The Jesutofunmi Praise Team are siblings. They include Gbenga Soyemi aka Ariwo Ayo, Taiwo Badmus, Kehinde Badmus aka Blessed Twins and Alaba Badmus aka Ewa Jesu. They are fast rising gospel singers and with about two albums already in the market and the popular Yoruba worship song, Olorun Totobi was written by one of them. These siblings have gone through a lot of difficulties in life but they have not allowed the challenges and storms of life kill their God-given potentials.
The combination of the above names brought about Jesutofunmi Praise Team. They had a chat with pressmen where they opened up on their lives, their travails and why they decide to sing Gospel music.
Below are excerpts from the chat for your reading pleasure.
How did your song Olorun Totobi become so popular?
It takes a lot of patience, dedication, and hard work to reach the top of one’s profession and it is also hard to keep that position. Take, for instance, Soyemi Oluwagbenga known as ARIWO AYO Gospel Singer who has been in the music industry for almost fifteen years. His success has earned for him the title, “ARIWO AYO” and rightly so because he has not relented in his quest to get to the top amongst his contemporaries, he singlehandedly sold five thousand copies of his first Album, MOTI GOKE. He’s the brain behind the popular song OLORUN TOTOBI since 2016, he amassed the inspiration from God to always round up his ministration with the song OLORUN TOTOBI, but unfortunately many people have credited it to themselves as the writers, all glory should be given to God, but what is important here is that if God has inspired you to spread the good news of His Mightiness, you just have to do it with immediate action if not HE will release the information through another source, nearly billion of talented people are in the world who God can use. I remembered I went to a sister that we should collaborate to release Olorun Totobi after some months the husband said they’ve the lead not to collaborate, I believe in God that when my time comes God will prove His Mightiness in my life. I decided to merge the single song Olorun Totobi with my first Album, the popular marketer who took it from me was so busy that he could not even attend to my work until after some months because I’m an up and coming artists. It is very understandable that no marketer would like to take a risk on any upcoming artist but God is greater than the greatest marketer.
What was growing up like for you?
I am from a polygamous family of five branches and you know what it is to have a breakthrough. I fell from a storey-building and I hit my head on the fence before I fell completely on the floor, and it affected my skull and the doctor advised my dad not force me on education so I won’t run gaga, that was the end of my education career. Then I became an apprentice of a fashion design outfit even with force, any cloth you see on me and my twin siblings (Blessed Twins) now were done by myself. Alaba known as Ewa Jesu was the only one amongst us who was a bit educated. she used to sew her cloth herself too, she also became an apprentice of a fashion design outfit when she couldn’t see well when she was in school. The twins are jack of all trades, they built their speakers themselves, they both have experience in carpentry.
This is a perfect reminder that you don’t have to resign to the excuses that have held you back. So what if life hasn’t been fair? What are you going to do about it today? Whatever that may be your predicament; ill health, failed family, failed business, failed education, don’t let it stop you from running your race. You can experience more in life if you’ll get over the excuses and get on with living. You can have reasons or you can have results… but you can’t have both.
My Twins brothers, Alaba and myself are all of the same mother. Our elder brother brought us together to collaborate and we became JESUTOFUNMI PRAISE TEAM which brought about this Album ORUKO JESU. My stage name is ARIWO AYO, the twin’s stage name is BLESSED TWINS while Alaba’s stage name is EWA JESU
Tell us about your mother…
We lost our mother who also happened to be a twin on August 13th 2001 next year will be 20 years since she left. She showed us the way to Christ, hence, our preference for the Gospel music, although the twins are rooted in Juju gospel, Alaba is also multi-talented, we all frequently feature in church programs and most time we are invited to church programs to minister although not as a team, we have our fans too even if we have not penetrated the market.
Our mother suffered a lot just to raise us she was a twin and she had 4 of them Taiwo, Kehinde, Idowu (now late) and Alaba it is unfortunate that she was not here to witness the greatness of the seeds of her womb, we, however, came together to dedicate this album to all mothers.
Are you a band or individual singers?
We’re available to be invited as a team and from now on we will be doing so many things together and we will continue to release album together. Although it does not stop us from releasing our personal band album.
The twins and Alaba have released one album to their credit. I have also released one album too with Olorun Totobi. I have been a guest on several Radio stations and Television stations too. In the gospel music industry, there are several great men and women of quality delivery.
A marketer once told us that for anyone to thrive in this industry you must identify yourself with a unique ability that is when you can excel even if you’ve not hit the market one day your uniqueness will stand out. We are committed to delivering a very quality gospel music that enriches the spirit, soul and body of our followers. Best quality delivery, good representation as ambassadors of Christ, to make it to Heaven at the end and to receive the crown is our priority!
