Yinka Ayefele’s Ex- guitarist, Evangelist Kayode Emmanuel has revealed how in his dream God showed him that he would earn a living and serve Him (God) by playing guitar in so many parts of the world and Nigeria.
In an interview with Oodua News Newspaper in Ibadan, the Ogbomoso born versatile guitarist said his journey in the industry started in 1980 after he discovered that he would serve God and earn a living by playing the guitar.
According to him, efforts to fufil the call and hit stardom began after the revelation, adding that the development consequently made him joined Johnson Jokotola aka “J” for Johnson outfit where his career started in 1980.
“I started as a backup and guitarist in the band, in a town, called Oru Ijebu. I spent two years in the band and moved to Ijebu Ode, where I played guitar under Sunny twins music band, form there, I moved to Lagos in 1984, where I also played guitar for Uncle Owo in Shagamu.
“As the journey continued, I moved again to play for M.F Ayinde in Shagamu in 1985, though I was not a permanent member of either band, it was a per time job to earn a living, and from there , I moved to Ijebu Igbo in 1986, where I played for popular Jingo, and where I met with his son, Wale Thompson, we became friends and started playing guitar together. Later we came to Ibadan in 1986, where he started his own Band. The name of the band then was Wale Jingo and his Juju Sounders., the name was later changed to Witty Wale Thompson by Sata Ahmed, a Journalist with Sketch Press Limited in the 80s.”
“I discovered my guitar talent in a dream. In that dream, I heard a voice telling me to dig the ground where I was standing, in the process, I dug two things out, lol and behold, one was a guitar and the other a Bible. And the voice again spoke to me that guitar playing is my profession while the gospel ministry is my calling. I was very young when I had the revelation. That development actually guided my steps until I grew up and went to join my brother, Johnson Jokotola who taught me how to sing and play the guitar at Oru Ijebu.”
Evangelist Emmanuel said he left the music band of Yinka Ayefele in 2014 when God asked him to go and establish his own outfit.
He said: “While in Ayefele’s band, I had very painful and discouraging experiences despite my commitment to the progress of the band. On many occasions, I was denied foreign trips, and many other benefits. I was unperturbed because I know God has something good for me in the future.”
“Yes, in 2014, God told me to go and set up my own band, I immediately quit Yinka Ayefele’s band to obey God. The name of the band is, Kayode Emmanuel and the Pastoral Band, on YouTube, It is called Emmanuel Pastoral Christian Band.”
He said he had on many occasions attempted to establish his own band to sing secular music but it didn’t work out, he later went to join the music band of Micho Ade in 1987.
“Right there, I produced three albums with him, then, God told me to go into ministry work, pastoral to be precisely. so I went to join All Youths Crusade Ministry in 1990. From there I started playing with gospel music Minister like Bola Are, Funmi Aragbaiye, late Evangelist Bayo Adegboyega, late Dr. K.O Akinlade and others before I went to join Yinka Ayefele’s band in November I999 where I played guitar for him for some years.
“While in Ayefele’s band, I helped him composed so many songs, some of them included, Iya to Je Omo Idi lowuro, Mu Mi Kuro Laginju, E korin Eba wa yin Jehovah and many more.
“My Experience in the music industry especially, Yinka Ayefele’s band was discouraging but with patience and grace of God, I was able to surmount them. I had issues like envy, “bad belle”, Jealousy and many other things like but I was unperturbed.
While I was in Yinka Ayefele band, I managed to release three albums, Mu mi Kuro Laginju, My Land of Glory, Congratulobia. And when I finally left his band I did Antique Fame in 2022, and later I did Irun Samsoni Mi (My Nazarite) in July 2024.
According to him, the experience he had gone through in the journey to stardom has made him more stronger with more experience in the industry and ministry.
“In the journey so far, I have learnt so many lessons, especially that of courage and obedience to God Almighty.
