One hears a riveting prayer in the beginning of ‘Igi Leyin Ogba Mi’ the record by Elijah Daniel. The gospel singer who’s also known as Omo Majemu (which translates to Covenant child) is famed for the bone-chilling effect of his vocals, but that prowess is even more pronounced in this song, a somber admonition of the blessings of God.

The phrase of the chorus translates to ‘my backbone’ and throughout its five-minute runtime, the artist does make good on that claim, stacking glorious praises atop each other, all in Godly service.
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Evocative and measured, the swirl of Elijah Daniel’s vocals produce the core feeling one hears in the record—one of submission and praise, delivered in the riveting poetry of the Yoruba language. For people who grew up in certain geography, mostly Southwestern Nigeria, the vocal style adopted by Daniel here is a familiar one: almost needing nothing but vocals, the lead singer starts off the procession and is joined by several other voices.

Such performance usually elicited the gentle sway of bodies, with closed eyes and one’s spirit open to the humbling presence of God. But Elijah Daniel is a seasoned musician and has brought wonderful talents to co-build his sonic world, meaning there’s an external influence swirling alongside his vocals. That sound is produced by pristine instruments such as the piano and violin, whose role is especially pronounced due to its placement in the record; some minutes after the listener is used to a certain meter—more flesh is brought into the organization.

A Lagos-born indigene of Ogun State, Elijah Daniel’s inclinations toward gospel music began with his mother. She was a chorister and he was always around, learning technique and tone, and now a decade-plus later, he’s risen to become one of the most original voices in the ever-expanding sphere of gospel music.

Like his other records, ‘Igi Leyin Ogba Mi’ showcases a musician attuned to the spiritual demands of the times and moves his sound into those considerations. It’s quite a noble thing for any musician—gospel or otherwise—to do.
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