NIGERIAN-born, UK-based gospel and community vocal artiste Oyindamola Ogunlaja is charting a creative path that stretches well beyond the stage; one she hopes will be remembered less for her performances and more for the people she has helped along the way.

“In five years, I want my legacy to be about people, not just performances,” she says. “I want someone to be able to say, ‘thank God I met Oyindamola. She helped me overcome my fears, build my confidence and believe in myself.’

“Whether through singing, mentoring, training or simply encouragement, I want to have made a meaningful difference in people’s lives. And I hope that while I’m impacting others, I will also continue learning and becoming a better artiste and person myself.”

Ogunlaja’s musical journey began in Nigeria in 2001, where she built her vocal foundation through structured choral formations, worship music, and live performances. That grounding shaped the distinctive alto voice and harmonic control she’s known for today.

She gained significant experience in the country’s gospel music community through choirs and groups including the TREM Zone 4 Choir and Passion & Praise, a non-denominational gospel ministry known for its annual The Overflow music and prayer conference.

In 2017, as part of the TREM Zone 4 Choir, she performed in the Bishop Mike Okonkwo Choir Challenge before a judging panel that included respected gospel music professionals Ben Ogbeiwi, Dupe Ige Kachi, and Tim Godfrey. Her performance résumé also includes major worship settings such as the Kingdom Life World Conference, which draws audiences of more than 10,000.

Since relocating to the United Kingdom in 2021, Ogunlaja has continued building her artistic footprint within the UK’s gospel and community music scene. She’s an active member of the RCCG Power Connections Leeds choir and serves as lead vocalist with Encounter Nights Leeds. Her UK portfolio also includes a lead vocalist role with Sound of Jubilee during Night of Answers and Wonders UK, organised by Supernatural Life Church under Pastor Philip Olubakin.

But music is only one strand of her creative identity, as she said: “Beyond music, I’m also an actor, and I enjoy dancing and writing. I write songs, short stories and sometimes short film ideas. Although I haven’t published my written work yet, I have always enjoyed exploring different ways of expressing myself.”

“Over time, I have become more confident about embracing all these sides of my creativity rather than putting myself in one box. For me, creativity is about being curious, learning and finding different ways to tell a story,” she added.

In an era where social media has become a key extension of creative process and practice, Ogunlaja states that: “I use my social media platforms to share different sides of my creativity. I showcase my singing, including gospel and songs from different cultures, as well as my acting.”

“Living in the UK, I particularly enjoy sharing music that keeps people connected to home and culture. I also want my platforms to encourage people, to inspire someone to believe in themselves, explore their talent and realise that they can do more.”

That same instinct to encourage others runs through her offstage work. Through the children’s and teens’ department at RCCG Power Connections Leeds, she supports more than 100 young people with musical guidance, vocal support, and mentoring — helping them to build confidence and develop their voices.

In 2025, her contribution to the creative and entertainment sector was recognised with a BEFFTA Star Award, adding independent recognition to a body of work still very much in motion.

Looking ahead, Ogunlaja’s focus is on deepening her position as a gospel and community vocal artiste in the UK, through live performance, artistic collaboration, and culturally rooted music-making that bridges African gospel traditions with Britain’s multicultural creative landscape.

For her, that mission is bigger than any single stage. “Music has a role beyond performance alone,” her work suggests — one built on cultural expression, community connection, and the quiet, ongoing work of helping others find their own voice.