Obiwon: God asked me to be a gospel singer but the church rejected me

Obiora Obiwon says the church rejected him after switching from secular to gospel music. 

Born Obiora Nwokolobia-Agu, Obiwon was one of Nigeria’s finest R&B singers in the early 20s. He won an avalanche of awards as a secular singer.

But in July 2008, Obiwon revealed he had undergone a spiritual experience and announced a transition into the gospel music genre. His artiste name ‘Obiwon’ was also re-branded to ‘Obiora Obiwon’ to enable him to create a more distinct identity for his brand. He thereafter started to release gospel projects.

Speaking on his transition during a recent interview on the WithChude podcast, Obiwon revealed that “God asked me to give Him my career”.

“That is like one of my best times walking and talking to God. So I was just you know, just looking at the expanse of the sky and I was like, God I didn’t know this was what I was missing,” he said.

“I am enjoying you so much right now and, I could hear him clearly in my heart. Then, why not give me the very thing that I’m asking you for?

“And you know, at that moment, an impression just like a realization really, I’ve not really given all hope because I couldn’t deny at the point that God was asking me to give Him, my career.”

The 47-year-old Enugu-born singer said the transition into gospel music, however, did not go as envisaged, adding that “the church rejected me”.

The ‘Onyinye’ hitmaker said he was not allowed to perform in churches on several occasions because of his secular background.

“I will say my experience has largely been the same. (The church did not accept me) Yes. It is in two parts. First of all, let us talk about the music. Most times, secular artistes who switch to gospel come with a different sound and style that is not the sound you would probably get in church. You either struggle to fit into that gospel music sound which is the current sound of the church or you keep your voice. Or you worship God with the sound that is your style,” he said.

“… secondly, the church is the church. And so, I will make excuses for the church. Like when I was first starting out, I had an experience where the youths of a church wanted to invite me. So they told their pastor, and their pastor was like ‘Obiwon? That Obiwon on my altar? Never’.

“So, you can imagine what that does to your psyche. That rejection. I have had times when I was recommended for something, to come share experience. But when it got to a panel or committee, it was shut down. That ‘we do not want that influence’. Rejection from the tribe that is supposed to be your family.

“But we all have to find our way around it. Find a way to deal with rejection. One thing I know about it is God does not leave you absolutely rejected.”