The sound of contemporary Nigerian gospel music has continued to evolve, with energetic percussion, spontaneous musical expressions and distinctive rhythms becoming an important part of how worship music is experienced by audiences. While vocalists and worship leaders often receive much of the attention, the musicians behind the instruments play an equally important role in shaping these experiences.

Among them is Nigerian drummer and percussionist Oluwaseun Odusina Adekunle, professionally known as Sheytunez, whose work with gospel music ministers has placed him within a growing community of musicians contributing to the sound of contemporary worship.

Born on May 25, 1989, in Lagos, Nigeria, Sheytunez developed an interest in music that eventually became central to his professional and personal identity. Although he studied Computer Science at the Institut Supérieur de Communication et de Gestion (ISCG University), his passion for music led him towards a career built around drumming and percussion.

He describes himself as a spirit and percussion drummer, with an approach that goes beyond maintaining rhythm. In gospel music, where spontaneous worship, praise sessions and extended musical expressions are common, the drummer often plays an important role in determining the direction and intensity of a performance.

This is particularly evident in the contemporary Nigerian gospel sound, where drummers are increasingly required to combine technical precision with creativity, responding to the movements of worship leaders and the atmosphere of live performances.

Sheytunez has played alongside several recognised gospel ministers, including Lawrence Oyor, Sunmisola Agbebi, Blessing Lopez and Ipraiz. His involvement in these musical environments has given him opportunities to contribute to performances shaped by different vocal styles, worship expressions and musical arrangements.

Working with gospel ministers such as Lawrence Oyor is particularly interesting within the context of the changing Nigerian worship music landscape. The growing popularity of spontaneous worship, chant-inspired expressions and energetic praise sessions has created room for instrumentalists who understand how to complement these musical styles.

For drummers, this requires more than technical ability. It involves knowing when to build intensity, when to maintain a steady rhythm and when to create space for the vocal expression to take centre stage. These decisions can significantly influence how a live worship session develops.

Beyond his work with individual ministers, Sheytunez is a core drummer at RCCG Royal Connections London, where he participates in church services, praise sessions and other worship gatherings. His involvement in the London gospel community also reflects the presence of Nigerian gospel musicians contributing their skills to worship environments outside their home country.

His musical interests are not restricted to gospel music. Through his YouTube channel, Sheytunez shares gospel and Afrobeats drum covers, live performances, rehearsal sessions and other musical content. The platform provides an opportunity for audiences, particularly aspiring drummers and musicians, to observe his playing style and engage with his work.

His versatility across gospel and Afrobeats also reflects the increasingly interconnected nature of contemporary African music, where percussion remains an important element across different genres.

Away from the drums, Sheytunez’s background offers another interesting dimension to his story. He attended Obele Community High School in Lagos before proceeding to study Computer Science. He also maintains a connection to his Yoruba heritage, tracing his family roots to Sagamu Local Government Area of Ogun State.

For him, however, music represents more than a professional pursuit. His personal philosophy, expressed in the words, “Music is my life and drumming is my language,” reflects the importance he places on his craft and the role he believes it plays in his spiritual expression.

As gospel music continues to embrace new sounds and performance styles, instrumentalists like Sheytunez remain important contributors to the experience. Their work may sometimes happen away from the spotlight, but the rhythms they create help shape the musical experiences that audiences remember.

Through his collaborations with established gospel ministers, involvement in the UK worship scene and continued development as a percussionist, Sheytunez is building an identity within a musical culture where the drummer is increasingly recognised as an important part of the worship experience.