Efemuai… Spreading the gospel through songs

Eloho Efemuai (nee Amata) is a gifted singer, songwriter, worship leader and CEO of Heartsong Radio based in Scotland, U.K., where she inspires people through her songs and radio programme. Though she has been singing professionally for seven years, but her music recording career started in 2014 with the album, Arise, and her second album, Unrestrained, in 2016.

Efemuai was born into the Amata family of actors and filmmakers. Little wonder she does her work effortlessly and with panache. She is the last child of Ifoghale and Joy Amata. In 1997, she graduated with a Bachelor’s degree in Languages and Linguistics from Benue State University, Makurdi. She also holds a Master of Science degree in Digital Marketing from the Robert Gordon University, Aberdeen. She is also into charity; she loves to care for people and touch lives in her own little way.

The multiple award-winning songstress, who describes her style of music as contemporary gospel, informs that her older siblings gave her a nickname because of her love for singing.“My siblings named me Singana after the South African musical diva Margaret Singana, the lead singer in the musical Ipi Tombi. I have always loved to sing. I was told that as young as nine months old, I would make music out of anything. If you mentioned a word, I’d turn it into a song. I still do that by the way my kids mention a word in a conversation and I start singing. I really do love music and love to sing. So everywhere I went growing up, I made sure I joined the choir or singing group. I even formed and led groups of my own.”

Efemuai said that life as a gospel artiste is exciting, interesting, challenging but worth it all, adding, “As an ordained pastor, I see myself as a woman on a mission as God has equipped me with different gifts and talents. I remember growing up and wondering what I was called to do. I thought it was just singing because I love to sing. But as a worshipper, everything I do is an act of worship. It has been fulfilling and rewarding.”

“I am passionate about Jesus and inspiring, encouraging, supporting, and bringing out the best in people and seeing them fulfil their purpose. So it’s this passion that is being expressed in my music ministry, my creative arts and media ministry as well as my writing. This passion has also led me to host an annual worship night tagged ‘Engage’ for the past seven years with people like Bob Fitts, Chevelle Franklyn, Muyiwa Olarewaju, Philippa Hanna, Isabella Melodies, Allan Mckinlay, Steph Macleod, Sola Okunuga, D’amadeus and others.”

For Efemuai, the journey has been awesome although not without its own challenges but she said she loves every bit of it: “Seeing lives inspired by my music and everything I do is humbling. Most times when I read messages from fans and friends, it brings a tear to my eye and I am encouraged to do more. My role models in the music industry are Darlene Zcshech, Tasha Cobbs, Cece Winans, Martha Munnizi, Helen Baylor, Whitney Houston and William Mcdowell. Singing is my happy place, according to my 14-year old son. I sing when I am happy. I sing when I am sad. I sing when I don’t need to. I feel strength each time I sing and each time I worship God. Internationally, I would like to work with Tasha Cobbs, if given the opportunity. I’m working on a new single titled My Desire, which will be released soon. I’m also working on other great things to be unveiled later.”

Aside singing Efemuai runs an online gospel radio station known as Heartsong Radio, “I set up an online gospel radio in 2017 and the inspiration behind that is to support and encourage independent gospel artistes as well as inspire people to be all God has destined them to be. The online gospel radio is a tool to help spread the good news and share the love of Jesus. The Nigerian music industry is growing and we can only get better by valuing what we have. I thank my fans for all their support and encouragement through the years.”