we
cannot understand.
to me when I am on stage ministering as well. God works in ways that we
cannot understand.
Do you still find time to go to the market?
Yes I do, for instance about three days
ago, I was still in the market. I still cook my husband’s food and if I
would not be at home, I would help him pack and refrigerate it.
ago, I was still in the market. I still cook my husband’s food and if I
would not be at home, I would help him pack and refrigerate it.
What countries do you love to travel to whenever you want to go on vacation?
I like going to America for vacation.
Most time that I visit UK or Dublin, it is for work purposes. I also
work in America but if it requires me staying for two weeks, I add a
week just to use the opportunity to rest.
Most time that I visit UK or Dublin, it is for work purposes. I also
work in America but if it requires me staying for two weeks, I add a
week just to use the opportunity to rest.
Does your husband also sing?
There is none of my album that you would
not hear my husband’s voice. He is a singer and producer but whenever
he features on my songs, he is more like a back-up singer and might just
have a line or two. He does not like singing with me. My first daughter
on the other hand is already showing signs of walking in my footsteps.
She started composing songs when she was in JSS1.
not hear my husband’s voice. He is a singer and producer but whenever
he features on my songs, he is more like a back-up singer and might just
have a line or two. He does not like singing with me. My first daughter
on the other hand is already showing signs of walking in my footsteps.
She started composing songs when she was in JSS1.
You seem to be in love with fashion…
Yes I love looking good. If you want to
introduce Jesus to people, you have to look good. If you want to tell
people that Christ is a good saviour, the first thing they would look at
is your appearance. Also, looking good is good business. My father was a
tailor, so I know what it means when you are putting on a very good
dress. I go to Lagos Island myself to get my fabrics. When I travel out
of Nigeria, I also make sure I buy some fabrics. I have a sewing machine
at home. I know what I want to wear and what fits me. I know the
colours that suit me. Whenever I get my fabrics, God would show me what
style or design to make. From there, I got to know that God is a
fashionable God. I sketch the clothes for my back-up singers and I
explain the sewing to my tailors.
introduce Jesus to people, you have to look good. If you want to tell
people that Christ is a good saviour, the first thing they would look at
is your appearance. Also, looking good is good business. My father was a
tailor, so I know what it means when you are putting on a very good
dress. I go to Lagos Island myself to get my fabrics. When I travel out
of Nigeria, I also make sure I buy some fabrics. I have a sewing machine
at home. I know what I want to wear and what fits me. I know the
colours that suit me. Whenever I get my fabrics, God would show me what
style or design to make. From there, I got to know that God is a
fashionable God. I sketch the clothes for my back-up singers and I
explain the sewing to my tailors.
Does it mean that you sew your clothes?
No, I do not sew my clothes but I do the sketching and cutting of the fabrics.
Are you saying God is your stylist?
Yes, he is and looking good is also part of my ministry.
Do you have any special ritual before going for a performance?
Yes I do. I would also like to sieze
this opportunity to advise my colleagues to have a ritual as well. As
for me, I make sure I pray before any performance, the duration of the
prayer depends on what God dictates. If He says I should pray for ten
hours before a ministration, I would gladly heed His instruction. I
never have a performance without praying first.
this opportunity to advise my colleagues to have a ritual as well. As
for me, I make sure I pray before any performance, the duration of the
prayer depends on what God dictates. If He says I should pray for ten
hours before a ministration, I would gladly heed His instruction. I
never have a performance without praying first.