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| Pastor J.A. Adelakun |
By 'Gbenga Bankole
Nigeria is blessed with gifted gospel singers who over the years have been using God's grace upon their lives to win more souls for Christ and also bring hope to the hopeless. One of such creative and dynamic singers is the President, Ayewa International Gospel Music Ministry (A.K.A. Ayewa International), Pastor Joseph Adebayo Adelakun.
Pastor Adelakun who is the District Superintendent of Christ Apostolic Church, Mercyland District, Akute Lagos, was born on this day 70 years ago.
The name "Ayewa" became an household name in Nigeria due to the powerful and inspirational songs of the music icon.
Pastor Adelakun was born in June 12, 1949 to the family of Alhaji & Mrs. Salami Adelakun. (Hailed from Saki, Oke Ogun, in Oyo State of Nigeria).
In spite of his muslim background, he was a lover of Christ from his youth. He developed great interest in music from his primary school days and spent most of his time playing drums especially at Baptist Church, Oke Ogun, in Saki.
He was brilliant as a young boy and popular in the school as a result of his running skill in sports and had won so many prizes for himself during the school Inter-House-Sports.
Despite series of challenges in his extended family, he proceeded to Ogunpa in Ibadan to study Electrical Engineering at Kareem Electrical Engineering Company with the help of his elder brother, Magistrate Bayo Adelakun. He later joined Nigerian Army in 1968, after his studies at the Electrical Company and was posted to Nigerian Army Barrack - Engineering Construction Regiment (ECR) based in Ede, Oyo State (Now Osun State).
In 1975, his sport ability won him gold Medal in 800m race during Army Sport Week. He was gifted and had great interest for music and sports while in the Army. He was among the first eleven that played Army Engeering League Match in 1970.Pastor Ayewa formally called 'Amusa' met with Christ at Christ Apostolic Church in Ede in 1972 under the ministration of Prophet S.O. Akande (Baba Abiye). He since then dropped alcohol, cigarette and Indian hemp and became a born again Christian.
Pastor Joseph Adelakun (Ayewa) was later transferred in1976 to Kaduna where he became musically active at C.A.C. Kawo where he was a chorister and the chief music composer of the choir. His singing ability led him to gather five people with him to form a band popularly known as 'Ayewa International Gospel Singers today. The name of the band was derived from a song titled 'Akuku ye Wa' meaning 'It shall be well with us' which was rendered as special number in one of the glorious Sunday in C.A.C. Kawo.
He released seven album while in the army during his service as Orderly with Brigadier (D.O.) Ajayi (RTD General) his boss and mentor. He resigned in Nigerian Army at the Command Staff College Jaji, Zaria, Nigeria in 1982 to proceed his musical career.
He joined C.A.C Olaleye - Shomolu in Lagos and became one of the church members and chorister under the leadership of Evangelist D.K. Bankole. He launched one of his record album at C.A.C Olaleye in 1982 where his relationship with Ebenezer Obey Fabiyi (Obey Commander) started.
Pastor Ayewa released his first album titled 'Emi yio kokiki Re' in 1978 with help from Evangelist Bankole who sold his Vespa Motocycle at a give away praise of N 200 to support the band in producing the album.
He remained in Christ Apostolic Church where he was ordained as pastor in 1989. He became Assistant General Superintendent (A.G.S.) in 1999 and today he is the planter of C.A.C Mercy Land District Headquarters, situated at 1/3 Ayewa Street, Ishasi Road, Akute in Ogun State.
Pastor Adelakun had produced more than 30 powerful album to his credit till date. His ninth album titled 'Amona tete maa bo' was the record that brought him to limelight in 1884.
He has since then taken the gospel to all part of the world through singing ministry and had received so many awards till date.. His musical album was formarly distributed by Ogo-Oluwa Kiitan Group led by Pa (Chief) Joseph Ola Afolabi (who took him to London for the first time) and now distributed by Ayewa Gospel Music Ministry International. Today, Pastor Ayewa has a recording studio situated at Akute in Ogun State and he is available every week for ministration. He love righteousness, holiness and truthfulness but hate falseness and lying.
He is married to Mrs. Clara O. Adelakun and blessed with children - Emmanuel, Josiah, Christianah, and Joseph all graduated from the University. His vision is to take the gospel to doorstep of people with the intention of wining their souls for Christ and helping less privileged with his God's given resources. He had sent so many people to school and also cater to orphans and widows.
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