How did you get the name Chioma Jesus?
The name Chioma Jesus came to me as a
divine inspiration from the Holy Spirit. My hit track on my first album
was titled, ‘Chioma,’ which means my good God. I prayed and asked God
for the name of the song and he said I should title it ‘Chioma,’ then
add Jesus to it. That was how the name stuck after the success of the
song.
divine inspiration from the Holy Spirit. My hit track on my first album
was titled, ‘Chioma,’ which means my good God. I prayed and asked God
for the name of the song and he said I should title it ‘Chioma,’ then
add Jesus to it. That was how the name stuck after the success of the
song.
Has it always been your dream to be a singer?
It was never my dream to be a musician.
My goal was just to love and serve God. I was into business when God
called me but it took me some time before I answered the call.
My goal was just to love and serve God. I was into business when God
called me but it took me some time before I answered the call.
What do you mean by God called you?
I was a business woman but during that
time, I had visions where I saw myself singing and churches were
inviting me for ministration.
time, I had visions where I saw myself singing and churches were
inviting me for ministration.
Are you the first musician in your family?
No. I learnt that my father was also a
singer when he was a young man. During their youth meetings in the
village, my father used to entertain his peers through music but it was
not gospel music.
singer when he was a young man. During their youth meetings in the
village, my father used to entertain his peers through music but it was
not gospel music.
Why gospel music?
I chose gospel music because I belong to
that clique. As a born again Christian, I can’t sing highlife or
hip-hop music. I know that by singing gospel music, I am winning souls
to the kingdom of God so I have to propagate the gospel by singing
Christian music.
that clique. As a born again Christian, I can’t sing highlife or
hip-hop music. I know that by singing gospel music, I am winning souls
to the kingdom of God so I have to propagate the gospel by singing
Christian music.
What challenges have you faced in your career?
The challenges have been many and tough
but the grace of God has been with me. When I was about releasing my
first album years ago, there was no money. I prayed and God connected me
to a woman that helped me. After the album was released, people loved
my hit song, ‘Chioma,’ but the marketers squandered my money. I did not
get any royalty from it. The marketers really pirated my songs. The name
became popular and the song was booming but no income, money was not
coming my way. It was a very challenging period, so I had to pray and
seek the face of God.
but the grace of God has been with me. When I was about releasing my
first album years ago, there was no money. I prayed and God connected me
to a woman that helped me. After the album was released, people loved
my hit song, ‘Chioma,’ but the marketers squandered my money. I did not
get any royalty from it. The marketers really pirated my songs. The name
became popular and the song was booming but no income, money was not
coming my way. It was a very challenging period, so I had to pray and
seek the face of God.
When the marketers did not pay your royalty, didn’t you feel like quitting music?
As a human being, I felt like giving up
but whenever I went to God in prayers, He always told me that promotion
does not come from men but from Him, so I should hold on to Him. God
further told me that when His presence and glory abounds by me, men
would look for me and the value of my life and ministry would go high
and that is what I am experiencing today. I thank God that I did not
give up.
but whenever I went to God in prayers, He always told me that promotion
does not come from men but from Him, so I should hold on to Him. God
further told me that when His presence and glory abounds by me, men
would look for me and the value of my life and ministry would go high
and that is what I am experiencing today. I thank God that I did not
give up.
Is it true that you waited for 15 years before you gave birth to your daughter?
Yes it is. I had a son before I gave
birth to my daughter. He is about 22 years old. After him, I had to true
for about 15 years before my daughter came.
birth to my daughter. He is about 22 years old. After him, I had to true
for about 15 years before my daughter came.
All through the time, did you lose hope of having another child?
No, I believed God that other children
would come because in one of my songs, I exalted God and described Him
as the one who gives children. Whenever you try to propagate the gospel
of God, the devil would always want to frustrate you to know if you
believe in what you are saying. So whenever I prayed to God, He always
told me that He would bless me. Back then, I would go out for
inspiration and pray for other women to conceive and it normally came to
pass but I was there waiting until when God’s appointed time came. He
wanted to use me as a testimony.
would come because in one of my songs, I exalted God and described Him
as the one who gives children. Whenever you try to propagate the gospel
of God, the devil would always want to frustrate you to know if you
believe in what you are saying. So whenever I prayed to God, He always
told me that He would bless me. Back then, I would go out for
inspiration and pray for other women to conceive and it normally came to
pass but I was there waiting until when God’s appointed time came. He
wanted to use me as a testimony.
How lucrative is gospel music in Nigeria today?
It is very lucrative and you can see
that most of those singing hip-hop music are switching to gospel songs.
Gospel songs can never fade out. My song ‘Chioma Jesus,’ is about 14
years old but if I go for ministration anywhere and I do not sing that
song, people could go as far as throwing pure water sachet at me. It is
still a very relevant song. But all these hip-hop songs don’t last more
than six months. Gospel songs are so wonderful that you can listen to
them when you are dying, losing hope, depressed, and it would lift up
your spirit. The songs would remind you that God would answer you soon.
Gospel music is very lucrative around the world.
that most of those singing hip-hop music are switching to gospel songs.
Gospel songs can never fade out. My song ‘Chioma Jesus,’ is about 14
years old but if I go for ministration anywhere and I do not sing that
song, people could go as far as throwing pure water sachet at me. It is
still a very relevant song. But all these hip-hop songs don’t last more
than six months. Gospel songs are so wonderful that you can listen to
them when you are dying, losing hope, depressed, and it would lift up
your spirit. The songs would remind you that God would answer you soon.
Gospel music is very lucrative around the world.
Has your career as a gospel singer influenced your style?
Not really. Since I gave my life to
Christ, I have been very conscious of what I wear; that is my lifestyle.
It is not as if somebody preached to me. As you grow older, you decide
on how you want to live your life and how you want to dress. I have been
dressing this way before I became a popular gospel artiste.
Christ, I have been very conscious of what I wear; that is my lifestyle.
It is not as if somebody preached to me. As you grow older, you decide
on how you want to live your life and how you want to dress. I have been
dressing this way before I became a popular gospel artiste.
Is that why you always wear flowing gowns?
Yes. I feel so happy when I wear flowing
gowns. I also believe in the word of God that says a child of God
should dress moderately in a way that would please God and men. As a
gospel artiste, you showcase yourself in a crowd of about 300,000
people, you don’t have to expose your body because people would not pay
attention to the song anymore but your body.
gowns. I also believe in the word of God that says a child of God
should dress moderately in a way that would please God and men. As a
gospel artiste, you showcase yourself in a crowd of about 300,000
people, you don’t have to expose your body because people would not pay
attention to the song anymore but your body.
I have noticed that through my dressing,
I have won so many women to Christ. I have changed so many women’s life
through my style. There was a time I saw a commercial sex worker who
told me she loved how I dress and I should keep it up. She said that
they are trying to be like that. I believe that through my dressing, I
am ministering to people especially women. I learnt that some men tell
their wives that they love the way I dress. My son lived in Asia and got
married. He recently brought his wife home and when he introduced his
wife to me, I noticed that she was wearing a flowing gown. I was curious
so I asked her and she said that she decided to be like me. She said
she took her clothes to the tailor and told them to do flowing gowns
like Chioma Jesus dresses because I am her spiritual mother. I am
touching lives with my dressing. If I am doing something that I know is
changing people’s lives for the better, I have to continue doing it.
I have won so many women to Christ. I have changed so many women’s life
through my style. There was a time I saw a commercial sex worker who
told me she loved how I dress and I should keep it up. She said that
they are trying to be like that. I believe that through my dressing, I
am ministering to people especially women. I learnt that some men tell
their wives that they love the way I dress. My son lived in Asia and got
married. He recently brought his wife home and when he introduced his
wife to me, I noticed that she was wearing a flowing gown. I was curious
so I asked her and she said that she decided to be like me. She said
she took her clothes to the tailor and told them to do flowing gowns
like Chioma Jesus dresses because I am her spiritual mother. I am
touching lives with my dressing. If I am doing something that I know is
changing people’s lives for the better, I have to continue doing it.
You wear a unique hat that has become your trademark. How did you stumble on the hat?
It is not that I love hats. If you are
familiar with my style, you would notice that it is only that particular
hat that I wear. It was the same year I released the ‘Chioma Jesus’
song that I began wearing the hat. Like I said earlier, before I do
anything I pray. I asked God how he would want me to appear; the kind of
headgear I should wear and when I went to the market and saw that hat,
the spirit of God told me to pick it. After my first album, I began to
wear the hat and I noticed that people really loved it. That is how it
became a part of my brand. I looked for the people that made the hat and
I began to buy it. Sometimes I would enter a room without the hat but
people would not recognise me but once I wear the hat, everybody knows
that Chioma Jesus is around.
familiar with my style, you would notice that it is only that particular
hat that I wear. It was the same year I released the ‘Chioma Jesus’
song that I began wearing the hat. Like I said earlier, before I do
anything I pray. I asked God how he would want me to appear; the kind of
headgear I should wear and when I went to the market and saw that hat,
the spirit of God told me to pick it. After my first album, I began to
wear the hat and I noticed that people really loved it. That is how it
became a part of my brand. I looked for the people that made the hat and
I began to buy it. Sometimes I would enter a room without the hat but
people would not recognise me but once I wear the hat, everybody knows
that Chioma Jesus is around.
How many do you own?
I have about 20 different colours of that hat.
It seems you do not like applying make-up on your face…
No I don’t like using it. If I must, it would be a very light one. It is just my lifestyle. I don’t feel comfortable with them.
Also, you hardly wear accessories…
No, I don’t put on those things.
When was the last time you wore a necklace?
I wore necklaces last when I was about
15 years old because my mother loves gold. She always bought gold for me
but when I gave my life to Christ, I decided not to wear those things
again. I don’t wear earrings as well.
15 years old because my mother loves gold. She always bought gold for me
but when I gave my life to Christ, I decided not to wear those things
again. I don’t wear earrings as well.
You seem to have a flare for African fabrics, why?
I am proud to be an African. I try my
best as a gospel artiste to showcase the African style to the world. I
am trying to make Africa proud and also to let people know that we love
our culture as Africans. There was a time I was in Germany and I wore
our African attire. As I was walking into the venue of the programme, I
saw the way the Germans were admiring me. Some even went as far as
touching the cloth. I am so happy that I am an African and I try to
portray the image of Africa abroad.
best as a gospel artiste to showcase the African style to the world. I
am trying to make Africa proud and also to let people know that we love
our culture as Africans. There was a time I was in Germany and I wore
our African attire. As I was walking into the venue of the programme, I
saw the way the Germans were admiring me. Some even went as far as
touching the cloth. I am so happy that I am an African and I try to
portray the image of Africa abroad.
What would you never wear?
I would never wear trousers, spaghetti
tops and gowns. I would never wear anything that would expose my body. I
can never be seen wearing mini-skirt and no one would ever see me
walking half naked on the road.
tops and gowns. I would never wear anything that would expose my body. I
can never be seen wearing mini-skirt and no one would ever see me
walking half naked on the road.
What do you have against trousers?
I am not condemning people that wear
trousers but I am not used to it because I never wore it while growing
up. It would be too late for me to start wearing it now and my fans
would not even like it. Even those that wear it would condemn me when
they see me wearing it now because they know it is not part of my
lifestyle.
trousers but I am not used to it because I never wore it while growing
up. It would be too late for me to start wearing it now and my fans
would not even like it. Even those that wear it would condemn me when
they see me wearing it now because they know it is not part of my
lifestyle.
If you had a chance to alter any part of your body, what would it be?
I would not change any part of my body
and I thank God for how He has made me. Some days back, I saw a
physically challenged lady dancing with her husband on Instagram; it was
her wedding day and she was so happy. She was on the wheelchair while
her husband was dancing next to her.
and I thank God for how He has made me. Some days back, I saw a
physically challenged lady dancing with her husband on Instagram; it was
her wedding day and she was so happy. She was on the wheelchair while
her husband was dancing next to her.
I have two legs, hands, why would I go
to the doctor to change anything? What would I do if I was blind? I have
to thank God for the way He has created me for the Bible says that we
are fearfully and wonderfully made. We are made in the image of God, so
any how you see yourself, you have to thank God and glorify Him.
to the doctor to change anything? What would I do if I was blind? I have
to thank God for the way He has created me for the Bible says that we
are fearfully and wonderfully made. We are made in the image of God, so
any how you see yourself, you have to thank God and glorify Him.
What’s your opinion on skin bleaching and tattoos?
It really irritates me; tattoo is not
from God, it is demonic. You see some women bleach so much that their
skin begins to have different colours. It is not good. You see some
women’s body would shrink before they clock 50; it is because of all the
chemicals they have been applying on their skin. It really irritates me
and I don’t like it.
from God, it is demonic. You see some women bleach so much that their
skin begins to have different colours. It is not good. You see some
women’s body would shrink before they clock 50; it is because of all the
chemicals they have been applying on their skin. It really irritates me
and I don’t like it.