Gospel singer PELUMI SEUN COKER, whose stage name is PELUMI MORANUGBA, speaks with GBENRO ADESINA, about her divine calling, music ministry, marriage, social media relationship, family, struggles, and passion for winning souls for Christ. The Excerpt:
Q: Who is Pelumi Moranugba?
A: While my stage name is Pelumi Moranugba, my real and official name is Pelumi Seun Coker. I am a native of Erijiyan-Ekiti in Ekiti State, where I was born and raised. I had both my primary and secondary education in Erijiyan. I also attended Fabotas College of Health Sciences and Technology, Ado-Ekiti, where I studied Dental Health Technology.
Q: Tell us about your family.
A: My parents are Pastor and Pastor Mrs. Seweje.
Q: What is your position in the family?
A: I am the last child in the family. My parents have six children.
Q: Which month were you born?
A: My mother said I was born on September 24, 1990.
Q: Being the last child in the family, how has that impacted your life?
A: I was pampered.
Q: At what point did you realise that music is your calling?
A: My mother is a church founder, and I was a member of the choir in her church. I sang, led praise and worship, and rendered special songs. At that time, I did not know that music would become my vocation. I was simply doing it for God. At a point, I started composing Christian songs. When I told my mother about this gift, she advised me that whenever the inspiration came, I should write the song down. After my secondary education, I left my parents and started living on my own. At that time, gaining admission into a higher institution was my priority. We were brought up in a prayerful and spiritual home, and we often went to the mountains to pray. During that period, messages started coming to me that I had a calling and needed to yield to it. At the time, my ambition was to study Medicine and Surgery and become a medical doctor. I took the JAMB examination several times but did not achieve the required score to study medicine. This made me consider nursing. I eventually gained admission to ECWA School of Nursing, Egbe, in Kwara State. However, after my first year, I was weeded out. Before I was weeded out, there had been prophecies that my failure to go into Christian music ministry would prevent me from succeeding in life. I did not take them seriously. I continued with my education until I was eventually weeded out of the school of nursing. That was how I left the school. I became frustrated and started thinking about what to do next. There was an annual programme in Erio-Ekiti, usually held every June. In 2012, I attended the programme with my mother. While there, I prayed and asked God what He wanted me to do. Most of the songs I had composed earlier were suitable for the accordion. This made me develop a strong passion for the accordion as a musical instrument and for songs that could be played with it. While on the mountain, I asked God for a sign. I told Him that if He truly wanted me to become a music minister, He should make it possible for me to release an album that year. At the time, I was also learning desktop publishing. While on the mountain, I had a vision in which I saw myself standing on the altar where the ministers sat. I saw Mama Bola Are pointing at me and telling me that if I refused to sing the song God had asked me to sing, He would raise someone else to sing it. That touched me deeply. I told God that if this was what He wanted me to do, I must release an album that year. The next challenge was how to raise money for the production of the album. I went to my mother and pleaded with her to give me money, telling her that even if she had to borrow, she should find the money for me to produce my first album. She gave me the money, which I used to produce my first album, titled Iberu Olorun.
Q: What inspired you to sing Eran Idin?
A: My inspiration comes from God. God uses anything and everything to inspire me. Even during a discussion like this, the Lord can minister to me and give me a song. There was a day I was walking through our neighbourhood and, when I got to the house of a very wealthy man, I was told that he had died. His house was very big, a mansion, but he was known to be a very stingy man. A week after his death, the house was deserted. Nobody lived there anymore. His children were also wealthy, so they were not bothered about the wealth their father had left behind. They abandoned the house and many of the things he had left behind. This made me think about the vanity of the world. I thought about how we and the things we have will eventually end up as maggots. That reminded me of something my father used to say when he was alive. Whenever we went to the farm and gathered mushrooms, my mother would ask us to wash them thoroughly and make sure that the maggots attached to them were removed. My father would then say that both the mushrooms and we human beings are worms. That was what inspired the song. A pastor later invited me to the Republic of Benin to sing the song in his church. I have been to the country three times to sing it at church programmes. Whenever I hold the microphone, the first song the pastor wants me to sing is Eran Idin.
Q: Your mother is a clergywoman. What was your father’s profession?
A: He was a surveyor.
Q: What impact did your father have on you?
A: My father and I were close, although not as close as my mother and I. God called my mother, not my father. My father seemed to have an inferiority complex. Some men do not like their wives being more successful than they are, and when that happens, they may not be happy about it. Again, my father had died before I started my ministry. He died in 2010, so he was not privileged to witness or become connected to my ministry. That is why I keep mentioning my mother.
Q: What are your hobbies?
A: Singing. I only want to mention singing.
Q: Is there any notable singer from whom you learnt how to sing?
A: Not at all. When I started my music career, I discovered from the outset that I had songs that were suited to the accordion. When I discovered this, I went to someone who was skilled in playing the instrument, but I did not stay there for long. So, I cannot really say that anyone mentored me. God is my mentor.
Q: Who are your role models among notable gospel singers?
A: I look up to all gospel singers who sing to minister and not merely to entertain people.
Q: Which singers do you particularly enjoy listening to?
A: I enjoy listening to the likes of Baba Ojo Ade, Baba Niyi Adedokun, Daniel Aregbesola from Ondo State, and Mama Bola Are.
Q: When did you learn to play the accordion?
A: I didn’t learn it.
Q: How did you learn to play the accordion?
A: After my second album, which was produced in 2013, I shot a video. I used the money I made from it to buy an accordion. The moment I bought it, I started practising by myself. When you have an instrument, it becomes easier to learn to play it through regular practice. I did not learn from anybody; I trained myself.
Q: Your style of singing is similar to that of Ojo Ade. How did you arrive at this style?
A: It was not deliberate. I am a very fragile person, and being the last child in the family, I was also pampered. I do not have the strength for strenuous work. I became an accordionist because I discovered that this is what God wants me to be.
Q: Is Moranugba your husband’s name?
A: No.
Q: Are you married?
A: Yes, I am married. God gave me Moranugba. He told me that as long as I continue to listen to Him, I will continue to enjoy His mercy. My personal name is Oluwapelumi, and I added Moranugba to my name.
Q: When did you get married?
A: I got married in 2016.
Q: Is your husband from Ekiti?
A: No. He is an Egba man. He is from the Coker family.
Q: Has he ever taken you home?
A: No.
Q: How did you meet him?
A: We met on Facebook in 2015. He chatted me up, and we started talking. He was an actor at the time, but he no longer acts. At the time, they wanted to produce a film titled Ife Akoko (First Love), and he invited me to sing the soundtrack for the film. When we met, I went through the storyline of the movie. I told him that it would not be difficult for me to compose a soundtrack for it, but I did not receive any instruction from God to produce a soundtrack. We ended it there. However, we continued relating with each other online. To be honest, I did not initially think he was the man for me because he was not romantic. As I told you, I am the last child of my parents, so you need to know how to pamper a lady and be romantic, and he did not know how to do that. Whenever we talked on the phone, he would say, “Please, talk fast. I am very busy.” I would be surprised and wonder, “Why is this man like this?” But as God would have it, we eventually ended up together and got married in 2016.
Q: What has been your experience in marriage?
A: Marriage is a great institution where unexpected things happen. With patience and the help of God, we will navigate all the challenges that come our way.
Q: What is your view on the fear people have about finding spouses through social media?
A: I must tell you honestly that, at first, I was not happy that I met my husband on social media. At one point, I questioned God and asked Him why. Before meeting my husband, I had been in a relationship with a man for nine years. We worked together and even built a house together. I may not have contributed up to 50 per cent of the building’s cost, but I was involved financially, morally, and in other ways. Nobody would have believed we wouldn’t eventually get married.
Q: Did you marry him?
A: No. I was building with him, and he did not leave me; I was the one who left him.
Q: What did he do?
A: He was a very jealous person. In my gospel music career, I deal with many pastors. Whenever I went to a pastor to discuss official matters, he would accuse me of dating them. Perhaps he should not be entirely blamed because I am a very open person. Whenever I met someone, I would tell him about it. I would even tell him when someone asked me out. Unfortunately, he often used that information against me. He became increasingly jealous, and his jealousy became overwhelming. In 2014, I had a crossover programme. I had two phones at the time, and he seized both of them. As a result, I could not attend the programme because the flyers and the address of the venue were on my phones. He did not return the phones to me until the programme was over. That was when I realised that the relationship could not work. I also realised that people would blame me if I eventually married him. I told myself that I should not end up with him.
Q: Before making that decision, did you consider seeking help from someone who could help both of you overcome the challenges, such as a marriage counsellor or your church leaders?
A: Maybe I was childish at the time. Secondly, the two of us are from the same town. My mother once told me about a lineage that connected our families, although it was a distant connection that I could not trace. My mother was painting a picture of the two of us being related. In addition, his behaviour, which I considered problematic, influenced my decision. My mother did not support the relationship, but she did not come out openly to say so because she did not want to be seen as a bad person.
Q: When you ended the relationship and told him it was over, how did he take it?
A: To be frank, he did not take it well. On my wedding day, he planned to bring some boys to disrupt the wedding. He and his friends had ground pepper, which they planned to pour on the officiating ministers. He did not take the breakup lightly at all. I was not happy about ending the relationship, but given the circumstances surrounding it, I felt I had no choice.
Q: I don’t think he was necessarily wrong to be jealous of you because one can only be jealous of someone one loves. God Himself says that He is jealous over us because of His love for us. What do you think?
A: The love was really there. When I left him, I felt that what I had done was not right. When I sought counsel from people, they told me that he behaved that way because of the love he had for me. However, my career made me take that bold step. I have a passion for my career and for God’s work. I used to tell him at the time that if I wanted to date two people, I could do so, but I was not doing that. Because of my career, I felt I could not risk continuing with the relationship.
Q: How supportive is your husband of what you are doing?
A: Trust is a great pillar that holds a marriage together. My husband is very supportive of me. At times, when I come back late, he shows understanding and does not use it against me. There was a time when I became a little worried about his calmness, but I have come to realise that when there is trust, there will not be a problem. He is really supportive of me and is there for me in all aspects of my life. I do not regret marrying him. I have a conscience. If I tell you something openly and honestly, and you later use it against me, it will hurt me. There is trust between us, and he is always there for me.
Q: What are the advantages and disadvantages of meeting a partner through social media?
A: The disadvantages are more than the advantages. Getting a partner through social media requires God’s wisdom, not human wisdom. I never planned it, and it never crossed my mind that it would happen that way. However, I believe it happened because God wanted it to happen that way. One has to pray about everything. I do not totally support finding a partner through social media, but if God says it will happen that way, there is nothing we can do.
Q: After he proposed to you, did you pray about it, or was it because you had just come out of a relationship and were desperate to get another man?
A: I was not desperate. Remember that we had been talking on Facebook before we met physically. We eventually met at an eatery in Ibadan. He invited me, but I did not come to Ibadan because of him. I had a programme in Ibadan, and I thought it was an opportunity to meet the man I had been talking to on social media. I called him and told him that I was in Ibadan, and we agreed to meet at a particular eatery. We met there, talked and reasoned together. That was when we started getting to know each other better. I went back home and prayed about it.
Q: Let us get it right. Did he propose to you on social media before you met him physically?
A: No. He had been telling me that he wanted to marry me before we met physically, but I did not consent to it. Even at the restaurant, I did not give him an answer. I assessed him spiritually, morally, emotionally and in other areas. I used our first physical meeting to evaluate him on those things. I simply told him that I wanted to see him face to face. I went back home and prayed about it. My mother and other ministers of God also joined me in the prayers. After that, I told him that I was ready to marry him.
Q: How long after accepting his proposal did you get married?
A: About eight months later.
Q: Can you describe him in one sentence?
A: He is a very good man.
Q: Have you ever experienced any scandal as a gospel singer?
A: No.
Q: Have you ever been dragged on social media?
A: No.
Q: Are you preparing for that possibility?
A: I know that in this life, we must prepare for the unexpected. I do not see myself as a perfect person. In this world, people are not always ready to help; they are often ready to criticise. So, I am prepared.
Q: What are the areas where you think you could be scandalised?
A: I don’t know.
Q: How would you feel if your husband asked you to stop singing?
A: I do not want to talk too much about that. I do not pray for such a situation to happen, but if it does, prayer will resolve it. However, in the worst-case scenario, I remember that in the last album I released, titled Ere Mi (My Gain), I sang about the fact that the married and unmarried, the poor and the rich, and those who have children and those who do not have children will all eventually die. Both the barren and the fertile will go to the same heaven. Who you are on earth is meaningless in heaven. If you make it to heaven after leaving this world, that is a great blessing and the greatest fulfilment of your life on earth. My view is that there should not be a marriage that will draw someone away from God. There is no marriage in heaven. If such a situation arises, I will pray about it. When Paul prayed to God to deliver him from the affliction he suffered, God told him that His grace was sufficient for him. I know God will release the grace I need to make the right choice. I do not think there should be a man who would reject me because of my passion for the gospel. We can both sit down and reason together about how to balance things. But if a man starts behaving strangely because of my commitment to God’s work, then I believe something is wrong. That is why I said there is no marriage in heaven. I have to continue with God’s work.
Q: What change would you like to see in the gospel music industry?
A: I want to see a reduction in the level of entertainment in the gospel music industry. We should minister to people through our songs.
Q: What is your biggest challenge in the ministry and in life?
A: My biggest challenge is the lack of helpers.
Q: What project are you currently working on?
A: Irin Ajo Ayanmo, Abo, and Gbanjo, Mo Gbe Jesu De are coming.
Q: Is there any singer you would like to collaborate with?
A: Baba Ojo Ade and Mama Bola Are.
Q: What is your favourite hymn?
A: Ninu Irin Ajo Mi.
Q: What is your favourite worship song?
A: I have many worship songs that I love. I think the one I love most is Osuba Re Re O.
Q: Which of your albums is dearest to you?
A: Eran Idin.
Q: How are you going to ensure that you do not slide into making entertaining songs?
A: I have a conscience, and God directs me. I do not go beyond God’s direction. If I do, I know that I am nothing. This conviction will keep me going. If I wanted to make entertaining or secular music, I would have done so years ago. People used to tell me that I was very gifted and that if I went into secular music, I would really make it. I am so talented that if you ask me to compose five songs before the end of the day, I can do it effortlessly. People abroad have called me and testified that they enjoy my songs. This makes me happy. There was a time when an elderly Cherubim and Seraphim member called me. He said my songs touched him so deeply that he wept all night. He said he began thinking about where he had gone wrong in his life. That alone is an encouragement to me, and I am not ready to trade that for anything.
Q: If you are invited to perform, what is usually on your mind, the money you are going to make or the souls that will be won through your ministration?
A: My target is the souls. If I go for a ministration and I do not feel the presence of God, I will not be happy. I had that unpleasant experience once. The reason was that God had not permitted me to go for the ministration. God categorically told me not to go, but because of my relationship with the pastor, I went anyway. I returned home sad. I was well paid because I had charged them my fee, and when I got there, the pastor was so happy that he even added more money to what I had charged the church. However, I knew that I had not performed well. I knew that the Holy Spirit had not manifested during the ministration, and that made me sad. The pastor did not notice the absence of the Holy Spirit. They were very joyful while I was ministering, but I went home sad.
Q: What is your vision?
A: My vision is for God to help me win many souls for the Kingdom of God.
Q: If you were allowed to choose one thing to change in Nigeria, what would it be?
A: Ministers of God should try to understand the mind of God and stop being selfish. They should be selfless and understand that they are working for heaven. We have put God aside in Nigeria. We are ruling the nation with our own wisdom. If we can allow God to rule this country, many things will change for the better in Nigeria.
Q: Can you tell us about your salvation experience?
A: I had left my parents before I got saved. When I was about 22 years old, I attended a programme in Ado-Ekiti where a pastor preached about salvation. The message really touched me. That sermon made me realise that salvation is not about being born into a Christian family or simply bearing a Christian name. After the programme, I went home, and it was there that the Holy Spirit ministered to me. That day, I cried and surrendered my life to Jesus Christ.
Q: What is your favourite food?
A: Amala and ewedu.
Q: But you are from Ekiti, and Ekiti people are known to love pounded yam. So, between pounded yam and amala, which is your favourite?
A: Pounded yam. In the absence of pounded yam, I go for amala. Besides, we are in the state of amala.
Q: What is your most memorable day in life?
A: It was the day I launched my first album, Iberu Olorun, in Ado-Ekiti. I saw people gathered together to celebrate what God had done in my life.
Q: What was your happiest day?
A: It was the day I received a call from Canada. That was about three years ago. The person told me that he had listened to my song and that the song led him to Christ. I was so happy.
Q: What was your saddest day in life?
A: Maybe I should say the day my father died. We loved him. He was a good man, and I was very sad when we lost him.
Q: How many albums have you released?
A: I have released four albums and more than 20 singles. They include Iberu Olorun, Omo Ogun Christ, and Efata Olrun.
Q: How lucrative is your music business, and is it currently paying your bills?
A: Not yet. It is not paying my bills at the moment, but there is hope.
Q: What other things do you do?
A: I run a POS business. I have shops where I have employed people to work. I also sell cement.
Q: Can you say something to your fans to round off this programme?
A: My fans should expect something good, great and inspiring from your darling, something that will surely bless your souls. As you listen to my songs, please allow them to bless your soul and minister deeply to you. Do not hesitate to give your life to the One who owns it, because He can take it at any time. Please, live for Christ. I pray that when the trumpet sounds, He will count us worthy to take us home, in Jesus’ name. I love you all, my fans.
