In a country as diverse as Nigeria, Christianity holds a significant influence not only in the religious realm but also in shaping popular culture. Nigerian Christians have played a pivotal role in various industries, including music, film, fashion, and entertainment, bringing their faith into the mainstream and impacting society. In this article, we highlight seven influential Nigerian Christians who are shaping pop culture through their talent, creativity, and devotion.
Nathaniel Bassey
Nathaniel Bassey is a renowned gospel artist and worship leader whose music has resonated with millions worldwide. His soul-stirring melodies and heartfelt lyrics have made him a prominent figure in the Nigerian music scene. Bassey’s songs, such as “Imela” and “Onise Iyanu,” have become anthems of worship, inspiring believers and non-believers alike. Through his music, he has created a space where faith intersects with contemporary sounds, shaping the landscape of Nigerian gospel music.
Mike Bamiloye
Mike Bamiloye, founder of Mount Zion Drama Ministry, is a trailblazer in the world of Christian drama and filmmaking. He has produced and directed numerous Christian-themed movies that tackle relevant societal issues while promoting Christian values. Bamiloye’s films, including “The Ultimate Power” and “The Ignition,” have captivated audiences and influenced the narrative of Nigerian cinema. His commitment to using film as a tool for evangelism and entertainment has made a lasting impact on pop culture.
Jerry Eze
Jerry Eze is the Lead Pastor at Streams of Joy International Umuahia, a church poised to have a multi-ethnic membership reaching and crisscrossing all nations of the world. This ministry is truly focused on spreading the word of GOD to as many people as possible.
He experienced a huge rise in his fellowship after the introduction of the New Season Prophetic Prayers and Declaration (NSPPD), a praise, worship and prayer session that streams weekdays on YouTube. If you ever see the catchphrase “What GOD cannot do does not exist,” you have this minister to thank for coming up with that.
Mercy Chinwo
Energetic Mercy Chinwo has badged into the hearts of Christians all over the nation. Her song “Excess worth” is a piece of art that is universally recognized regardless of religion. It has over 80 million views on YouTube, making it one of the most streamed videos in Nigerian music, period. It doesn’t stop there, the number of views for her music video last year “Obinasom” is over on 17 million views and the one for “Chinedum” is at over 25 million views. These numbers are indicative of the kind of influence and admiration she has attained in just five years of professional singing. Prior to releasing her first single in 2015, she had served as a choir girl, matter of fact she served in the choir from the tender age of 8, up until that point. She appeared in the music reality show Nigerian Idol in 2013, season 3 and won. She is also an actress and the recipient of numerous awards including Gospel Artiste of the year at the AFRIMMA Award, 2020.
Funke Felix-Adejumo
Funke Felix-Adejumo goes by many titles including, minister, CEO, mentor, philanthropist and writer.
Under a number of initiatives including Grace Orphanage, Women on the Winning Edge, an initiative to raise confident and strong women who will build godly homes on the virtues of Christian teachings, as well as Another Chance Women Home, a safe space for victims of domestic violence, she continues to work on empowering women and her congregation at large.
She is the founder of the Funke Felix-Adejumo Foundation, her charity organisation and School of Finishing Touches (S.O.F.T.), a programme that prepares young couples for marriage.
Samuel Ogunyooye
In an era where digital platforms dominate the media landscape, there are individuals who not only adapt to change but also spearhead it. Samuel Ogunyooye, a name that has become synonymous with innovation and impact, is a media entrepreneur, pastor, and visionary founder of Cheser Media. He presides over the Glory of God C&S Church Texas.
Ogunyooye made his career debut at the Guardian Newspapers. Being in the editorial department, he started out as a reporter on the features desk and from there, he moved to the political desk and thereafter to the Supplements and Special Projects unit of the Advertising department.
After about close to a decade, he left the journalism terrain and moved to the banking sector. His first port of call in the banking industry was the Corporate Affairs department and Brand Management departments of the Global Bank which later became Intercontinental Bank Plc.
On how he came about the name “Cheser”, he said it is a short form of Cherubim and Seraphim which is also the name of the church he attends. So adding it up with the word media equals ‘Cheser Media’.
He said:” Cheser Media is a brand and a platform from where all our innovations and ideas spring up from. Its mission is to promote the cause and mandate of the Cherubim and Seraphim by giving Seraphs the deserving exposure and to support their cause as it pertains to the church. This aligns with our values which are anchored on discovering and raising musical talents in the church”.
Osinachi Egbu (Sinach)
If you are even a little bit familiar with gospel music in Nigeria then you, no doubt must be have heard the name Sinach.
She has been in the music industry for 3 decades now and some of her most notable songs include ‘I Know Who I Am,’ ‘Great Are you Lord,’ ‘Rejoice,’ ‘He did it Again,’ ‘Precious Jesus,’ and ‘The Name of Jesus.’ Her accomplishment over the years speak volumes but in 2020, this veteran singer hit a new milestone when she became the first African and arguably the first black person to rank at number one on the Christian Songwriters’ category of the USA Billboard, for her song ‘Way Maker.’
She was also listed as a performer at the Dove Awards 2020 where she bagged home, song of the year for Way Maker, and was nominated for both Worship Recorded song and Spanish Language Recorded Song of the Year.
