Mr and Mrs Kuorire
Gospel singer Kenny Kore n a new interview with Punch newspaper told his beautiful love story, see excerpts below:
How did you meet your wife?
Kenny: We met on a social media platform for Christians, which she founded. It was called Saturday with the Lord.
She was living in the United Kingdom at that time but members of the
forum were all over the globe. The good thing was that we could unite on
the platform and share the scriptures. A friend of ours invited me to
join the platform but I was reluctant because other platforms I
previously joined did not turn out to be what I expected. I eventually
joined because she was persistent.
She was living in the United Kingdom at that time but members of the
forum were all over the globe. The good thing was that we could unite on
the platform and share the scriptures. A friend of ours invited me to
join the platform but I was reluctant because other platforms I
previously joined did not turn out to be what I expected. I eventually
joined because she was persistent.
How did you start interacting with your wife?
Kenny: I had a problem
sometime and posted it on the platform. She and another lady responded
on my personal page, prayed with me and counselled me too. I took
interest in her because I liked her voice. I checked out her profile on
Facebook and realised that she was and still is very pretty. But, I felt
she was very sophisticated and would require ‘high maintenance.’ I felt
I needed to discontinue the friendship, but I sensed the disappointment
when I told her about it. That was when I made up my mind to marry her.
sometime and posted it on the platform. She and another lady responded
on my personal page, prayed with me and counselled me too. I took
interest in her because I liked her voice. I checked out her profile on
Facebook and realised that she was and still is very pretty. But, I felt
she was very sophisticated and would require ‘high maintenance.’ I felt
I needed to discontinue the friendship, but I sensed the disappointment
when I told her about it. That was when I made up my mind to marry her.
Ese: He has a good
sense of humour; he is passionate, friendly and easy to get along with,
so I was disappointed when he said “I was high maintenance’. But I
resolved to continue if it was God’s will.
sense of humour; he is passionate, friendly and easy to get along with,
so I was disappointed when he said “I was high maintenance’. But I
resolved to continue if it was God’s will.
What was the initial attraction?
Kenny: She is a
pragmatic person, down-to-earth and real. It was easy being friends with
her. Her love for God impressed me too. I had come to a point in my
life where I knew what I wanted. I decided to ask her out but she did
not take me seriously initially.
pragmatic person, down-to-earth and real. It was easy being friends with
her. Her love for God impressed me too. I had come to a point in my
life where I knew what I wanted. I decided to ask her out but she did
not take me seriously initially.
How long did you court before you got married?
Kenny: We did not court
for long. I would not advise everyone to do that, but I took a step and
God honoured it. People should get to know the people they want to
marry beyond their outward appearance. It was a dangerous thing for me
to do and she was brave with the decision as well. She was an accountant
and was living in the UK but left all that to relocate to Nigeria in
order to marry a gospel musician. Also, we had to make it quick because
of the distance between us.
for long. I would not advise everyone to do that, but I took a step and
God honoured it. People should get to know the people they want to
marry beyond their outward appearance. It was a dangerous thing for me
to do and she was brave with the decision as well. She was an accountant
and was living in the UK but left all that to relocate to Nigeria in
order to marry a gospel musician. Also, we had to make it quick because
of the distance between us.
When you created the platform, did you expect to find your future husband on it?
Ese: No, I did not. I
wanted to bring people together to study the word of God. It was not a
relationship platform but God blessed me through it.
wanted to bring people together to study the word of God. It was not a
relationship platform but God blessed me through it.
Did you accept his proposal immediately?
Ese: The proposal was
not a romantic one. We even chose the rings together. We had both gotten
to the stage where we knew what we both wanted. I did not want any
test-run to see where the relationship was headed. When he mentioned it
within a month of communication, I accepted although we had yet to meet.
I had to come to Nigeria to spend some time and he visited the UK too.
We got married eleven months after we started communicating.
not a romantic one. We even chose the rings together. We had both gotten
to the stage where we knew what we both wanted. I did not want any
test-run to see where the relationship was headed. When he mentioned it
within a month of communication, I accepted although we had yet to meet.
I had to come to Nigeria to spend some time and he visited the UK too.
We got married eleven months after we started communicating.
Kenny: It could not
have been romantic because I took record of my past relationships and
realised that I had been influenced largely by Hollywood. I had to be
led by scriptures in the right way. I also tried to be very spiritual,
but it did not work. I told God that I would go ahead with anyone I
liked but if it was not His will, He should end the relationship.
have been romantic because I took record of my past relationships and
realised that I had been influenced largely by Hollywood. I had to be
led by scriptures in the right way. I also tried to be very spiritual,
but it did not work. I told God that I would go ahead with anyone I
liked but if it was not His will, He should end the relationship.
Did you eventually hear from God?
Kenny: Yes I did; He
speaks to us through different means. My wife prioritises God over
everything and she is not religious. I had peace when our parents
approved of our decision to get married. We discovered we have shared
values and that I could maintain our relationship within the boundaries
of the scriptures. Those were my confirmations.
speaks to us through different means. My wife prioritises God over
everything and she is not religious. I had peace when our parents
approved of our decision to get married. We discovered we have shared
values and that I could maintain our relationship within the boundaries
of the scriptures. Those were my confirmations.
Did your family members oppose your decision to get married?
Kenny: They had their concerns and it was because of cultural differences. I am Yoruba and my wife is Urhobo. But we overcame it.
Why did you decide to return to Nigeria?
Ese: I was not really
worried about my status or comfort at that time and I trusted that God
would sort it out. When I met my husband for the first time, he was
living in a one-roomed apartment but I did not care about it.
worried about my status or comfort at that time and I trusted that God
would sort it out. When I met my husband for the first time, he was
living in a one-roomed apartment but I did not care about it.
Did you encounter any challenges in the first year of your marriage?
Kenny: We had our
challenges in the first year even though we communicated effectively.
There were times we got to the verge of taking drastic decisions but God
prevented us from doing some things we could term as mundane.
challenges in the first year even though we communicated effectively.
There were times we got to the verge of taking drastic decisions but God
prevented us from doing some things we could term as mundane.
Ese: Some of the
challenges were reduced based on the decisions we took. We decided that I
would not take up a job and it brought us closer. Sometimes, couples
become strangers even when they live in the same house. Also, being
sensitive to the Holy Spirit has helped make our marriage work.
challenges were reduced based on the decisions we took. We decided that I
would not take up a job and it brought us closer. Sometimes, couples
become strangers even when they live in the same house. Also, being
sensitive to the Holy Spirit has helped make our marriage work.
Would you ever take up a paid employment once your kids are grown?
Ese: No, I won’t. I am a confectioner and more so, being a mum is a lot of work in itself.
Have you always wanted to marry an entertainer?
Ese: I never thought
about it, but I knew I never wanted to marry a doctor or a pilot. I
asked God to override my will and choose a husband for me; someone that
loves God more than me.
about it, but I knew I never wanted to marry a doctor or a pilot. I
asked God to override my will and choose a husband for me; someone that
loves God more than me.
How do you feel being married to someone in the spotlight?
Ese: God has given my
husband wisdom with regards to being in the spotlight. Some celebrities
are more worried about the spotlight than their families. We are his
priority. We do most things together and it has been a rewarding
experience thus far.
husband wisdom with regards to being in the spotlight. Some celebrities
are more worried about the spotlight than their families. We are his
priority. We do most things together and it has been a rewarding
experience thus far.
How do you maintain a work-life balance?
Kenny: I am passionate
about music as well as my family. It is not just a career or something
that puts food on my table. It is a way God uses me to communicate his
message to the world and it is my life. I do not treat them as separate
things and my wife loves what I do.
about music as well as my family. It is not just a career or something
that puts food on my table. It is a way God uses me to communicate his
message to the world and it is my life. I do not treat them as separate
things and my wife loves what I do.
What are some of the things you will like to change about each other?
Kenny: When we started,
I wanted to change a lot of things. But, having realised that a man
shoulders most of the responsibilities in a home, I stopped thinking of
what I needed to change about my wife. I realised that I needed to
change a whole lot about myself.
I wanted to change a lot of things. But, having realised that a man
shoulders most of the responsibilities in a home, I stopped thinking of
what I needed to change about my wife. I realised that I needed to
change a whole lot about myself.
Ese: I wish he could remember memorable dates in our lives much better.
How do you spend time as a couple?
Ese: We go out together
always. Sometimes, we just talk or we go to the movies. But, we don’t
do it as regularly as we used to, since we have to spend more time with
our children.
always. Sometimes, we just talk or we go to the movies. But, we don’t
do it as regularly as we used to, since we have to spend more time with
our children.
How can celebrities stay scandal-free?
Kenny: The first thing
is to avoid getting caught or involved in scandalous situations. Some
celebrities become enmeshed in scandals and hope to go scot-free.
is to avoid getting caught or involved in scandalous situations. Some
celebrities become enmeshed in scandals and hope to go scot-free.
What advice do you have for intending couples?
Ese: They should put
God first and trust His decision. They should be realistic about their
expectations from the relationship and with themselves.
God first and trust His decision. They should be realistic about their
expectations from the relationship and with themselves.
What pet names do you call each other?
Kenny: I call her Nkem, which is an Igbo word for mine. It is also prophetic.
Ese: I call him Baby