Osene Ighodaro
Encyclopedia
Osene Ighodaro is a Nigerian gospel
artist who is currently based in the United States. She is among one of the recognized contemporary gospel
artists of Nigeria
who have contributed to the progress of gospel music in Nigeria, alongside other renowned Nigerian artists like Panam Percy Paul, and others (1).
at the local university, she became the music director and lead-vocalist in Believer's LoveWorld.
, who is arguably considered the father of Pentecoatalism in Africa
. As a music minister, she led the Idahosa World Outreach (I.W.O.) singers a.k.a. The Praise Team, and accompanied the Archbishop
to minister all over Nigeria, Africa and Europe
. She eventually became the music director of the renowned Christian Redeemed Voices of C.G.M. Faith Arena, a choir that boasted of more than 500 voices.
In 2000, she released her debut cd "Expressions of my Heart" under her own independent label, Nu Song Music. After relocating to America
in 2004, she became the Pastor of Worship at New Castle Victory Christian Fellowship, a megachurch
in the Gary Whetstone Worldwide Ministries in New Castle, Delaware
.
In Dec 2008 she released her sophomore cd, "Osene at Christmas".
In August 2009, Victory Christian Fellowship celebrated its 25th anniversary in revival celebration with celebrated speakers T.D. Jakes and Rod Parsley
. As the Music Minister of the church, she worked with invited guest singers, Donnie McClurkin
, Martha Munizzi
, and Christian Hip Hop artist Sean Slaughter (2). In the same year, she also published her first book, an inspirational book on praise, titled "Praise, it's what I do".
A year later in August of 2010, she returned to Nigeria to record her first live praise recording, featuring Jackson Tugbeh
and alumni members of The Praise Team of Church of God Mission.
Nigerian gospel
Gospel music is a kind of African, motivational Christian music that has become a major part of Nigerian music. In the 1960s the Evangelical Church of West Africa Choir was popular, and in the early 1970s Bola Aare, Sola Rotimi, Good women Choir, Ebenezer Obey and later, Panam Percy Paul, Onyeka...
artist who is currently based in the United States. She is among one of the recognized contemporary gospel
Gospel
A gospel is an account, often written, that describes the life of Jesus of Nazareth. In a more general sense the term "gospel" may refer to the good news message of the New Testament. It is primarily used in reference to the four canonical gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John...
artists of Nigeria
Nigeria
Nigeria , officially the Federal Republic of Nigeria, is a federal constitutional republic comprising 36 states and its Federal Capital Territory, Abuja. The country is located in West Africa and shares land borders with the Republic of Benin in the west, Chad and Cameroon in the east, and Niger in...
who have contributed to the progress of gospel music in Nigeria, alongside other renowned Nigerian artists like Panam Percy Paul, and others (1).
Biography
The second in the family of six children, Osene exhibited the calling of God upon her at an early age, ministering under the direction of her choirmaster father in children's choir, adult choir and later at crusades in the late 70's and early 80's. While majoring in ZoologyZoology
Zoology |zoölogy]]), is the branch of biology that relates to the animal kingdom, including the structure, embryology, evolution, classification, habits, and distribution of all animals, both living and extinct...
at the local university, she became the music director and lead-vocalist in Believer's LoveWorld.
Career
Upon graduating with her B.Sc, she became involved in Church of God Mission Int. Inc., founded by Archbishop Benson IdahosaBenson Idahosa
Benson Andrew Idahosa affectionately called PAPA or BA by his followers, was a Charismatic Pentecostal preacher, and founder of the Church of God Mission International with headquarters in Benin City, Nigeria . As the first Pentecostal archbishop in Nigeria, he was renowned for his robust faith....
, who is arguably considered the father of Pentecoatalism in Africa
Africa
Africa is the world's second largest and second most populous continent, after Asia. At about 30.2 million km² including adjacent islands, it covers 6% of the Earth's total surface area and 20.4% of the total land area...
. As a music minister, she led the Idahosa World Outreach (I.W.O.) singers a.k.a. The Praise Team, and accompanied the Archbishop
Archbishop
An archbishop is a bishop of higher rank, but not of higher sacramental order above that of the three orders of deacon, priest , and bishop...
to minister all over Nigeria, Africa and Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
. She eventually became the music director of the renowned Christian Redeemed Voices of C.G.M. Faith Arena, a choir that boasted of more than 500 voices.
In 2000, she released her debut cd "Expressions of my Heart" under her own independent label, Nu Song Music. After relocating to America
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
in 2004, she became the Pastor of Worship at New Castle Victory Christian Fellowship, a megachurch
Megachurch
A megachurch is a church having 2,000 or more in average weekend attendance. The Hartford Institute's database lists more than 1,300 such Protestant churches in the United States. According to that data, approximately 50 churches on the list have attendance ranging from 10,000 to 47,000...
in the Gary Whetstone Worldwide Ministries in New Castle, Delaware
New Castle, Delaware
New Castle is a city in New Castle County, Delaware, six miles south of Wilmington, situated on the Delaware River. In 1900, 3,380 people lived here; in 1910, 3,351...
.
In Dec 2008 she released her sophomore cd, "Osene at Christmas".
In August 2009, Victory Christian Fellowship celebrated its 25th anniversary in revival celebration with celebrated speakers T.D. Jakes and Rod Parsley
Rod Parsley
Rodney Lee Parsley is a prominent American Christian minister, author, television host and evangelist. He is senior pastor of World Harvest Church, a large Pentecostal church in Columbus, Ohio and founder and president of The Center for Moral Clarity, a right-wing Christian grassroots advocacy...
. As the Music Minister of the church, she worked with invited guest singers, Donnie McClurkin
Donnie McClurkin
Donald Andrew McClurkin, Jr. is an American gospel music singer and minister. He has won three Grammy awards, ten Stellar awards, two BET awards, two Soul Train awards, one Dove award and one NAACP Image award for his work....
, Martha Munizzi
Martha Munizzi
-Award wins:-Award nominations:Munizzi has been nominated for Grammy, Dove, Stellar and Soul Train Awards as both a performer and songwriter. In 2006, Munizzi was nominated for a Grammy for Best Traditional Soul Gospel Album...
, and Christian Hip Hop artist Sean Slaughter (2). In the same year, she also published her first book, an inspirational book on praise, titled "Praise, it's what I do".
A year later in August of 2010, she returned to Nigeria to record her first live praise recording, featuring Jackson Tugbeh
Jackson Tugbeh
Jackson Tugbeh is a Liberian preacher, worship leader and radio personality based in Lagos, Nigeria. He is also a busy social activist, reaching out to refugees in Liberia, and bringing social awareness to the ravages left by the war in the country...
and alumni members of The Praise Team of Church of God Mission.
Personal life
She married to Peace Ighodaro in 2001, who also is a pastor and vice-president NuSong Music. They are parents of three kids.External links
- Official Website
- Ministry Page
- Osene on MySpaceMySpaceMyspace is a social networking service owned by Specific Media LLC and pop star Justin Timberlake. Myspace launched in August 2003 and is headquartered in Beverly Hills, California. In August 2011, Myspace had 33.1 million unique U.S. visitors....
- Osene on YouTubeYouTubeYouTube is a video-sharing website, created by three former PayPal employees in February 2005, on which users can upload, view and share videos....