Come back to gospel music, Asu Ekiye tells Waje

Popular musician, Asu Ekiye has urged singer, Aituaje Aina Vivian Iruobe, better known as Waje to gospel music, following her recent outburst, when she revealed in her recent documentary that she may stop doing music, which generated and still generating myriad of reactions, especially on the social media.

Ekiye in an Instagram post persuaded Waje, saying: “I wish singer to switch to gospel music rather than lamenting over her heartaches in the Nigerian music industry.

“I watched you live talking about your experiences in the music Industry. I felt very touched and seriously constrained to say this to you. While thanking God for your sterling achievement in the world of secular music,

“May I use this medium to let you know that your primary constituency remains the church. I want to officially invite you to come back to gospel music where you started.

“The Holy Spirit awaits your arrival. There is a big space for you in the kingdom. This is where you belong; God is about to use you to another level. God bless,” Ekiye wrote.

Waje had in a 12-minute video, a documentary titled ‘music is not for me’, posted on her YouTube channel and Twitter handle on March 20, said she may quit music due to lack of funds to promote her work, especially her latest Red Velvet.

“Maybe it is fair to give it a rest and try other things. I can’t have released an album after everybody has been shouting Waje your last Album was five years ago, all the people that were shouting, where are they?

“I don’t have money for publicity, Emerald school fee is there. I have ten things laid out for me and every single time it’s always my music that is taking the bulk of the money,” she said.

According to the mother of one, she would rather put her money in other business than invest in music that isn’t helping meet her financial needs. Last year, she released her highly anticipated second album, Red Velvet, five years after her debut album, Words Aren’t Just Enough (W.A.J.E). She was however disappointed by the poor monetary return from the album because people demanded her to release it.

Though born in Akure, Ondo State, Waje moved to Benin City, Edo State, where she attended the Word of Faith Group of Schools and joined the choir. During her stay in the school, she sang gospel tunes to the delight of the late Archbishop Benson Idahosa, founder of Church of God Mission. Impressed by her performance, Idahosa decided to help her throughout her secondary school days.

She then moved to University of Nigeria Nsukka (UNN), where she received a degree in social work. During her school years, she focused on her musical works, performing at school concerts and fellowships.

Earlier, her friend and colleague in the industry, Omawumi Megbele well known as Omawumi, encouraged her not to leave her all alone in the industry.

“My dear friend turned sister, the conversation we had concerning this recent video, we had it in private. But I want to use this medium to tell you I can relate 100 percent. I am thankful for your love and support and being the strong woman that you are. I know you can’t quit nothing! And leave me alone in this industry? Mbanu,” she wrote.