The death of one’s parent can be a devastating blow on any adult, talk more of a child. What happens when the dead parent used to be the bread winner and the surviving parent is not able to meet up with the financial obligations of raising the children? Sunday was about 12 years when his father died. He says, "It was difficult for my mom to cope and I had to fend for myself." Victor was 10 when his mother passed away and he says, "Life was very difficult for me and for my dad to cope." Solomon’s died when he was very young as well. He says, "when my dad was alive, he took care of me since I was the only son in the family. Anything I needed he always give it to me, but he eventually died and I began to see the other side of life, things were so difficult." Damilola’s experience was quite different, He says, "I was raised by my step-mom and she has been so good to me, she actually led to me Christ.
It was through her that I have become what I think I am today. Paul says he, "was rather fortunate to have been born to a family of a reverend, a pastor of a church. I didn’t go through all that struggle."
Talking about the popular Lagos ghetto where they all grew up, Damilola says, "I see Ajegunle as a place full of talent, but a lot of people see it as a place that is very corrupt. The less privileged people live in Ajegunle, as we say, but it is a place that has brought out so many good talents in this country." Solomon says,"Ajegunle is the place where most Nigerians or Lagosians would not ever want to live. But I found out that what God is doing these days is that He is making giants out of nothing. The Bible says that God has chosen the foolish things of this life to confound the wise. Scripture says, "Can anything good come out from Nazareth?" Yes, something good can come out from Ajugunle."
Paul recounts his experience as a ghetto boy in the Ministry,"You go to churches to minister and they look at you with disdain, After blessing their lives, they just leave you and tell you, "Oh, God bless you." Probably you have traveled a long way, and you feel like, "where is this ministry taking us? Are we going anywhere from here?" but I found out that because we have held on to what we believed, I can say that the Lord helped us."
Talking about the unique style of their music, Paul says "What makes our own kind of acapella different, is the style we infuse in it and that is the ghetto style. Sunday says, "I think its good thanking God in the language you understand. When you thank God in broken English, even the ordinary men will understand what you are saying."
The group is ever grateful to God for where He has brought them at this point in their lives. When they sing praises to God, it is from a heart full of gratitude and to the glory of God, and not necessarily to please their listeners. Damilola says, "When praises go up, blessings come down, and that has been my motive as a person. When I give God praise and when I give Him all the glory that is due to Him, then His blessings for my life, His blessings for my family will never cease."
Paul believes that, "When God gives His word, He doesn’t turn back on it, He has brought us out of darkness to show forth His light. In that light which is His presence, there is fullness of joy. If you lack joy, maybe you are passing through so many things, hard times, hold onto Christ, His joy will be your strength, and He will never fail you in Jesus' name."
