Kunle Ajayi is a celebrated saxophonist, music teacher and pastor with the Redeemed Christian Church of God. He shares his humble beginnings in this interview with Eric Dumo
How was childhood, where did you grow up?
I grew up in the Idi-oro, Mushin, area of Lagos and I attended Mushin Town Council Primary School before proceeding to Eko Boys High School. I later went to study Music Education at the College of Education, Ijanikin.
Those days in Mushin, we had several cinemas that we used to visit almost every day of the week. We normally visited most parts of Mushin including the notorious Akala neighbourhood. But by the grace of God, the influence of the community didn’t go down too long on me before He arrested me. I was in secondary school when I gave my life to Jesus Christ.
My childhood was filled with struggles. There was a time I was staying with my mother and stepfather, then later went to live with my uncle. I was the second child of my mother but the first for my father.
There was a time my mother was very ill and I had to go round selling a lot of our belongings to make ends meet. There was a time I hawked cooked yam, soap and even palm oil. It was a very tough period in my life. I had to do all sorts of odd jobs just to survive. It is a period in my life I can never forget.
How were you able to survive in a tough environment like Mushin as a little boy?
Akala area is known for drugs and other sorts of criminal activities but by the grace of God, I was rescued from that environment. My uncle was a regular church goer . He used a free ride to church every Sunday and for me, the thought of riding in a car was a huge attraction I could not resist. So, because of this free ride, I started attending church every Sunday.
Having come from such notorious background and the type of struggles you faced as a boy, did you ever dream of becoming anything big in life?
My biggest ambition at the time was to become a boxer because you know you meet with hooligans on the streets of Mushin and you want to fight them back. So, to be able to fight back, you had to acquire some boxing skills. For me, that was what I wanted to become in life.
Honestly, during that period, I had no idea I was going to end up being a saxophonist. I learnt how to play the saxophone after I gave my life to Jesus.
How old were you when you gave your life to Jesus?
I was 13 years old then, I was only a boy at the time.
So, when exactly did you start playing the saxophone?
I used to visit Fela’s Shrine around Mosalashi in Mushin a lot as a young boy. He would come out with his saxophone and pants and play to the delight of the fans. I fell in love with the way he played the instrument.
Then later, I developed lung problem and I promised God that if He could heal me, I would blow it for Him. I had been ill from age 15 and by the grace of God, I was healed years later and that was how I picked up the saxophone to appreciate God for saving my life.
In essence, are you saying Fela played a major role in you becoming a saxophonist?
Yes, he influenced me a lot and was a major inspiration for me taking up the saxophone. Fela blew the instrument with passion and from the first day I set my eyes on him, I fell in love with him and the saxophone. I am happy I have been able to live that dream through the amazing grace of God.
Apart from the saxophone, which other instruments do you play?
God has blessed me with the gift to play almost all musical instrument. It is a huge gift and I am gratefully for it.
As a young man growing up in such a neighbourhood, what was the experience like with the ladies?
When we were growing up in Mushin, we moved with hard guys who detested the presence of women. If a lady came around us, we would beat her up. That was how much we didn’t like to see ladies around us. It was after I gave my life to Christ that I had to make up with many of those ladies.
When did you decide to do music professionally?
After studying at the College of Education, I had the opportunity to travel out, so I did a number of professional courses on saxophone and music in London. That opportunity opened my eyes and changed my life and I am really grateful to God for that.
You are one of the biggest gospel artistes in Nigeria and Africa today, considering your rough beginnings, how does this make you feel?
I thank God for the experience but for me, I have been overwhelmed by the fact that God could pick someone like me from that notorious part of Lagos and use him for His work. He took me from nothing to something.
When I decided that I was just going to be playing instrumentals, a lot of people went against it. They told me that even people who sang didn’t get patronage. They told me nobody was going to listen to me and that I was crazy.
But to God be the glory, we can see what the Almighty has done through us. It overwhelms and humbles me that God can do anything and use even the most unexpected creature to glorify Himself. We must never despise anyone because only God has the power over every situation.
You must have faced a lot of resistance and rejection while trying to make a name for yourself, tell us about your experience?
A lot of times you’ll take your music to somebody to help you promote and they’ll expect you to give them money which you don’t even have. A lot of times, I had dropped my demo CD with radio stations and recording companies, they’d just ask me to come back. I would go to those places a dozen times and it would still be the same answer. Nothing ever came out of it.
But to God be the glory today, it is even those people that rejected us in the past that are now making frantic effort to get our attention. It is God’s doing and it is marvellous in our eyes.
How did you meet your wife?
She was one of the people I had fought with while moving with hard guys in Mushin. When I gave my life to Christ, I saw her again after some years and I begged her for forgiveness. I took her to church thereafter and we started attending service together. One thing led to another and we ended up as husband and wife.
Initially, she didn’t know my intentions and I also never thought I was going to marry her. I preached Jesus to her but something else caught my attention.
So, what is it in her that caught your attention?
She is a very humble woman and a lover of God. These two traits deeply attracted me to her and I have been so blessed to have her in my life.
How long have you two been married and what has the experience been like?
We have been married since 1988 and it has been an amazing journey. The experience has taught me to be patient, to endure things and appreciate things the more.
In the course of your work, have there been instances where women threw themselves at you?
Of course there have been situations like that but through the grace of God, we have managed to come out unscathed. The Bible tells us to run away from every appearance of evil. God has been faithful to in the face of every tough temptation.
How do you feel being so close to Pastor Adeboye, a highly respected man of God?
I believe God loves me specially and I am humbled to be so loved and close to Papa Adeboye. I don’t take this for granted in any way. For me, it is a privilege that I cherish so much and thank God for every day.
You pastoral work and you are also the Director of Music for the Redeemed Christian Church of God in Nigeria, how easy has it been for you handling such demanding portfolios?
The grace of God has been very sufficient for me. Both roles are interwoven, so there has been no much problem in that regard. Some days I don’t have more than one hour rest because of the number of activities that require my attention and presence.
So, how do your wife and family cope with this?
The good thing is that my wife is also in the ministry, so we are mostly together. Weekends are in fact the busiest period of the week for me, so the time for rest is hardly there. But I manage to balance my role as a servant of God and a husband and father.
Where is your favourite holiday destination?
I love Hawaii, it is my favourite holiday destination.
Why the choice of Hawaii?
I have been to Hawaii once and I really love the place.
What informs your fashion choices?
I love to appear casual. You would hardly catch me appearing in elaborate dress.
Do you have a particular type of car that you are crazy about?
I like any good car that can move very well. But I must confess that I am in love with SUVs, especially four-wheel drives because of the state of Nigerian roads. I really love them.
Is there a particular food that you always love to eat?
Yes, it is Eba and ewedu soup. I can eat that at any time of the day.
What is your assessment of the gospel music industry in Nigeria today?
A lot of people came into gospel music nowadays because of money and not because they love God and really want to magnify Him. That shouldn’t be the aim and focus. There are only few genuine gospel musicians in Nigeria today.
What important lessons has life taught you?
I have learnt to trust in God alone because if you rely on men, they would fail you.
Do you still connect with some of your old friends in Mushin?
Yes, I do but this time, I take the gospel of Jesus Christ to them.
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