For Taiwo Oluwagbemiga Akindele, gospel music did not begin with a recording studio, a record label or a carefully written composition. It began in church, in prayer and in moments of personal worship where songs, he says, often came to him spontaneously.

Born on May 6, 1983, in Oshodi, Lagos, Akindele grew up in a strict Christian home where faith, discipline and service were deeply valued. He is an indigene of Ikeji Ile in Osun State, a twin and the only male among six children.

His early education took him through Oshodi Model Primary School, Owoseni Primary School and Oshodi Comprehensive High School, where he completed his secondary education in 2000. Four years later, he gained admission to Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Osun State, where he studied Biochemistry. He later obtained a Postgraduate Diploma in Education in 2013.

Although his professional career took an academic and scientific direction, music remained a constant thread in his life. His journey into music dates back to his childhood choir days, but his active involvement became more pronounced in his teenage years.

In 2000, Akindele became the music director and assistant choir master of his childhood church. The position came with a requirement: whoever occupied it had to be able to play the piano. That requirement pushed him further into music and marked the beginning of a journey that has now spanned decades.

Interestingly, Akindele did not receive formal training before learning some of the instruments he plays. He began playing the drums by watching others and experimenting on his own. In 1998, he started learning the piano by observing his church pianist and practising what he saw.

He wrote his first song in 2000 and it was performed during a church convention, although it was never released as a single. For years, therefore, music remained largely an expression of his faith rather than a professional pursuit.

Akindele said his transition into professionally recording gospel music began about three years ago when he started assembling a team of vocalists and musicians to produce an album.

He attributes the inspiration for his songs to his relationship with God, explaining that many of his compositions emerge during prayer, praise, Bible study or personal worship.

“I have never sat down to compose a song. All the songs I have written came while I was either praying, praising or free-styling during personal worship times,” he said.

To preserve these spontaneous moments of inspiration, he would quickly record the melodies and lyrics with his voice recorder.

A turning point came in 2023 when, according to Akindele, he felt God challenge him about keeping the songs to himself.

“I heard God say to me, ‘Do you think all these songs are meant for you? Bless the body of Christ by releasing them,’” he recalled.

That conviction prompted him to bring together a team of musicians and vocalists for a live recording session. Six songs were eventually recorded, although only two have so far been released.

The first two singles, “Odogwu Ebi Ebi” and “Jesus You’re My Symphony,” introduced his music to a wider audience. His third single, “Baba Mi Juwon Lo,” is scheduled for release on October 1, 2026.

For Akindele, however, gospel music is not simply entertainment. He sees it as a spiritual instrument capable of influencing lives and communicating the message of Scripture.

He describes his music as purely gospel, with the Bible serving as its foundation. His ministry is particularly anchored on Psalm 149:6-9, which speaks about high praises, spiritual authority and the execution of God’s judgment.

He describes his approach as “prophetic praise,” through which he seeks to create an atmosphere for healing, miracles, signs and wonders.

Musically, his sound combines heavy percussion with strings and wind instruments. He believes worship requires both spiritual and physical energy, but insists that it should never become mechanical.

His energetic musical style is therefore deliberate, reflecting his understanding of praise as both a spiritual expression and a declaration.

Despite his growing involvement in the gospel music industry, Akindele says he does not have a specific role model whose musical career he seeks to replicate. He maintains, however, that he deeply respects several prominent gospel ministers.

He is also open to collaborations, although he says such partnerships must be guided by the Holy Spirit.

Akindele believes the internet has fundamentally transformed the music business. According to him, the digital space has become essential to music discovery, distribution and consumption, making strategic online visibility important for any artiste seeking a wider audience.

Yet, while embracing technology, he remains concerned about what he sees as the industry’s increasing emphasis on entertainment at the expense of transformation.

If given the opportunity to change the music industry, he said he would encourage musicians to use their art primarily as a tool for transforming minds, strengthening society and positively influencing young people.

He criticised what he described as the increasing focus on “cruise” and social media trends, particularly content created mainly for TikTok and Instagram, arguing that music should have a deeper purpose.

For gospel musicians, he believes the responsibility is even greater. Music, in his view, should help people genuinely worship God rather than draw attention to the musician.

Akindele points to biblical accounts in which music played a spiritual role, including David’s music calming Saul and the minstrel whose playing preceded Elisha’s prophetic experience.

He therefore urges gospel ministers to become genuine worshippers before attempting to lead others in worship.

Looking ahead, Akindele is less concerned about fame than about usefulness in God’s purpose. He wants to spend the coming years preaching the gospel, counselling, mentoring, singing and contributing to spiritual and social transformation.

He draws an analogy from a building, noting that not every stone is visible to people passing by, but invisible foundation stones remain essential to the structure.

“I just want to be functional and effective in whatever platform God has given me,” he said.

For Akindele, that platform now includes music. What began decades ago with a church piano and childhood choir has evolved into a growing gospel music ministry driven by prayer, Scripture and spontaneous inspiration. With another single set for release in October, he appears determined to use his voice not merely to entertain, but to encourage worship and point listeners back to God.