2011 but the quartet of Michael Abdul, Odunayo Ojo
Onasanya, Pat Uwaje King and Gbenga Oyebola, known
simply as the Midnight Crew have kept their wits about them
for nothing else but for the love of what they do and enjoy
doing. In this revealing interview, which they take turn to
respond, they open up on their careers, their dreams and why
they have stuck together for that long. Excerpts:
How has the journey been this last twelve years?
It's not been very easy but we made up our mind to go all the
way as long as God stands by us . The very funny thing is
that, we see very far.
Have you guys ever had issues or moments of friction,
where you quarrel?
Yes, we do have those times. But the good thing is that we are
friends, first of all, and we have realized we all need each
other in our lives. And no matter the differences, we just have
to reconcile. There is nothing that is irreconcilable. And we
try to hear ourselves out and then we put ourselves in each
others' shoes.
How did you guys compose that song 'Igwe'?
'Igwe' came from God. It is a song that God gave to us and it
is evident in the way that it was received. As a matter of fact,
we did that song and then we just traveled out.
What year did the song come out?
It first came out in 2006, then we couldn't find expression for
it, so we had to remix it. We changed the production which
actually paved way for a much more serious production, better
sound and I also think time worked for it. That is, the time
that God actually decided to set aside a new throne. Then he
puts the song, Igwe on the throne.
How many awards have you won as a group?
We have never bothered to count. As a matter of fact, we still
got awards this year. Initially, we used to beg for votes. But
now, we don't and we still get the awards.
What were you trying to achieve, because at one point you
use some kind of hip-hop beat and then it just changed?
First of all, I think Igwe is about the first song that you have
the languages being code switched. Well, it came from our
experience also. We've had situations before the Igwe song
where we go to a church and then you sing a lot of Yoruba
songs and you see someone walks up to ask you why you are
singing more of Yoruba songs in an Igbo church and vice
versa. The song was actually able to bring a lot of people
together . Even the Hausas who didn't have their language in
it, were also thrilled by the song.
What has been your happiest moment for the past twelve
years?
Being together.
What advice do you have for the groups that are breaking up
and new ones coming up these days?
Well, I would say that the vision that God gave to us has been
our driving force. The vision to cure the world of religion and
put the praise of God on the lips of all men. When we say
we've been able to put the praise of God on the lips of the
Yoruba man, we realize what we've not done for the Igbo,
Hausa,and we also realize that there is still more to do.
That has actually been our drive and we've been able to
achieve one song which all nation sing. But more function and
more assignment are still here. So, I think that the fact that we
obey God, we allow God to direct us and thirdly, we maintain
dedication on the assignment that He has given to us.
Everyday we wake up, we realize that we are going deeper
and deeper into all of the assignment.
Why haven't you guys been able to give us something more
than the Igwe song?
I told someone that the fact that you give birth to a child that
becomes the president, doesn't mean all your children will
become presidents. Every child has it's own purpose. So,
every album that we release also has it's purpose. Our desire
is not to be famous but to win souls. So, whatever God will
do and whatever song He will use, let him use. I have
testimony of a song titled "Nothing can stop me" in our first
album. We went to Lokoja and a woman came with her child
and testified that she was barren for years. To the glory of
God, after listening to that particular song "Nothing can stop
me"she was able to bear a child. For me, that was a great
testimony.
Can we say that has been your most touching experience?
At the beginning of our lives, that is, about twelve years ago,
when midnight crew started at Yaba College of Technology,
two testimonies came. The first one was about a young guy
who had given up hope about life and was at the verge of
committing suicide but that same day, we were to have our
concert. When he came for the programme, he saw many
youths praising God and he wanted to know why they were so
happy and wondered if they didn't have problems like him.
To our greatest surprise, he walked up to us to tell us of his
initial plans to commit suicide and how his hope was restored.
Secondly, a lady told us how her mother was healed from
depression after listening to one of our songs titled "Mgbene".
Since then, I realized that everything we do have a way of
reviving and giving people hope. And since then, our part is
to ensure that we inspire people and make them happy. I think
people choose each of these songs to bless them, and God
chose Igwe to bless him.
Why did you choose to come together as a group?
We didn't choose to, destiny brought us together. We were in
the same church choir called "Original love choir" when we
were in school. We just ignited together and decided that
there are still more to do. We actually did what God wanted
us to do in Yaba Tech. Singing everywhere and blessing lives.
So we asked ourselves if what we've done was enough or
should we take the blessing to the bigger world?. So
immediately we left school, we decide to come up with
"Midnight crew" and do away with the initial name "Original
love". Though the choir still exists.
Is the name 'Midnight Crew' not too hip-hop like for a
gospel group?
God told Gideon to go and tear down the walls of Baal. Our
own mission is to tear down the walls of religion. We saw
similarities, they went at nights and we rehearsed at nights
while we were in school because we went for classes during
the day then towards evening, we would go for singing
rehearsals. We realized that there was a lot of similarities in
our assignments. On the last note, they were eleven in
number. Comprising of Gideon and ten other men for that
assignment. When Midnight Crew started at the initial stage,
we were eleven in number. Some actually got married and
relocated while some went back for their second degree etc.
How was the fantastic four able to stick together?
It's like coming from a barber's shop and someone telling you
how good your shave is. We just realized that we were four.
Did you ever imagine you would become this famous?
When reality comes, you can start crying. But the truth is,
God, most of the time will not do a thing for you without
showing you what you will become. But when you become
that thing, you just find yourself shedding tears because it is
possible to miss it. So you just thank God that you made it.
For the men in the group, how do you cope with your female
admirers?
The ladies are doing very fine, they are Christians and they
have the fear of God. And above all, we are doing very well
together.
Source: Vanguard
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